Summary

The aim of this study is to provide an analysis of the impact that electric vehicles
would have on the Austrian energy industry. The assumption that was made for this
study is that purely electric vehicles were to be examined, meaning vehicles running
on batteries without combustion engines. Taking as a basis data from 2007, the study
examines the nature of the impact in the years 2020 and 2030. The underlying assumption
of the study is that electric vehicles will make up 20% of the total number
of passenger cars, light duty vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles existing on the
market (hereinafter referred to as “20% coverage”) where all registered vehicles are
the data basis.

Based on a traffic impact analysis, the following issues were examined in this study:

• Impact on electricity generation through the charging of electric vehicles

• Impact on the public power grid

• Changes to the Austrian carbon footprint

• Economic analysis including a cost-benefit calculation
 

1 Results

• 20% coverage (approx. 1 million electric vehicles) would lead to an increase in
power consumption of approx. 3% and would not require the construction of
further power plants.

• An electricity consumption analysis over the course of an average day has shown
that the power grid infrastructure currently in place provides sufficient capacity; adaptations
to the distribution networks would be only required with regard to charging
points. This means that 20% coverage would not require network reinforcements.

• Introducing electric vehicles to the Austrian market would require the installation of
approx. 16,200 electric vehicle charging points. Should, however, electric vehicles
be mainly introduced in cities, approx. 2,800 charging points would need to be
installed. These installations plus network connections would require investments
amounting to EUR 111m and EUR 650m, respectively.

• Assuming an electricity capacity mix corresponding to the amount of electricity generated
as of today, car emissions would be reduced to 40 g/km. This would amount to a
reduction of two thirds as compared to the emissions caused by conventional vehicles.

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