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Electric mobility: the necessary solution

What is electric mobility? The term electric mobility is used to designate forms of mobility/transport that depend, at least in part, on electrical energy. Electric mobility can be used for both passenger and freight transport. In the latter segment, the challenges to electrification are substantial, since the technology is not yet at a level of maturity similar to that of electric cars.

The growing adoption of electric vehicles, supported by the decarbonization of electricity production, mainly through the incorporation of renewable sources, gives this technology a central role in achieving the goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector to zero.

Electric vehicles are powered, wholly or partially, by an electric motor. The most common electric vehicles include cars, buses, bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, trains and trams, among others. In some electric vehicles, it may be necessary to supplement mobility with a combustion engine, in which case we speak of hybrid vehicles.

Why does electric mobility contribute to decarbonisation? For the International Energy Agency (IEA), decarbonising the transport sector is crucial to achieving the desired zero carbon emissions. This sector accounts for around a quarter of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU), as land, sea and air mobility continues to depend on combustion engines, which mainly run on fossil fuels.

The expectation is that two out of every three cars sold by 2035 will be electric, if the announced climate and energy commitments are fully met and within the stipulated deadlines, which will have a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the IEA, meeting these targets will also allow for a significant reduction in demand for oil, reducing consumption by around 12 million barrels per day, which is equivalent to the current demand for road transport in China and Europe combined.

In addition to adopting electrified solutions, it will be critical to create alternative fuels for heavy land, maritime and air transport that cannot be met by electrification. These alternatives mainly involve the development of low-carbon molecules that are the basis for sustainable aviation fuels (commonly known as SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuels) and advanced biofuels (such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils – HVO).

What is the status of electric vehicle sales? The IEA’s forecast for 2024 pointed to 17 million electric cars being sold by the end of 2024 worldwide. And, in fact, the first three months of this year were promising. As many electric vehicles (EVs) were sold as in the whole of 2020.

However, although the global market grew by 20% in the first half of 2024, this growth proved to be quite uneven, due to a significant drop in EV sales in Europe and North America.

Europe saw a modest increase of just 1% compared to the same period in 2023, largely due to falling sales in countries such as Germany and Italy.

In the United States and Canada, sales of electric vehicles grew by just 10%. Insufficient infrastructure and concerns about the price of these types of vehicles continue to be the main obstacles to wider adoption.

What modes of transport can be electrified? The vast majority of modes of transport can be electrified. In particular, rail transport such as trains, metros and trams have a long history of operating using electric power. Road transport has also been progressively electrified, particularly passenger and light vehicles, as well as buses.

Also noteworthy is the so-called electric micromobility, through bicycles, cargo bikes, scooters and e-scooters, which have recently seen an increase in electrification.

Water vehicles, such as small boats, ships, ferries and submarines, can also be electrified – and are increasingly being electrified. Short-haul electric aviation is still in the pilot phase, and it is not yet known exactly when it will reach the market. Since the energy density of fossil fuels is significantly higher than that of currently available electric batteries, in terms of energy storage per weight, fossil fuels are still much more efficient. This issue is crucial in aircraft, since weight has a direct impact on flight efficiency and viability.

For short flights, electric aircraft may be viable and there are even projects under development. However, for both long-haul maritime transport and long-haul flights, current batteries cannot store enough energy without becoming impractical in terms of weight.

Alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and hydrogen are being explored. However, despite the strong desire to eliminate fossil fuels from aviation, several barriers make the process complex and require technological innovations that are not yet fully viable.

What is the difference between electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrids? Electric vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicles – BEVs) run solely on electricity, that is, they are 100% electric, and are powered exclusively by batteries that are charged by connecting to the electricity grid, via a socket.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) have an electric motor, charged by a socket connected to the electricity grid, and also have a combustion engine. It is possible to drive in 100% electric mode if the driver wishes, and use the combustion engine as an alternative. Conventional hybrid vehicles (Hybrid Electric Vehicle – HEV) also have a combustion engine and an electric engine, but the combustion engine is always the main engine and the electric engine can never work without the other. On the other hand, there is no way to charge the battery by connecting it to the electricity grid, and it is only powered by the vehicle itself, when braking and decelerating. As an alternative to charging at home, it is possible to charge the vehicle on the street, using public charging stations from MOBI.E – Electric Mobility Network. There are several mobile applications and online portals (from MOBI.E itself and the Mundo Galp App, for example) where you can check the location of these stations.

