Transport goals and some EV controversy

This month, we're diving into the topic of transport emissions, and I have to admit, my focus has shifted a bit since the beginning of the year. While I initially set my sights on buying an electric vehicle as a mid-year incentive (after saving up a bit more), I've realized that there's more to the equation. Let's explore why.

In my last post, I shared some eye-opening data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) on transport emissions breakdown. It turns out that road transport alone contributes around 76% of total global transport emissions (keep in mind that transport accounts for about a fifth of Australia's overall emissions). Now, I know some of you may have found these numbers hard to believe, so let me break it down further.

Within that significant chunk of "road emissions," we have two main components. First, there's the 60% attributed to "passenger" transport, which includes our everyday driving in cars, motorbikes, buses, carpooling, and even taxis.

The remaining 40% belongs to "freight" transport, which involves trucks and lorries carrying goods across the country or for the final stretch of the journey. By the way, if anyone can explain the difference between a truck and a lorry, or why we still use the term "last mile delivery" in countries with metric systems, I'm all ears. It's one of those curiosities that make you ponder. 🤔

When we get to aviation✈️ emissions, that's more like 80% passenger and 20% freight, according to Our World in Data. Quite an interesting breakdown, isn't it?

MidGreenFamily transport emissions

When I assessed my own transport carbon footprint last year, I discovered that it amounted to approximately 4.9 tonnes of CO2e per year -

• around 3.2 tonnes CO2e came from my driving habits, covering a distance of approximately 11,735 kilometers in my petrol SUV, which has a fuel efficiency of 9.3L per 100 kilometers.

• I contributed 1.7 tonnes CO2e from a trip to Adelaide and back (🍷), as well as a journey to Hobart and back (Dark MOFO and much MONA visits💃).

• Lastly, there were a few minimal emissions, roughly 0.01 tonnes CO2e resulting from occasional use of public transport or taking an Uber (including UberEATS🥡).

It's worth noting that while driving accounted for most of my carbon footprint, a single round-trip flight had a substantial impact on emissions.

Now, you might be wondering, "what impact do driving holidays have?" (you know, d'outh if you're in Perth). Well, while our family trips to Gracetown and Manjimup last year added about 1,200 kilometers to our total travel distance, (just under 10% of our overall yearly road travel), most of the driving tally was just from day-to-day commuting and regular activities.

Understanding the breakdown of transport emissions helps us grasp the areas where we can make a difference. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into eco-friendly alternatives and practical steps to reduce our transport footprint. Together, we can make a positive impact on the environment while going about our daily lives.

So, what's the plan then?

Transport goals breakdown

I've crunched the numbers and analyzed last year's breakdown to identify areas where I can reduce my transport expenses this year⬆️. As we find ourselves at the halfway mark, I must admit that this year's progress isn't looking as fantastic as I had hoped.

Let's start with driving—oh dear. My plan was to take the bus and train 1-2 times a week to work, which would save me approximately 0.5 tonnes of CO2e this year. Sounds great, right? And so far I'm nailing that habit, rain or shine (it doesn't hail that often here tbh).

Here's the thing: I've realized that minimizing road trips on the weekends to maintain emission reductions can be a bit restrictive. It's especially challenging now that I've started buying my fruits and vegetables at the farmer's market and then separately going to the supermarket or Source for other goods. As a result, my weekly grocery shopping has become more driving intensive compared to last year. It may not seem like a big deal, but an extra 10 kilometers per week adds up to approximately 0.14 tonnes of CO2e per year.

When it comes to flights, I had initially planned to avoid them this year. However, we ended up heading to Tasmania for a few weeks as a road trip with the three of us. That tripled our flight tally. Oops. We did purchase offsets for our flights, but I must admit, it's not an ideal situation.

Electric Vehicles versus Internal Combustion Engine cars (ICEs)

Regarding my earlier idea of purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) to rapidly reduce my driving footprint and move closer to net-zero emissions, there has been some controversy surrounding the full lifecycle impact of EVs. It's important for us to delve into this matter and gain a better understanding of the various perspectives and considerations involved.

EVs versus ICEs factors to consider

The controversy is not necessarily a black-and-white debate. Various studies and analyses provide different perspectives based on regional factors, assumptions, and methodologies used. The ongoing advancements in tech, renewable energy deployment, and sustainable manufacturing practices can contribute to reducing the emissions associated with both EVs and ICEs.

Look back at one of the big benefits from EVs at the top of the table. No tailpipe emissions = no Air pollution (10% of the world's population die from air pollution - both indoor and outdoor - a topic for another day). There's a few things to consider in that table, but if I can throw in another source of data from website The Driven, we can unpack the two biggest areas.

1. How old is your car? and 2. How renewable is your grid supply?

Let me share with you two fascinating insights from this chart, which contains data from 2020. But before we dive in, let me explain what it depicts. The chart compares the emissions of old (2012) and new (2020) Corolla vehicles, specifically looking at city driving (city cycle) versus extended driving in both city and beyond (combined cycle).

It also includes data on the Hyundai Kona EV, considering its charging in different states. The emissions comparison varies across states due to the fuel mix in each region, which can involve coal-fired power plants, natural gas, wind farms, or solar energy. It's important to note that this data is a few years old, and since then, renewable generation across all Australian states has increased. Consequently, the emissions results for EVs would likely be even lower than what's shown in the chart. So, what are the two intriguing findings?

1. Newer cars built to meet stricter emissions standards (such as Euro 6) emit fewer pollutants. This highlights the positive impact of evolving regulations on vehicle emissions.

2. The way you charge your electric vehicle also plays a significant role. As the Australian electricity grid continues to make progress towards its target of 82% renewable energy, the gap between emissions from internal combustion engines (ICEs) and EVs will widen further.

These findings demonstrate the dynamic nature of emissions comparisons and highlight the positive trajectory and importance of the energy transition as the country moves towards greater renewable energy integration.

The big question, should I buy an EV? Well, my car is from 2011 so well due for an upgrade and would have been built under old emissions standards. I also have solar panels and live in a State with increasing proportions of renewable generation. Seems logical right?

Stay tuned as I work that decision through and check on what else we need to be mindful of when it comes to our path to netzero for transport.