What is the well-to-wheels efficiency of a BEV that is powered by renewable electricity? Express your answer as a whole number. For example, if the answer is 15%, just input 15.

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We begin by restating the core concept: well-to-wheels efficiency for a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) powered from renewable electricity.

First, we clarify what well-to-wheels encompasses: it includes the energy harvested from the primary energy source (the well or sun/wind farm in the case of renewables) through conversion (generation), transmission/distribution losses, and finally the energy delivered to the vehicle, plus the vehicle's own drivetrain efficiency (tank-to-wheel). In other words, it tracks the total energy input at the source to the useful energy at the wheels.

Next, consider the stages for renewable electricity feeding a BEV:
- Generation losses: renewable technologies (wind turbines, solar PV) convert natural energy to electricity with some conversion loss. Each technology has characteristic efficiency or capacity factor, but the key point is that there is nonzero conversion loss from the primary energy form to electricity.
- Transmission and distribution losses: electricity travels through grid infrastructure, incurring additional losses before reaching the vehicle charging site.
- Charging and battery losses: charging the battery and the battery itself involve energy losses due to charging inefficiency and self-discharge, plus charging power limits.
- Vehicle drivetrain efficiency: once energy is in the battery, the BEV’s motors and driveline convert electrical energy into mechanical energy with a relatively high efficiency, typically higher than internal-combustion engines (often in the 85–95% range depending on conditions and speed).

When you multiply these efficiencies together, the overall well-to-wheel efficiency for a BEV powered by renewable electricity commonly falls in roughly the 70–80% range in many lifecycle and well-to-wheel analyses. This range reflects realistic losses across generation (renewables), grid transmission, charging, and battery and motor efficiencies, while also recognizing that renewable generation can have very good end-use efficiency once delivered to the battery.

Why the answer is not higher than about the mid-80s: even though BEV drivetrain efficiency is high, there are cumulative losses in generation, grid transport, and charging that reduce the total from 100% to below 100%. Therefore, pushing well-to-wheel efficiency into the low 90s would require near-ideal generation and zero grid losses, which is not representative of practical systems.

Why the answer is not lower than around the mid-60s: while losses exist, BEV drivetrains are typically more efficient than internal combustion engine drives, and renewable electricity avoids combustion losses, which helps keep the WTW figure well above 60%. A value in the low 70s to mid-70s is a commonly cited midpoint for many well-to-wheel assessments that include realistic grid and charging losses.

Given the provided numerical target, 73 is within the reasonable mid-point range for well-to-wheels efficiency of a BEV powered by renewable electricity, reflecting a balanced accounting of generation, transmission, charging, and drivetrain efficiencies.

What is the well-to-wheels efficiency of a BEV that is powered by renewable electricity? Express your answer as a whole number. For example, if the answer is 15%, just input 15.

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