Excessive Weight Reduces Benefits of Electric Vehicles

People who consider the danger of climate change when they purchase a new vehicle tend to focus on the powertrain. A hybrid or an EV is rightly considered a better choice than a traditional vehicle with an internal combustion engine. But a vehicle’s weight is every bit as important as its powertrain, and the environmental benefits of EVS are being undermined by our preference for large vehicles.

The laws of physics are stubborn, and they play no favorites when it comes to powertrains. It requires more energy to accelerate a heavy vehicle than it does a light one, and this is true for vehicles powered by gasoline or electrons. It also requires more energy to manufacture heavier cars, another law that applies to EVS just as it does to gas burners. EV batteries are extremely heavy and require a lot of energy to manufacture.

The generation of electricity produces upstream emissions that power EVS, so we shouldn’t completely dismiss the issue of their efficiency just because they run on electricity. The most efficient EVS are almost twice as clean as the least efficient. The two most frugal 2020 models are the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus and the Hyundai Ioniq, both of which are moderately sized EVS. The Tesla gets a combined MPGE of 141 and the Ioniq gets 133. The least efficient EV is the high performance Porsche Taycan Turbo S, which gets 68. The Jaguar

I-pace gets 76 and the Audi e-tron gets 77. The curb weight of the Ioniq is about 3,300 pounds while the Tesla weighs roughly 3,500. The Jaguar tips the scales at 4,700, the Porsche at 5,000, and the Audi weighs in at 5,500 pounds. In order for these heavy luxury EVS to travel a reasonable distance on a single charge, they need much larger batteries, and efficiency plummets.

The unwillingness of American consumers to purchase smaller vehicles is shaping our EV market just as it shapes demand for large gas-guzzlers. Volkswagen has introduced a marvelously green EV called the ID.3, but they won’t be available here in the United States because VW executives predict that U.S. consumers won’t buy them. They intend to market a less efficient EV crossover called the ID.4 instead. Honda is one of the greenest automakers on the planet, but they will not be bringing their adorable Honda e to the United States. The car is very efficient, but it is too small to be called a crossover and isn’t likely to sell here.

These consumer trends are very disappointing to folks who are concerned about global warming. The electrification of the auto sector is very promising, but the lion’s share of the environmental gains will be lost if we don’t confront our insatiable appetite for roominess. Driving an EV is a great way to do your part for a worthy cause, but you can increase your impact substantially if you’re willing to drive a smaller one.