Electric cars convince with advantages
The rapid growth of the vehicle fleet - from around 300 million vehicles in 1980 to more than 1.3 billion in 2024, and thus more and more passenger kilometres driven - is exacerbating the problem. Without a targeted decarbonisation of the transport sector, there is a threat of a further increase in CO₂ pollution.
A comprehensive strategy for CO₂ reduction is absolutely essential, and the electric car offers clear advantages here. With an efficiency of around 70 per cent, it clearly outperforms other drive technologies:
Hydrogen drives only account for around 20 per cent,
synthetic fuels (e-fuels) to approx. 13 per cent,
and conventional combustion engines achieve values between 15 and a maximum of 30 per cent.
This technical superiority makes electric vehicles the best choice for decarbonising road traffic.
Other propulsion solutions that rely on hydrogen and e-fuels are more effectively utilized in other sectors, such as the heavy-duty industry and aviation. This cross-sector optimization is crucial for sustainably improving the global CO₂ balance.
Upward sales trend continues
Despite negative headlines about declining sales figures for electric vehicles, the global sales trend is continuing upwards.
In 2024, around 17 million new energy vehicles (plug-in hybrids and electric cars) were sold, accounting for around 20% of global vehicle sales.
However, only less than 5% of the global vehicle fleet is electrified.
The high average age of vehicles, around 13 years in Europe, highlights the challenge of decarbonising transport:
Replacing the entire vehicle fleet with electric cars will take several decades, even if sales continue to grow.
CO₂ balance of electric cars: the facts about life cycle assessment
Critics often cite the CO₂-intensive production of electric vehicles as an argument against their environmental benefits. In fact, electric cars start with a so-called "CO₂ backpack", which is caused by the energy-intensive production of the batteries.
However, the decisive factor is that around 80 per cent of the life cycle emissions of a conventional vehicle are generated during operation - an area in which the electric car scores highly thanks to its drive system.
The so-called break-even point, from which an electric car has a better carbon footprint than a combustion engine, depends heavily on the electricity mix. In 2023, it will be
about 58,000 kilometres in Germany,
41,000 kilometres in the USA and
in China, due to the high proportion of coal-fired power, 118,000 kilometres.
However, with the planned expansion of renewable energies, these figures should fall significantly. By 2030, a break-even point of just 23,000 kilometres is expected in Germany, 21,000 kilometres in the USA and 53,000 kilometres in China.
From an energy policy perspective, even a complete switchover of the entire vehicle fleet in Austria and Germany to electric cars would be manageable.
15% more electricity for full electrification
Our own calculations show that electricity consumption in Austria and Germany would increase by around 15% if the entire vehicle fleet were to be fully electrified. These increases emphasise that the electricity supply in both countries could cover the additional demand from electromobility if the plan to expand renewable energies is adhered to.
Global strategies for electrification
The electrification of transport is being driven forward worldwide with different approaches - from dogmatic to pragmatic and protectionist.
Europe
Europe is pursuing a highly regulated, dogmatic course aimed at rapid electrification of the vehicle fleet. Regulatory measures such as fleet targets play a central role in this.
These regulations force vehicle manufacturers to comply with certain CO₂ limits for their entire vehicle fleet, with the requirements being tightened every year. In the event of non-compliance, manufacturers face severe fines that can run into hundreds of millions of euros. This regulatory stringency is intended to further stimulate the market for electric vehicles and accelerate the decarbonisation of transport. In practice, however, a different dynamic is emerging. At a political level, European car manufacturers are intervening intensively to relax compliance with these fleet targets. There are discussions as to whether penalties should be imposed in the event that targets are not met or whether the fleet target limits should be lowered overall.
If these requirements are watered down, this could delay the development of electromobility in Europe in the medium term. Electrified vehicles currently account for around 22% of new registrations in Europe.
China
China is the absolute leader in electrification and already 50% of all new registrations are electrified vehicles. The country is pursuing a pragmatic approach and is focussing on both battery electric vehicles and hybrid drives.
Particularly in rural regions where the charging infrastructure is not yet fully developed, hybrid vehicles offer a practical interim solution. Compared to conventional combustion engines, hybrids can save around 20% of CO2 emissions over their entire life cycle. China is also promoting the market through the targeted expansion of the charging infrastructure and the availability of low-cost entry-level models, which make it easier for consumers to enter the market.
USA
In the USA, on the other hand, a protectionist and opportunistic approach dominates. With the renewed presidency of Donald Trump, it is expected that the growth in sales of electric cars will be slowed down in order to protect the domestic oil industry. The electrification share of new registrations is currently only around 10%, far behind China and Europe.
Success models of electromobility
The successful models of China and Norway impressively demonstrate that electromobility can work. China's success is due in particular to the fact that the country has created the decisive framework conditions, such as a nationwide charging infrastructure, which is essential for the daily use of electric mobility. In addition, low-cost entry-level models in China make it much easier for consumers to enter the market, which promotes the acceptance and spread of electric vehicles.
China is undoubtedly a textbook example of how electromobility is not only possible but can also be implemented successfully in economic terms. It serves as a blueprint and strengthens our conviction that electromobility will also become established in Europe and the USA in the long term, albeit with a certain time lag.
