This is both true and false. If a municipal or provincial electricity grid is predominantly powered by fossil fuels, then your EV will be using “dirty” electricity. However, three points must be considered:
- EVs replace the inefficient miniature combustion that occurs in ICE vehicles. Having more efficient vehicles on the roads contributes to reducing the overall global emissions.
- While different municipalities and provinces have different electricity generation makeup, it is important to note that renewable energy accounts as the largest energy electricity generator in Canada (Government of Canada, 2018). Therefore, this statement application varies depending on which province one is charging their EV from. Even so, provinces such as Alberta (where fossil fuels produce 90% of its electricity generation) is pushing to make its electrical grid 30% renewable by 2030 (Stephenson, 2019).
- Today, many EV owners implement solar energy solutions into their homes or businesses to take energy directly from the sun. Setting up an EV charging station right at home or at the business site while pairing it up with solar technology ensures that the energy used for the EV is as green and renewable as possible.
From production, to charging, to driving, EVs have proven to be significantly better for the environment than ICE vehicles.