Abstract
Electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Electric retrofits involve converting an ICE vehicle to an electric drivetrain, aiding the transition to zero emission vehicles by adapting current vehicles and, thus, reducing the transport sector emissions. Other benefits include charge exemptions in major cities, reduced driving costs, and lower maintenance. The UK has a considerable retrofit market, with a large price range of services offered. There is a varying level of practice undertaken and current regulations may not adequately cover these retrofits. Industrial engagement has highlighted the varying levels and common themes of practice, such as restoration work, computer-aided design, and finite element analysis. Converting the registered fuel type of a vehicle to electricity, post-retrofit, appears to be a limited process, with few steps. Therefore, a regulatory framework, such as an accreditation scheme, could be introduced to ensure high levels of safety and good practice. Future work suggestions include further meetings with the DVLA and DVSA, and meeting the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.
Highlights
Climate change has been highlighted as a paramount issue, with atmospheric CO2 concentrations in 2019 reported to have been greater than at any point within the last 2 million years and the fastest 50-year increase in global surface temperature in 2020 for at least 2000 years [1]
Even considering emissions from electricity generation, a study states that Electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30–80% compared to gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles [5], whilst another study highlights the potential GHG emission saving to be about 90% [6], which would provide a vast reduction in overall emissions if there was a large uptake and transition to EVs
The V5C document of the vehicle must be updated with details of the new fuel type and vehicle weight, before submission to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for it to be updated on relevant registers
Summary
Climate change has been highlighted as a paramount issue, with atmospheric CO2 concentrations in 2019 reported to have been greater than at any point within the last 2 million years and the fastest 50-year increase in global surface temperature in 2020 for at least 2000 years [1]. In 2020, the transport sector accounted for approximately 24% of global direct CO2 emissions caused by fuel combustion, with road vehicles accounting for almost 75% of those emissions [3], portraying the considerable climate effect created by the sector. Even considering emissions from electricity generation, a study states that EVs have the potential to reduce GHG emissions by 30–80% compared to gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles [5], whilst another study highlights the potential GHG emission saving to be about 90% [6], which would provide a vast reduction in overall emissions if there was a large uptake and transition to EVs. It is more beneficial to utilise electricity generated by solar, wind, biomass, and nuclear energy, rather than fossil fuels, to ensure that maximum emission savings can be made, accounting for indirect source emissions, in addition to the direct emissions of vehicles [7]
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