We often hear people discussing the sustainability of EVs, with many concerned over how charging an EV just moves emissions away from the roads, to power stations that provide the electricity. For some, this means they view EVs just as unsustainable as ICE powered vehicles, which are burning similar fossil fuels as used in power stations.
However, this is a misconception. Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is more sustainable than driving a fossil fuel-powered vehicle.
In October 2024, 51% of the UK's electricity came from zero carbon sources such as wind (31.2%) and Solar (3.7%) , peaking at 83% on 12 October at 9:30pm. Following the closure of GB's last remaining coal-fired power station in September, no coal was used in October to provide electricty.
Many electricity suppliers in the UK provide customers with the option to switch to a 'Green Energy tarrif' , whilst not all the energy supplied will be 100% renewable a percentage will come from renewable sources, or the suppplier will be making renewable investments, or offsetting their carbon.
Our partner, Pod Point, offers customers the option to switch their home energy tariff to one of the EDF Energy GoElectric zero-carbon tariffs. These tariffs guarantee 100% renewable electricity and are available as either a single rate or two distinct off-peak options.
Although electricity generation in many regions still heavily relies on fossil fuels, an analysis by Carbon Brief reveals that an EV in China would offset its carbon footprint after driving 22,000 miles, while in Poland, this would be achieved after 18,000 miles.
According to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "even with current grids, EVs reduce emissions in nearly all situations." EVs are more environmentally friendly even when charged from fossil fuel-heavy grids, as they are approximately four times more energy-efficient than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The transition to renewable energy sources is steadily gaining momentum. Sustainable EV charging solutions are being developed to align with this shift, with the aim of further reducing the carbon footprint of electric vehicles.
Innovative solutions such as solar-powered charging stations, energy storage systems, and smart grid technologies are paving the way for a more eco-friendly approach to EV charging.
By utilising these advancements, EV owners can charge their vehicles with clean energy, minimizing their environmental impact.
At Lease Electric, we ensure that our customers can electric, sustainably. For each EV Leased, we invest in certified carbon reduction projects to offset the carbon produced by the production of an electric vehicle (25 Tonnes), we also plant 100 trees, equivalent to twice the carbon generated by charging an EV over its life time from non-renewable electricity (30 Tonnes). Find out more: