EVs vs modern petrol / diesel carbon footprint
Ben made this Official Information request to James Shaw
The request was refused by James Shaw.
From: Ben
Dear James Shaw,
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 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
From: J Shaw (MIN)
James Shaw
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Tēnā koe,
Thank you for contacting the office of Hon James Shaw, Minister of Climate
Change and Associate Minister for the Environment (Biodiversity).
While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important and all
messages are carefully read and considered, it is not always possible to
provide a personal response to every email received.
o If your message is for Minister Shaw’s advice, or if you have copied
your email to another Minister and/or Member of Parliament with more
appropriate portfolio responsibilities, then this will be noted.
o If you have invited Minister Shaw to an event then a member of staff
may contact you for more information. Please note we do endeavour to
process invitations within 7 working days.
o If you have made a request for official information then this will be
managed in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information
Act 1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or
agency.
o If you have made a request under the Privacy Act then this will be
managed in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 2020,
which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency.
o If you are a journalist then your request will be referred to the
Press Secretary.
o If your email relates to Green Party policy, your email will be
redirected to [1][email address]
o To find out more about Minister Shaw read his [2]biography or recent
[3]statements.
Ngā mihi
Office of Hon James Shaw
Reception +64 4 817 6663 | Ministerial Email [4][James Shaw request email] |
Web [5]beehive.govt.nz |
Postal Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings,
Wellington 6160, New Zealand
[6]cid:image001.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60[7]cid:image002.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60[8]cid:image003.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60[9]cid:image004.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60[10]cid:image005.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60
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From: J Shaw (MIN)
James Shaw
Tçnâ koe,
Thank you for contacting the office of Hon James Shaw, Minister of Climate
Change and Associate Minister for the Environment (Biodiversity).
While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important and all
messages are carefully read and considered, it is not always possible to
provide a personal response to every email received.
· If your message is for Minister Shaw’s advice, or if you have
copied your email to another Minister and/or Member of Parliament with
more appropriate portfolio responsibilities, then this will be noted.
· If you have invited Minister Shaw to an event then a member of
staff may contact you for more information. Please note we do endeavour to
process invitations within 7 working days.
· If you have made a request for official information then this
will be managed in accordance with the provisions of the Official
Information Act 1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant
Minister or agency.
· If you have made a request under the Privacy Act then this will
be managed in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 2020,
which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency.
· If you are a journalist then your request will be referred to
the Press Secretary.
· If your email relates to Green Party policy, your email will be
redirected to [1][email address]
· To find out more about Minister Shaw read his [2]biography or
recent [3]statements.
Ngâ mihi
Office of Hon James Shaw
Reception +64 4 817 6663 | Ministerial Email [4][James Shaw request email] |
Web [5]beehive.govt.nz |
Postal Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings,
Wellington 6160, New Zealand
[6]https://www.facebook.com/JamesShawMP/htt...
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Visible links
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2. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/bio...
3. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
4. mailto:[James Shaw request email]
5. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
6. https://www.facebook.com/JamesShawMP/htt...
From: M Wood (MIN)
James Shaw
Kia ora Ben,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request,
received on 23 March 2023, in which you requested the following
information:
· 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?
Your request will be answered within the provisions of the Official
Information Act.
Ngā mihi,
Donna Winter | Roving Private Secretary
Office of Hon Michael Wood
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety | Minister of Transport |
Minister of Immigration| Minister for Auckland | Associate Minister of
Finance
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Office Phone: +64 4 817 8731 Email: [1][email address]
show quoted sections
From: J Shaw (MIN)
James Shaw
Kia ora,
On behalf of Hon James Shaw, I refer to your official information request
dated Thursday, 23 March 2023 for information regarding:
· Why are efficient vehicles such as mentioned in the email below
not included in the clean car rebate given their total emissions are less
than that of an EV?
· 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
The information to which your request relates is believed to be more
closely connected with the portfolio responsibilities of the Minister of
Transport, Hon Michael Wood. In these circumstances, we are required by
section 14 of the OIA to transfer your request.
You will hear further from the Office of Hon Michael Wood concerning your
request. His office can be contacted at [1][email address]
Ngā mihi,
[2]Crest The Office of
Hon James Shaw
Minister of
Climate Change
| Associate
Minister for
the Environment
(Biodiversity)
| Green Party
Co-Leader
Room 2.025,
Parliament
House| Private
Bag 18041 |
Wellington 6160
| New Zealand
The information
contained in
this email is
privileged and
confidential
and intended
for the
addressee
only. If you
are not the
intended
recipient, you
are asked to
respect that
confidentiality
and not
disclose, copy
or make use of
its contents.
