Injection Moulding Asia Automotive
From zero to hero: automakers go carbon neutral The automotive industry is driving towards
One of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the transport sector will, by 2035, become the single largest GHG emitter that will account for 46% of global emissions, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). By 2050, ADB forecasts the sector to contribute 80% of emissions. Of the regions, Asia is estimated to accrue 31% of the total carbon emissions from transport by 2035.
the net-zero direction with electric vehicles and low carbon emissions production facilities, says Angelica Buan in this report.
Electric vehicles: boon or bane? The sector, thus, is pushing for adoption of electric cars as a fix for reducing carbon emissions. Compared to regular cars, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and all-electric vehicles (EVs) produce lower tailpipe emissions. But are EVs any better for the environment? A study nixes cynics that say EVs could actually raise carbon emission levels, from production and electrification. In countries with inadequate clean energy grids, or those that rely on fossil fuels like coal to produce energy, adopting EVs might become pointless. However, utilisation of renewable energy is anticipated to increase more in the coming years, and this bodes well for the EV segment. A study, carried out by the Universities of Exeter, Nijmegen and Cambridge, finds that EVs generally help reduce carbon emissions and therefore are better for the climate than petrol-run vehicles in 95% (or 53 regions) of the world. It said that average lifetime emissions from EVs are 70% lower than petrol cars in countries such as France and Sweden that rely on renewables and nuclear for their electricity, and around 30% lower in the UK. Greater adoption for clean energy in the years to come would make even inefficient EVs more beneficial for the climate than new petrol cars. By 2050, every other car on the street could be electric. This would reduce global carbon emissions by up to 1.5 gigatonnes/year, the study adds.
Transport sector a major contributor of emissions Climate change has been directly and indirectly linked to the emergence of the coronavirus, and for experts, it is a moot point for now. However, one thing is clear: climate change is an epidemic that has no vaccine or an instant cure. It can take time to heal the environment from the toxicity created over generations of neglect. It requires conscious effort and action, especially from industries that contribute to the scale it is now.
EV growth inimitable The EV market is promising and it has shown a growing following even during the lockdowns where sales are made online. According to a McKinsey report, demand for EVs has remained stable during the pandemic, compared with demand for other vehicles. EV sales in China, Europe and the US have dropped but the market share for EVs has increased.
The transport sector is purported to become the single largest greenhouse gas emitter by 2035, to account for nearly half of global emissions
1 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
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