Comparative Analysis of the Spread of Battery Electric Vehicles and Their Energy and Environmental Performance in the European Union, Italy and Portugal

The adoption of alternative fuels and electrification represent promising and efficient solutions to decrease the environmental impacts of the transport sector and mitigate climate change. For this purpose, updated analyses on the diffusion of cleaner transportation options and evaluation of their corresponding environmental effects are fundamental factors for policymakers and responsible investors. In this framework, the present work aims at investigating the spread of alternative fuel passenger cars in Italy, Portugal, and the European Union during the last 15 years. According to the literature, Italy and Portugal present the slowest deployment rate of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) but offer among the highest gas emission decrease potential in the EU-27 area. The analysis focuses the attention on BEVs to promote the transition towards sustainable and smart transport, and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Results highlight a similar growth rate of BEV passenger automobiles in the three investigated areas, despite the noticeable differences in the car fleets and shares of alternative fuel vehicles. Particularly, an exponential trend characterizes the diffusion of electric passenger cars in the last few years. Afterwards, the paper evaluates the yearly electric consumption and the corresponding carbon dioxide (CO2) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the circulating BEV fleets, considering the recharging process and the energy mix for electric production. The investigation demonstrates that electric mobility reduces harmful emissions and has the potential to significantly mitigate the environmental impact of the transport sector, if coupled with an increase in the exploitation of renewable sources.