Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

To meet the Paris agreement, CO2 emissions from road transport need to be severely lowered. In Sweden, as in many other countries, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) is increasing rapidly. This development has led to a recurring debate on whether EVs will help reduce climate impact or not. The aim of this paper is to analyze the Swedish debate on the climate impact of EVs with respect to discourse and validity of the arguments. Thirty-one opinion pieces published between 2010 and 2018 are studied using discourse analysis and a literature study. There are two discourse coalitions; supporters and opponents of EVs. The opponents’ main argument is that EVs are not carbon neutral although they lack tailpipes. Several opponents argue that EVs use imported, coal-fired electricity with high CO2 emissions. The supporters’ main argument is that EVs use Swedish, fossil-free electricity, thereby causing no CO2 emissions. Supporters also tend to emphasize new technology’s potential climate benefits. Neither coalition’s arguments are wholly valid, but nor are they wholly false. Swedish electricity production is largely fossil free, but, at times of high electricity demand, fossil-based electricity is imported. Thus, Swedish EVs often use fossil-free electricity, but sometimes they do not. Both coalitions motivate their positions with a desire to reduce climate impact. However, as the debaters generally use principles and system boundaries to suit their arguments rather than to use them properly and consequently, the debate fails to incite a more meaningful dialogue on how to meet the Paris agreement.