Alternative fuels

Battery (electricity)

Fuel efficiency

Quantum mechanics

Engineering

Ecology

Biology

Environmental economics

Environmentally friendly

Fuel cells

Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent

Economics

Power (physics)

Electric vehicle

Electricity generation

Chemical engineering

Green vehicle

Diesel fuel

Business

Waste management

Physics

Gasoline

Renewable energy

Alternative fuel vehicle

Battery electric vehicle

Automotive engineering

Environmental science

Natural resource economics

Electricity

Zero emission

Electrical engineering

Fuel Cells

Due to the pressing environmental problems coming from the transport sector, interest in electric vehicles (EVs) has increased significantly over the last decade. Although different types of EVs are available on the market, the largest contribution to the reduction of environmental problems could be made through zero‐emission vehicles, such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Each of these vehicles has some advantages and disadvantages. The problem they share is the high purchase price in comparison to conventional gasoline vehicles. Through the improvement of battery performance, further technological learning and a mix of different direct and indirect supporting policy measures, the competiveness of EVs could be significantly improved. EVs could already contribute to the reduction of emissions today, however the full environmental benefit of BEVs and FCVs is related to the mix of the primary energy sources used for electricity generation and hydrogen production. The increasing use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation makes EVs more environmentally friendly. Since total emissions are also dependent on the embedded emissions of cars, their lifetime as well as their usage (specific vehicle kilometers driven per year) have significant impacts on the total emissions per km driven.

Economic and Environmental Prospects for Battery Electric‐ and Fuel Cell Vehicles: A Review