Is running Nexon EV vs Nexon P/D cleaner on India’s coal centric grid?

Let’s discuss about the driving emissions from Nexon EV vs Nexon Petrol and Nexon Diesel.

A lot of EV naysayers have raised valid questions regarding the emissions from production of electricity in India, which is a rather coal centric grid. Their proposition is that coal powered grid negates environmental benefits of the EVs.

Let’s analyse.

1. Emissions from Nexon ICE

   1. gCO2/km for Nexon (P) : 147g

   2. gCO2/km for Nexon (D) : 166g

2. Emissions from Electricty production india :

   1. IEA data for gCO2/kWh from electricity production - 681.6gCO2/kWh

3. Calculation assumptions :

   1. Battery capacity : 30.2kWh

   2. Mean range : 225km

   3. Grid Losses : 15%

   4. Actual energy used in charging : 35.5kWh (from grid efficiency accounted)

      1. Electric meter received only 30.2kWh because rest was lost in transmission as heat not at meter.

      2. Owner pays for 30.2kWh, but power plant is making 35.5kWh for charging the Nexon EV

Vehicle Efficiency Nexon (E) : 30.2kWh/225km = 0.134kWh/km

Energy efficiency : 35.5kWh/225km = 0.158kWh/km

Emissions from charging gCO2/kWh = 107gCO2/km

Recalling the petrol and diesel, the emissions were 147gCO2/km and 166gCO2/km, almost 1.5x that of the Nexon EV, even with necessary assumptions of

1. Grid efficiency

2. Realistic range of the EV

It should pretty clear that in even in the existing power grid setup in India, its cleaner to use a Nexon EV than Nexon P/D. These figure are for a “per kilometer“ basis. The more one drives, the more the emissions. If you drive 10,000km per year, emissions are about

1. 1.07 tons CO2 for Nexon EV

2. 1.47 tons CO2 for Nexon (P)

3. 1.66 tons CO2 for Nexon (D)

While this is strictly comparison of running emissions, people might be quick to point out the emissions from battery production. The answer is, scales must be even. If one includes battery production emissions, one simply cannot neglect the emissions by :

1. Extraction of oil

2. Refining of oil

3. Transportation (ships, trains, trucks)

4. The production of electricity used in oil production. (Refineries and off shore platforms aren’t running on pixie dust, are they?)

5. The mining of various metals like cobalt, which are used in oil processing

All of this “behind the scenes” emissions necessitates a separate discussion, which I leave for another day.