According to a new study in Australia, the BYD Dolphin is the greenest EV. The study by Compare the Market looked at entry-level versions of 25 different EVs available in Australia to determine which was best for the planet.
BYD’s Dolphin topped the list with an overall index score of 8.23, beating out the Tesla Model 3 for the top spot. Also in the top five were the Chinese-made Dacia Spring, BYD Atto 3, and the GWM Ora 03 (Ora Good Cat).
Compare the Market’s index scores were based on four different factors: Green NCAP, Claimed energy efficiency, Battery size, and Battery type.
The biggest limiting factor for the study was Green NCAP. Due to the number of cars that had received a Green NCAP score, this limited the study to 25 models. Green NCAP gives a percentage score, which was then indexed relative to each EV model, with a higher score being better.
The second factor was the claimed energy efficiency. This was based on WLTP-rated energy consumption on the combined cycle according to each manufacturer via the EV Database. Again, the results were indexed, and this time, the lower the score, the better. A lower energy consumption figure per 100 km shows a more efficient electric car.
For battery size, the minimum gross battery size for each entry-level variant of the car was used; again, data was from the EV Database. Based on the theory that a smaller battery pack size needs fewer resources, they were indexed by size, with lower being better.
Compare the Market worked on the assumption that a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery type is better because it is more sustainable. NCM-type batteries are deemed more contentious due to their cobalt and nickel content. Therefore, LFP batteries got a score of 10, whereas lithium-ion batteries (with nickel-manganese-cobalt or nickel-cobalt-aluminium cathodes) received 5.
Editor’s note:
Calling the BYD Dolphin the greenest EV is a bold claim. As always in such studies the devil is in the detail, or often the lack of it. The most obvious issue is this is not a full lifestyle assessment. Such assessments are very difficult to do due to the inability to get the detailed information required to assess the production processes of the components that went into the car. It should, however, be pointed out that China’s electricity supply is far from green. Another factor is, of course, what happens to the car after its useful life.
Green NCAP, despite its name, is actually pretty limited. It consists purely of a clean air index, energy efficiency index, and greenhouse gas index. Of these, the greenhouse gas index does take into account the energy mix used for electricity production when assessing energy usage for the car’s operation.
Source: Compare the Market