If received in
error you are
asked to
destroy this
email and
contact the
sender
immediately.
Your assistance
is appreciated.
show quoted sections
From: Ben
Dear J Shaw (MIN),
Thanks James, I hope this isn’t being delegated to another minister because you are trying to avoid answering the question.
As the climate minister can I then ask you this?
1- Have you taken the time to do calculations on carbon emissions factoring in the mining and production of the batteries and emissions required in New Zealand to charge these EVs based on New Zealand’s power grid which is only 80% renewable? Or is pushing for EVs just one way to “export” the problem so New Zealand meets its required emission targets?
2 - As the climate minister do you think it would be in the New Zealand’s public best interest to do these kind of calculations before introducing taxes on diesel vans, even vans such as the Renault trafic 1.6L which has an efficiency of 6.2L /100kms, which in fact has less of a carbon emission output than a standard medium sized EV, after the mining and production of the batteries are factored in.
3- Why as a tradesman who is dependent on a diesel van due to the kms traveled and having the means to transport tools and equipment should we be paying an emissions tax on a diesel van that has a total net output LESS than an average medium sized EV?!
4- Is the overall goal of the EV rebate so more kiwis purchase an EV and to meet an emissions target?
5- If reducing carbon emissions is a mitigating factor of the clean vehicle rebate, then why are vehicles such as the Suzuki Swift or Renault trafic not eligible for the rebate given their overall emission footprint is less than an average EV?
Yours sincerely,
Ben
From: J Shaw (MIN)
James Shaw
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Tēnā koe,
Thank you for contacting the office of Hon James Shaw, Minister of Climate
Change and Associate Minister for the Environment (Biodiversity).
While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important and all
messages are carefully read and considered, it is not always possible to
provide a personal response to every email received.
o If your message is for Minister Shaw’s advice, or if you have copied
your email to another Minister and/or Member of Parliament with more
appropriate portfolio responsibilities, then this will be noted.
o If you have invited Minister Shaw to an event then a member of staff
may contact you for more information. Please note we do endeavour to
process invitations within 7 working days.
o If you have made a request for official information then this will be
managed in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information
Act 1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or
agency.
o If you have made a request under the Privacy Act then this will be
managed in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 2020,
which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency.
o If you are a journalist then your request will be referred to the
Press Secretary.
o If your email relates to Green Party policy, your email will be
redirected to [1][email address]
o To find out more about Minister Shaw read his [2]biography or recent
[3]statements.
Ngā mihi
Office of Hon James Shaw
Reception +64 4 817 6663 | Ministerial Email [4][James Shaw request email] |
Web [5]beehive.govt.nz |
Postal Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings,
Wellington 6160, New Zealand
[6]cid:image001.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60[7]cid:image002.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60[8]cid:image003.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60[9]cid:image004.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60[10]cid:image005.png@01D60E50.D03B7B60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/bio...
3. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
4. mailto:[James Shaw request email]
5. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
6. https://www.facebook.com/JamesShawMP/
7. https://twitter.com/jamespeshaw?ref_src=...
8. https://www.instagram.com/jamesshawmp/?h...
9. https://nz.linkedin.com/in/jamespeshaw
10. http://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon-...
From: M Wood (MIN)
James Shaw
Tēnā koe Ben,
Please find attached correspondence from Hon Michael Wood.
Ngā mihi,
Office of Hon Michael Wood
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety | Minister of Transport |
Minister of Immigration| Minister for Auckland | Associate Minister of
Finance
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Office Phone: +64 4 817 8731 Email: [1][email address]
From: Donna Winter On Behalf Of M Wood (MIN)
Sent: Thursday, 23 March 2023 3:18 PM
To: [2][FOI #22226 email]
Subject: RE: OIA23-686 RE: Transfer Request : Official Information request
- EVs vs modern petrol / diesel carbon footprint
Kia ora Ben,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request,
received on 23 March 2023, in which you requested the following
information:
o 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?
Your request will be answered within the provisions of the Official
Information Act.
Ngā mihi,
Donna Winter | Roving Private Secretary
Office of Hon Michael Wood
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety | Minister of Transport |
Minister of Immigration| Minister for Auckland | Associate Minister of
Finance
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Office Phone: +64 4 817 8731 Email: [3][email address]
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