Eighteen new EV fast chargers that can charge up to 400 kW have been installed in Germany at these locations: A6 in Landstuhl, Rheinland-Pfalz, and the A7 in Ellwangen Jagst, Bavaria. “Our fast charging parks are ideally suited for short charging stops on long-distance journeys due to their convenient location close to the motorway and the high available charging capacity,” said Martin Römheld, Chief Executive Officer E-Mobility at EnBW. The installation of 18 new fast chargers might not seem particularly newsworthy, and even the source buried one of the most important facts, but these will power a lot of cars — and very cleanly. The new chargers run on 100% renewable electricity. Only fully electric vehicles can run on 100% renewable electricity. Gas and diesel vehicles can not do that even if they are “highly efficient” hybrids, only running on dirty fuels producing toxic emissions which harm human health and the planet. Furthermore, electric motors in EVs are much more energy efficient; internal combustion engine vehicles waste most of their energy. Dirty fossil fuels are also connected to some of the most corrupt politics and dumb wars. Do you remember “dieselgate” in Germany? Diesel exhaust is quite harmful to humans, so cheating on diesel vehicle emissions was an unethical business practice that also triggered legal action. Most of us are not health scientists or air pollution scientists, so we may not be fully aware of how much damage toxic air pollution does to us humans. “Approximately 10,000 people die prematurely in Europe each year due to diesel car emissions surpassing legal limits. Italy, Germany, France, and the UK have the highest death toll, accounting for 70% of all premature deaths from diesel emissions.” Fully electric vehicles do not directly generate toxic air pollution; gas and diesel vehicles do. While some EVs are charged with electricity produced in power plants that burn fossil fuels, many are not, and some are charged with clean, renewable electricity. The power plants that use fossil fuels are not located right in cities usually, so at least their air pollution is generated some distance from population centers. Gas and diesel vehicles driven in population centers spew toxic air pollution from major arteries and minor roads every day. Electric vehicles can be used in virtual power plants to avoid the use of fossil fuel power plants. Their battery packs can also be used in a second life as stationary energy storage. Some EV drivers also have their own home solar power and can charge their EVs with their own electricity. Gas and diesel drivers can not make their own gasoline or diesel fuel at home.
