A new study conducted by scientists from the University of Turku (Finland) revealed a paradoxical fact: owners of electric cars leave a larger carbon footprint than the average person.
Despite the environmental friendliness of the transport, the researchers found that the higher incomes and corresponding lifestyles of electric car owners lead to an increase in their overall carbon footprint.
In the studypublished in PLOS Climate, analyzed data from the CLIMATE NUDGE survey of more than 3,800 people.
The results showed that EV owners tend to be wealthier and more educated than the average consumer, and drive more kilometers per year. However, their carbon footprint remains higher than average because they use more energy, buy more goods and travel more.
The researchers note that despite the lack of direct emissions from electric vehicles, their owners often consume energy produced by coal-fired power plants, which ultimately increases the overall carbon footprint.
The study emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach to solving the problem of climate change, which should take into account not only technological innovations, but also changes in the overall consumption of resources.