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As the European Union advances its regulatory framework on energy efficiency, the introduction of an energy label for electric cars appears increasingly relevant. Anticipating this policy development, we present a scoping analysis of energy consumption and efficiency trade-offs across 342 fully electric cars available in Europe. Our results suggest that certified and real-world energy consumption average 19 ± 4 kWh/100 km and 21 ± 4 kWh/100 km, translating into drive ranges of 440 ± 120 km and 380 ± 110 km, respectively. Energy consumption is correlated with mass, frontal area, and battery capacity but less so with rated power and vehicle price. Each 100 kg of vehicle mass and 0.1 m2 of frontal area increases energy consumption by 0.2 ± 0.1 kWh/100 km and 0.9 ± 0.1 kWh/100 km, respectively. Raising battery capacity by 10 kWh elevates vehicle mass by 143 ± 4 kg, energy consumption by 0.6 ± 0.1 kWh/100 km, drive range by 44 ± 2 km, and vehicle price by 12,000 ± 600 EUR. Efficient cars are available at any price, but long drive ranges have a cost. These findings point to considerable efficiency trade-offs that could be revealed to consumers through a dedicated energy label. We propose several options for classifying vehicles on an efficiency scale from A to G, with and without drive range and battery capacity as utility parameters. Our analysis provides a rationale for the energy labeling of electric cars in the European Union and could inspire similar analyses for other vehicle categories such as e-scooters, lightweight electric three- and four-wheelers, e-busses, e-trucks, and electric non-road machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers measured the total annual gadolinium (Gd) emissions of German hospitals which results in an elevated concentration of Gd in German surface waters.

We investigate the economic and technological potential for adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Abu Dhabi through a parametric assessment, a public attitude survey, and a diffusion model. Abu Dhabi, similar to fossil-fuel-rich countries in its region, features a car-dependent society and energy subsidies while being situated in hot, desert environment challenging to EVs. We compare conventional vehicles and EVs in the region accounting for the higher use of air-conditioning (AC) in the actual climatic and driving pattern conditions of Abu Dhabi developing an EV AC consumption penalty model. Average annual AC penalty in fuel consumption over normal testing conditions is 16% for conventional vehicles and 25% for EVs based on hourly weather and vehicle utilization patterns. For 250 days per year, the expected EV range is higher than 75% of the nominal value. During the five hottest days of the recorded year, it can drop to 60% but still covering the average daily driving of the majority of users with a single charge with a 25kWh battery. With partial subsidies offered for both fuel and electricity, EV adoption impacts the state in terms of opportunity costs for these fuels in addition to environmental externalities. We calculate the state and user benefits in a parametric analysis dependent on driving distance and battery costs. If the battery cost is $325/kWh, direct and internalized benefits and costs are balanced when the EV is driven 60 km/day. A diffusion scenario of 5% by 2030 results in cumulative net savings of 6.4 million barrels of oil, a reduction of 517.000 tonnes of CO2, and a cumulative net benefit of $127 million. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]