Here's why electrification is about much more than battery electric vehicles

The author contends that the assumption that 100% BEV adoption is universally beneficial is misguided because BEVs generate significant CO2 during battery production. A lifecycle assessment by Garrett Motion suggests that for many European drivers—particularly those driving fewer than 11,300 kilometres annually—electrified hybrids may generate fewer total emissions than BEVs. The document also highlights cost barriers, noting that the average BEV price in Europe was €56,000 in the first half of 2022, compared to €32,000 in China, and advocates for technology neutrality in regulations to accelerate decarbonization.

• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) produce substantial CO2 emissions over their lifetime, primarily during the production of the battery; higher battery capacities lead to higher emissions.
• In Europe, where 60% of cars are driven less than 11,300 kilometres per year, compact BEVs can take at least 12 years to offset the production emissions when compared to plug-in hybrids.
• A portfolio of complementary electrified powertrains—including mild, full, and plug-in hybrids alongside BEVs—is proposed as a more efficient way to reduce total CO2 emissions across most EU countries than mandating a single technology.
• High battery costs and volatile raw material prices hinder the equitable adoption of BEVs in Europe, where the average BEV price was €56,000 in the first half of 2022, significantly higher than the €32,000 average in China.

APA

Rabiller, O. (2023). Here's why electrification is about much more than battery electric vehicles. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/heres-why-electrification-is-much-more-than-battery-electric-vehicles/

Chicago

Rabiller, Olivier. Here's why electrification is about much more than battery electric vehicles. World Economic Forum, 2023. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/heres-why-electrification-is-much-more-than-battery-electric-vehicles/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Rabiller |first1=Olivier |title=Here's why electrification is about much more than battery electric vehicles |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=20 November 2023 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/heres-why-electrification-is-much-more-than-battery-electric-vehicles/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{rabiller2023heres, author = {Rabiller, Olivier}, title = {{Here's why electrification is about much more than battery electric vehicles}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/heres-why-electrification-is-much-more-than-battery-electric-vehicles/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }