Jakarta – A study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that switching from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles without transitioning to green power plants is not reducing emissions.
In its study, CREA revealed that the comparison of emissions from electric cars and petrol cars is not too different. The resulting exhaust emissions include Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), NOx (Mono-Nitrogren Oxide), CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), and Particulate Matter (PM).
“SO2 emissions from electric cars reach 0.19 grams/km, much higher than petrol cars which produce only 0.04 g/km,” the non-profit said of its study findings.
For NOx emissions, the CREA study continued, both electric cars and petrol cars produced 0.25 g/km. Likewise, electric cars also produce more PM, which is 0.03 g/km compared to petrol cars which only produce 0.025 g/km. However, electric cars emit less CO2 gas, 104 g/km, a slight difference from petrol cars that produce 140 g/km of Carbon Dioxide.
Furthermore, CREA said that electric vehicles (EVs) can indeed be a solution to the pollution problem. However, what needs to be remembered is that currently much of the electricity used still comes from coal-fired power plants. The transition to clean power plants takes time but must be started immediately. (Hartatik)
