Dear Climate Change Commission,

I have been looking into the total carbon footprint of EVs over a ten year period (the average lifespan of the batteries is 8-10 years) for an average, medium sized EV. I have calculated the total emissions, factoring in the mining and production emissions, and then what on average the total carbon emissions it would emit over a 10 year period, travelling 50,000km per year, and have compared my findings to the following
1- A petrol powered Suzuki swift which has a fuel efficiency of 4.6l/100km
2- A Renault traffic diesel van which has an efficiency of 6.2l/100km

I have found using the figures given, the petrol car would consume 46 litres of fuel per 1000km, while the diesel car would consume 62 litres. Assuming an average carbon content of 2.3 kg CO2 per litre of petrol and 2.6 kg CO2 per litre of diesel, the petrol car would emit approximately 1060 kg of CO2 per 1000 km, while the diesel car would emit around 1612 kg.

Now for the EV, If the power grid supplying the electricity for the electric vehicle was 80% hydro and 20% coal, the carbon intensity of the electricity would be somewhere between that of hydroelectricity and coal-generated electricity. According to the International Energy Agency, the global average carbon intensity of electricity generation in 2020 was 475 grams of CO2 per kWh.

Assuming the same medium-sized electric vehicle with a battery capacity of 60 kWh and driving 1000 km, it would require approximately 200 kWh of electricity. If 80% of the electricity was from hydro and 20% was from coal, the carbon intensity of the electricity would be approximately 124 grams of CO2 per kWh (0.8 x 80% + 1 x 20% = 0.84 kg CO2 / 6.8 kWh = 124 g CO2 per kWh).

Therefore, the emissions associated with recharging the vehicle would be approximately 24.8 kg of CO2 per 1000 km driven, or between 248 and 304 tonnes of CO2 emissions over 10 years, when combined with the battery production emissions of between 9 and 12 tonnes of CO2.

Even with an 80% hydroelectric grid, the electric vehicle would still emit more CO2 than the petrol and diesel cars, due to the emissions associated with battery production.

My question based on my findings are,
1- Why are efficient vehicles such as the above mentioned not included in the clean car rebate given their total emissions are less than that of an EV?

2- Why are we not promoting the use of such efficient petrol or diesel cars over the use of less efficient EVs that have an overall larger carbon footprint, and the fact that we also need to factor in how to dispose of these batteries?

I look forward to hearing your response.

Yours faithfully,
Ben Tomkinson