Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can be used to reduce the emissions from electric car charging by up to 89 percent – while also saving motorists money.
That’s according to leasing company DriveElectric. Its technology charges EVs when the carbon intensity of the National Grid is at its lowest, and provides data about the carbon emissions saved.
The emissions created by electric vehicle charging are dependent on the carbon intensity of the electricity supply, which in turn is influenced by the amount of renewable energy used.
According to National Grid data, the average carbon intensity of electricity supplied so far in 2024 is 129.9g of CO2 per kWh. However, the lowest figure was 19g CO2/kWh, when the grid was mostly powered by renewable energy. The highest total this year was 295g CO2/kWh.
Timing it right to reduce CO2
DriveElectric says the carbon emissions associated with charging an EV also have a ‘huge variance’ depending on when the car is plugged in.
According to UK government figures from 2023, an average electric car has emissions of 81g CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per mile. This is based on the total carbon figure for the generation of the energy, including extracting, refining and transporting it. The equivalent figure for a petrol car is 263g CO2e per mile.
DriveElectric says its technology results in the average EV emissions figure being reduced to less than 40g CO2e per mile – and potentially as low as 9g CO2e per mile.
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