The best way to be an environmentally friendly car owner is to keep and maintain your car for as long as possible. This is the most common opinion among the general public, according to the Mobility Barometer. Some, however, disagree and believe we should be taking more action to push for a faster transition to electric vehicles.
Acting sustainable is key for many of us, including when we use the car. As an example, there is growing support for using recycled spare parts when repairing cars, as seen in this year’s edition of the Mobility Barometer.
MEKO is a driving force in the shift towards more sustainable practices, enabling a greener car fleet. While there is broad agreement on the need for this transition, experts continue to debate the pace and strategies for achieving it.
Studies point at the benefit of repairing cars
One commonly proposed strategy is to rapidly phase out petrol and diesel cars in favor of new electric vehicles, promising immediate climate benefits. However, this linear approach often neglects the breakeven period — the time it takes for the reduction in lifecycle emissions to offset the environmental costs of manufacturing electric cars.
For instance, a Japanese study suggests that extending the lifespan of both new and used cars could play a significant role in mitigating global warming. To achieve substantial reductions in lifecycle emissions, car designers should focus on increasing vehicle longevity. Consequently, some experts argue that this transition could be more effectively managed by prioritizing the maintenance and servicing of existing vehicles until they reach the end of their lifecycle.*
Clear support for service and repair among the car owners
When asking the public in the Nordic countries, service and repair appear to be seen as the greenest approach. 46 percent believe that maintaining and repairing a fossil fuel car is the most sustainable option when it comes to car ownership. This is more than double the number who think that buying a new electric car is the best choice.
When looking at individual countries, support for servicing and repairing is strongest in Finland (51 percent), followed by Norway (48), Sweden (47), and Denmark (38). As a result, the Danes are more inclined towards buying a new electric car as the most sustainable option, with 24 percent support compared to just 14 in Finland.
But there are also other views.
Others emphasize nudging towards electrification
Frances Sprei, Professor of Sustainable Mobility at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, offers a different perspective than simply keeping and servicing fossil fuel cars. She posits that if we assume the demand for mobility remains constant and consider cars, as we know them, to be the vehicle of the future, then the transition to electric vehicles seems like the obvious choice.
Frances suggests that the relative benefits of owning an electric car, both economically and environmentally, will only increase over time.
“A significant proportion of new cars in Sweden are linked with businesses or leasing contracts — this momentum is already established, and these cars invariably enter the resale market. Individuals in the habit of changing cars every three years, opting for an electric would indeed be more beneficial,” Frances Sprei says.
Elaborating on the eventual transition, Frances asserts: “The complete overhaul of the car fleet is an unavoidably timeconsuming process. If we passively wait, the transition may take a long time.”
She says that with each new electric car addition to the fleet, the pace of this transition accelerates and gains momentum. Also, the future benefits will only increase as the energy grid is better optimized, energy sources become more sustainable, and the conventional alternative becomes more expensive.
“The escalating costs associated with fossil fuel emission rights will advance the economic inviability of conventional cars. To meet the climate targets set, phasing of fossil fuel cars ahead of schedule may be sensible,” she says.
What to consider when making your choice
So, the key question is: Should you invest in a new electric car, even if your petrol or diesel car is still running well?
That depends on your perspective and what happens to the surrounding environment and infrastructure. Illustrating Sweden's progress, Frances Sprei claims: "The roll-out of electric cars must be accompanied by the right conditions. High electricity prices can distort the perceived value of owning one and the initial investment can discourage potential buyers. But considering the overall lifecycle, many would save money by choosing one.”
The power of the consumers
Not surprisingly, the Mobility Barometer shows that support for buying an electric car as an environmentally friendly choice is stronger in larger cities than in rural areas.
As we move toward a more sustainable future, the debate continues: Should we push for rapid electrification or focus on maintaining the existing fleet?
Many advocate for a balanced approach, weighing environmental impact, consumer preferences, and market forces. While experts offer valuable insights, it's ultimately consumer choices that will determine the speed and smoothness of this transition.
* ”A generalized framework for analyzing car lifetime effects on stock, flow, and carbon footprint,” Yuya Nakamoto, Shigemi Kagawa, Journal of Industrial Ecology 2022;26:433–447, 2021.
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