There are several types of charging stations, with varying power and charging speed:

Standard Charging Stations (PCN) – Power up to 22 kW. Charging can take between about four hours – and more than eight hours – depending on the size of the battery. These stations are mainly suitable for residential areas, for night-time charging, for example.

Rapid Charging Stations (PCR) – Power greater than 22 kW and up to 100 kW. Maximum charging between one hour and one and a half hours.

Ultra-fast Charging Stations (PCUR) – Power equal to or greater than 100 kW. Maximum charging of up to 45 minutes, more suitable for areas with high turnover or traffic, such as motorways, etc.”

The electric vehicle charging network in Portugal has stood out compared to the European average. The country has a more developed and efficient charging infrastructure than most EU countries.

On the one hand, it stands out in terms of geographical coverage. The network is well distributed, covering not only large urban centres, but also rural areas and main roads, which facilitates the use of electric vehicles throughout the country. On the other hand, the country stands out in terms of technological integration, with a technologically advanced network, digital platforms that allow for easy location of stations and simplified payment methods, facilitating and improving the user experience.

How long does a battery last? The vast majority of brands that sell electric vehicles offer an eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty, which includes the batteries. Since these batteries have fewer mechanical components than a conventional combustion engine, they are less likely to need replacing. According to UVE – the Association of Electric Vehicle Users, a battery can last more than 15 years in an electric vehicle, but to help this happen there are some precautions that should be taken into account when using it:

– Avoid discharging the battery below 20% and charge it to 100%, unless long journeys are planned and a full charge may be necessary. Therefore, the ideal battery charge should be between 20 and 80%;

– Do not leave the vehicle charging after it has finished charging, except in cases where it has been previously configured not to reach the full value.

– When it is expected that the vehicle will not be used for a long time, it is advisable to leave it with around 50% charge;

– Reserve fast charging only for emergencies;

– Do not charge immediately after use;

What happens to batteries when they stop being used? Used batteries constitute a global challenge that involves the urgent need for sustainable solutions for their recycling and reuse, in order to mitigate environmental impacts. In this sense, in 2023, the European Council adopted a new regulation that strengthens sustainability rules regarding batteries and their waste. This regulation sets out rules applicable to all batteries and the entire battery life cycle, from production to reuse and recycling. The measures include promoting the circular economy; by improving the functioning of the internal battery market (the aim is to ensure fairer competition by introducing safety, sustainability and labelling requirements aimed at all operators); and, consequently, by reducing environmental and social impacts.

Today, when it is no longer used in an electric vehicle, a battery can be reused to store electrical energy, in stationary mode, in residential buildings, offices, companies, public buildings, among others. It is estimated that a battery used in this way, to store renewable energy, could double the lifespan of an electric battery from 8 to 10 years to 16 to 20 years.

In a contribution aligned with global decarbonization goals and innovation in the energy sector, Galp launched the “2nd Life Batteries” project. This is a pioneering energy storage system that uses end-of-life electric vehicle batteries to power ultra-fast chargers, without overloading the electrical grid.

This project reflects Galp's pioneering role in developing the Iberian electric mobility network. More than 15 years ago, Galp installed the first electric charger at a service station on a European motorway. Today, it has already surpassed 5 thousand recharge points.

Is the maintenance of an electric vehicle more expensive than that of a combustion engine vehicle? On average, taking an electric vehicle to the garage for routine maintenance is cheaper than for a conventional vehicle. Average annual maintenance costs are around €50 for electric cars and €180 for cars with internal combustion engines – according to UVE – Electric Vehicle Users Association.

The main justification is related to the lower complexity of the engine, which has fewer components, so the likelihood of problems arising and the consequent need for repairs is lower. For example, these vehicles do not have spark plugs, there is no need for engine oil (and therefore no oil filters), nor do they need timing belts or fuel filters.

In addition, to estimate the costs of a vehicle, you should consider not only its acquisition cost or the cost of servicing, but also the Total Cost of Ownership over the vehicle's useful life. And, all things considered, this tends to be lower in the case of electric vehicles than in vehicles with internal combustion engines.

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