Cut your EV emissions

Switching from a diesel to electric van typically cuts emissions by 75%. These emissions can be cut further still by choosing where to deploy EVs and when to charge them.

How your EV fleet cuts GHG

Ab A typical diesel van emits 4,711 kg of Carbon-dioxide per year – switching to an electric van typically reduces emissions by 74% to 1,248 kg. These emissions can be reduced to 330 kg, a further 74%, by choosing where EVs are deployed and charged.

Nissan Electric Van

What happens when an EV is plugged in?

  • Electricity from the national grid charges the Electric Vehicle’s battery. The electricity comes from a range of generators in Britain and may include imported electricity from Europe.

  • Some generators will emit greenhouse gases as they burn fuels such as coal, gas and oil. The level of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity varies as the mixture of generators change. 

What happens when an EV is plugged in?

  • The level of emissions depends on where the EV is charged and when it is charged because of the varying mix of generators.

  • Electricity used to charge EVs usually causes GHG emissions – even when it is supplied under a 100% renewable energy contract.

Vehicle Type Fuel WLTP CO2 Emissions g/km CO2 Emissions from Electricity g/km EV CO2 Saving g/km EV CO2 Saving %
Tesla Model 3 RWD Car Electricity 22.6 122.4 84.4%
BMW 320i Sports Saloon Car  Petrol 145
Mercedes e Sprinter L2 H2 Van Electricity 62.2 181.8 74.5%
Mercedes Sprinter L2 H2 Van  Petrol 244

Regional Carbon Intensity

Emissions vary from region to region because the electricity generation mix varies. For example in 2021 the average Carbon Intensity of electricity supplied in Birmingham was 222 whilst in Glasgow it was 81% less, being just 42..

Regional Organization

  • Replacing diesel and petrol vehicles with EVs will always reduce emissions.

  • Emissions will be reduced more in some regions than in others.

  • In 2021 Scotland had the greatest benefit from switching to EVs whilst South Wales had least.

  • The table below shows example regional CO2 savings for an electric car and an electric van.

Regional Average Carbon Intensity 2021

Map

Electric Vehicle CO2 savings per km – Regional comparison 2021

UK Electricity Region Average Carbon Intensity Tesla CO2 emissions g/km Saving vs BMS 320i g/km Saving vs BMW 320i % e Sprinter CO2 emissions g/km SAVING vs Sprinter g/km SAVING vs Sprinter %
South Wales 323.7 48.2 96.8 66.7% 132.4 111.6 45.7%
East Midlands 317.4 47.3 97.7 67.4% 129.8 114.2 46.8%
South England 255.4 38.1 106.9 73.8% 104.46 139.54 57.2%
Yorkshire 230.7 34.4 110.6 76.3% 94.336 149.66 61.3%
West Midlands 222.0 33.1 111.9 77.2% 90.816 153.18 62.8%
South West England 186.5 27.8 117.2 80.8% 76.287 167.71 68.7%
East England 164.4 24.5 120.5 83.1% 67.245 176.76 72.4%
South East England 153.5 22.9 122.1 84.2% 62.763 181.24 74.3%
London 151.6 22.6 122.4 84.4% 61.999 182 74.6%
North Wales 144.7 21.6 123.4 85.1% 59.166 184.83 75.8%
North West England 101.1 15.1 129.9 89.6% 41.363 202.64 83.0%
North East England 80.3 12.0 133.0 91.7% 32.853 211.15 86.5%
North Scotland 69.5 10.4 134.6 92.9% 28.437 215.56 88.3%
South Scotland 41.8 6.2 138.8 95.7% 17.1 226.9 93.0%

Daily Carbon Intensity Variations

Carbon emissions from electricity are heavily dependent on when electricity is used. Changing time of consumption by a few hours can massively reduce emissions. Weekly and monthly variations can be much bigger than daily variations. A half-hourly carbon intensity forecast allows emissions to be minimized.

Optimizing EV Charging to Cut GHG Emissions

  • Emissions can be reduced by around 23% per year by avoiding charging when carbon intensity is high and charging when it is low.

  • Any charging regime needs to ensure vehicles are charged sufficiently. EVs are typically used during the day and charged overnight.

  • Charging to minimise emissions can be implemented manually or automatically via the EV, the charger or by switching the power supply.

  • Clean Power Lab has a cloud-based emissions control platform which can be used to optimize charging and minimize emissions.

London Oct 21 at 20:00

London Oct 21 at 02:30

Moving consumption from 20:00 to 02:30 reduces GHG emissions by 85%

Read our White Paper

Halving Business Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by managing Carbon Intensity

Benefits for Data Centres

According to the International Energy Agency, more than 1% of the world’s electricity is used to power data centres.

  • We help businesses understand and assess their current carbon emissions from electricity used in their data centres.

  • We can develop a strategy for reducing these emissions whilst ensuring the facilities operate effectively.

Take a look at how we could also help:

> Distribution Centres
> Offices

Data Centres

Benefits for Distribution Centres

A typical large Distribution Centre will consume around 3,000,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year causing around 500 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide emissions.

  • We help businesses understand and assess their current carbon emissions from electricity used in their distribution centres.

  • We can develop a strategy for reducing these emissions whilst ensuring the facilities operate effectively.

Take a look at how we could also help:

> Data Centres
> Electric Vehicles

Distribution centre

Benefits for Offices

Office emissions can be reduced by improving insulation and installing efficient lighting, hot water and air conditioning systems.

  • We help businesses understand and assess their current carbon emissions from electricity used in their offices.

  • We can develop a strategy for reducing these emissions whilst ensuring the facilities operate effectively.

Take a look at how we could also help:

> Distribution Centres
> Data Centres

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Solving the industries biggest problems

Clean Power Lab founder Mike Watson has been helping deliver carbon-free electricity since 1990 through his work at Nuclear Electric and as owner of Pager Power which helps developers with planning permission for wind and solar farms.

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