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Sunday, October 11, 2020

Electric and hybrid car sales reached almost 90% of total September car sales in Norway

 ... and the country leads the world in the percentage of electric and hybrid cars on its roads (see the chart below). 

The monthly cost of owning a mid-sized electric car in Norway averaged over a four-year period ($883)  is substantially lower than for petrol ($1,002) and diesel ($1,075)  cars. The costs include fuel, depreciation, taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

While in 2019 the total world's electric car stock was around 7.5 million, or just 1.5-2% of the total world's car stock, continuously decreasing battery prices together with undeniable environmental benefits will inevitably lead to hybrid and electric car domination all around the world within the next couple of decades.





Wednesday, October 7, 2020

European Commission raised Europe’s 2030 climate ambition

UPDATED.  On October 6, the European Parliament voted to increase the EU’s climate target for 2030, supporting a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade, up from 40% currently. It is impressive that the adopted target is higher than one earlier proposed by the European Commission (55%)!

 EU-wide net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels was proposed by EC on September 17.  Achieving of this level of ambition for the next decade will put the EU on a balanced pathway to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 but will require action in all sectors of the economy (see diagram below).

A comprehensive Impact Assessment of the social, economic, and environmental impacts demonstrates that this course of action is realistic and feasible.

CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, and together with fugitive non-CO2 emissions in the energy system, they are responsible for over 75% of EU greenhouse gas emissions.