e-Mobility Emission Saving

We wanted to quantify sustainability efforts through the use of e-vehicles in terms of CO₂ Saving and so created a bona-fide algorithm: e-Mobility Emission Saving.

It’s simple: we convert the kWh used by e-vehicles into the equivalent quantity of CO₂ emissions saved by considering the emissions that would have been released by combustion engines.

How do we do it?

Through our infrastructure, we have access to data regarding:

• the number of charging sessions taking place at any given moment
• total amount of charging energy supplied.

The scope of the e-Mobility Emission Saving tool is defined by the charging infrastructures (public and private) in Italy linked to the Elettro Mobility Management Platform (EMM) system. These structures are permanently “connected” which provides efficient and effective data gathering for the algorithm.

How many trees?

To increase the impact of our calculations, we went even further: from kWh supplied to CO₂ Savings to the equivalent number of trees required to absorb that CO₂.

Enel X wants to demonstrate its deep commitment to sustainable mobility through the electrification of the vehicles in circulation in the country, the shift from fossil fuels to electricity, and the consequent saving in CO₂ emissions, additionally measuring this in terms of equivalent number of trees per annum.

The data concerning kWh is supplied by the Elettro Mobility Management Platform (EMM) system that centralises information from the different charging infrastructures connected to it in Italy.  The Fast and Quick (Pole Station and JuicePole) infrastructures for public and private use are supplied with an internal measurement calculator (MID certified), while others, e.g. Wallbox for private use, contain a measurement calculator, integrated and calibrated during the production process.

The CO₂ calculation considers an estimated distance covered by e-vehicles that are either 100% electric (BEV) or hybrid Plug-ins (PHEV) used in all-electric mode.

The average consumption of the e-vehicle models available on the market was calculated by the Polytechnic University of Milan in the research document: “Apriamo la strada al trasporto elettrico nazionale” (Pave the way for national electric transport).

The distance covered was converted into CO₂ by using the average emissions for the total vehicle fleet in circulation in Italy, as calculated by ISPRA and updated on an annual basis.

Enel X clients’ forest on four wheels

The net “CO₂ Saving”, obtained with the use of electric rather than fossil fuel-powered vehicles, is calculated by detracting the quantity of CO₂ emitted in producing the kWh used in e-mobility (source:  ISPRA). Using the estimates for the quantity of CO₂ absorbed annually by one tree (Source: 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories), it is also possible to calculate the saving in terms of the equivalent number of trees and thus quantify “the forest on 4 wheels created by Enel X clients through their environmentally responsible behaviour.”

_{*Data regarding e-vehicle consumption (BEV or PHEV in all electric mode) are considered constant through time.  Today’s e-vehicle is already an extremely efficient machine.  The electric engine has a very high performance rate (over 90%), which makes it unlikely that there will be significant improvements in the near future. Consumption depends principally on a vehicle’s weight and aerodynamic coefficient:}

_{1. Aerodynamic impact is first tackled in the design phase at high levels of efficiency (with CX=0.28 per segment C), giving great consideration to range and noise levels.  E-vehicles have intrinsic advantages (e.g. the lack of a central exhaust system allows for a flat chassis).}

_{2. Weight is kept to a minimum in the design phase for reasons of range and engines are already very light and powerful (there is no reason to increase the present power capacity - already 150CV for a station wagon).  This means that the battery (which has a specific weight) is the only element that could be further optimised. However, the trend here is to increase its efficiency within the present dimensions.}