Bewertung der Umwelteffizienz moderner Autoantriebe – auf dem Weg vom Diesel-Pkw-Boom zu Elektroautos

Motorized traffic is among the biggest CO₂-emitting sources and is additionally dominating NO_x emission. Engine technology shifts are approaching, while automobiles developed in Germany and Europe are exported worldwide together with the European emission thresholds for cars. The Diesel car boom induced by EU commission, national EU governments and car industry is accordingly analyzed for sustainability and its effects on environment. German CO₂ emission reduction numbers by motorized traffic, as claimed by the government, are questioned. Radiative forcing by soot (black carbon) Diesel car emissions is added on the CO₂ emissions by fuel combustion. Diesel cars without particle filters are found to cause an atmospheric warming. Modelled and measured NO_x emission data are assessed to mismatch considerably. In spite of an ambitious national NO_x reduction plan there is excess NO_x emission by the German and European Diesel car boom. In this context environmental sustainability of battery electric vehicles (BEV) is investigated. Direct (by car) und indirect (by power plant) emissions (CO₂, NO_x, PM₁₀, SO₂) of cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) and BEVs, respectively, are calculated and compared. CO₂-ecoanalysis revealed advantages for BEVs even operated with current German electricity mix based on around 15?% renewable sources.