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October 22, 2024 | 05:12 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A new study by researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, challenges the assumption that electric car ownership automatically translates to a lower carbon footprint.
“Even with the implementation of climate-friendly solutions such as electric vehicles, carbon footprints remain a significant challenge that we must overcome,” the researchers state in their report, published on October 2, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS Climate.
The study, titled "But can it drive to Lapland? A comparison of electric vehicle owners with the general population for identification of attitudes, concerns, and barriers related to electric vehicle adoption in Finland," was authored by Nils Sandman, Elisa Sahari, and Aki Koponen.
The research team analyzed data from 3,857 Finnish adults who participated in the Climate Nudge survey in 2022. This survey included 141 electric car owners and investigated various aspects including lifestyle, car usage, environmental and political attitudes, household carbon footprints, and perceptions of electric vehicles.
The study found that electric car owners, who tend to be wealthier than the average participant, still leave a significant carbon footprint. The researchers suggest this is due to several factors.
Wealthier individuals generally consume more electricity, and in many regions, electricity production still relies heavily on fossil fuels like coal, leading to higher emissions. Additionally, the production of luxury goods often associated with wealthier lifestyles also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Finally, the study suggests that electric vehicle owners may still drive and travel more frequently compared to the general population, potentially negating the environmental benefits of their electric vehicles.
“The conclusion is quite clear that electric vehicles, while a step in the right direction, are not a magical solution to reduce carbon footprints,” the researchers conclude.
The study emphasizes the importance of moving beyond simply replacing fossil fuels with electricity. It highlights the need for a shift towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, along with advancements in battery storage and network management to optimize the utilization of these resources.
“Thus, we can balance economic growth and environmental preservation, moving towards a more sustainable equilibrium,” the study suggests.
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