CO2, AND CHARGING YOUR EV AT HOME: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE IT

EV Channels Review

John Cadogan delivers a starkly realistic assessment of charging electric vehicles at home in Australia, challenging the common perception of EVs as inherently "green." He meticulously crunches the numbers, comparing the CO2 emissions of charging a Tesla Model Y Performance overnight via the grid to that of a diesel dual-cab ute. His analysis, based on Australian government data and adjusted for real-world conditions and charging inefficiencies, suggests that the emissions are remarkably similar, with the Model Y producing approximately 221g CO2/km versus a Toyota Hilux SR5 at 227g CO2/km. Cadogan highlights that rooftop solar, while beneficial, does not solve the nighttime charging emissions problem. He strongly advocates for hybrids, citing the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid as a more practical and environmentally conscious choice for most Australian motorists, offering significantly lower real-world emissions (154g CO2/km) and greater convenience. The review concludes that for effective climate action in Australia, hybrids are a superior and more sensible option than battery EVs for the majority of consumers.