Thread by @f_stiebeling

There is a new "Policy Brief" by the @kielinstitute, authored by Prof. Dr. Dr. Ulrich Schmidt, Professor in national economy in Kiel.

It concludes that a transition to #emobility will not lead to less C02 emissions, but 73% more compared to Diesel cars. That is wrong (Thread).

Schmidts reasoning in short: #Emobility leads to a later phaseout of coal, as the renewable energy will be used for driving and not for reduction of fossil energy. Therefore BEVs are running on 100% coal, as they alone are responsible. 100% coal means 300g/km CO2. (2/x)

Compared to a modern Diesel car (178g/km CO2), that is 73% more. This is his scenario for 2050, which is expected to have an energy mix of 60% renewables/40% fossils.

This train of thought is wrong on so many levels, let's try to unpack it. (3/x)

The reasoning that BEVs will be responsible for longer coal power genereration is ridicolous.

Renewables are getting cheaper by the minute. Fossils are just too expensive to build in comparison. Just take a look at this amazing graph. (4/x)

theguardian.com/environment/20…

But that is not all. NEW Renewables are expected to be cheaper than most EXISTING coal plants by 2030. Let that sink in.

On this, see @ramez: rameznaam.com/2019/04/02/the…

or CarbonTracker:
fastcompany.com/90477318/from-…

Why would BEVs EVER run on coal in 2050? (5/x)

Schmidt says, that replacing all cars in Germany with BEVs would mean about 20% more power (64,63 TWh) needed, which is correct: Current power generation is 515,56 TWh. What he doesn't say though is this: Germany exported 30 TWh in 2019, even 50 TWh in 2018 (6/x)

Which means: If you replaced 1/3 of all German cars TODAY, you could power them without even building any new power plants, whatever the source.

See the amazing @energy_charts:
energy-charts.de/energy_de.htm?…

(7/x)

And what about the emissions that are being replaced by NOT driving Diesel cars? That is graciously overlooked as well.

There is more, but this is enough for now for me. (END)

Correction: It is 94,63 TWh needed. Alnost 20% is correct though.

https://twitter.com/f_stiebeling/status/1274019158515220480