On the sustainability of electric vehicles: What about their impacts on land use?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely regarded as the key to finally making private mobility clean, yet virtually no research is being conducted on their potential contribution expansion of impervious surfaces. This study aims start a discussion topic by exploring three relevant issues: impact EVs’ operating costs urban size, space requirements charging facilities, land demand energy production through renewables. Given cheaper compared conventional vehicles, EVs might lead 100 km2 European city increase about 0.2−1 (depending adoption rate and fuel price electricity ratio) an equally-large North-American 1−4 km2. Energy would also have significant impacts, with Europe US potentially having devote up 5,000–6,000 photovoltaic panels or 56,000–70,000 wind turbines. The creation spaces only minor effects in terms overall requirements, though attention should be paid whether easier detached semi-detached homes appeal this land-intensive dwelling types. Research needed improve our understanding these dynamics.