Green, clean, future-proof?
How environmentally friendly electric cars really are
Hardly any other topic is currently as hotly debated as electric mobility. For some, it is the key to a climate-friendly future, while for others it is merely a shift in environmental pollution.
But how sustainable are electric cars really, and what role do digital solutions and intelligent systems play in the background?
FINETELLIGENCE also addresses these issues and shows how well-designed technologies can help make electric mobility more efficient and sustainable.
The life cycle assessment begins before the first ride
Emissions are generated even during the production of an electric car, especially during battery manufacturing.
Der Energieaufwand für die Gewinnung von Lithium, Kobalt und Nickel ist hoch und wirkt sich auf die Umweltbilanz aus. Studien zeigen jedoch, dass sich dieser anfängliche Nachteil während der Nutzung ausgleicht: Je länger das Fahrzeug fährt und je grüner der Strom, desto besser die Bilanz.
Current studies also show that electric cars produce significantly lower emissions during operation and can achieve their ecological “advantage” after a few tens of thousands of kilometers.[1]
Electricity makes the difference
The actual climate-friendliness of electric mobility depends largely on how the charging current is generated. If the electricity comes from renewable energies, the CO₂ emissions of an electric car are reduced by up to two-thirds compared to a gasoline or diesel car.
In today’s German electricity mix, electric cars emit around 40% less greenhouse gases on average than combustion engines, and this trend is rising.[2]
Recycling: The second life of the battery
Old car batteries can be reused as stationary energy storage devices because they typically still have a residual capacity of around 70 percent after use in vehicles, which is sufficient for the less performance-critical requirements in power grids or buildings.
In addition, recycling is constantly improving: modern processes can already recycle around 90% of the metals contained in lithium-ion batteries.[3]
E-mobility is more than just cars
Sustainability does not end with the vehicle itself.
Charging infrastructure, energy supply, and digital systems play an equally central role. Electric mobility can only realize its potential if
This is where ecological and technological factors come together: power sources, maintenance processes, software integration. All of these factors determine how “green” the overall system actually is and how well it is accepted.
How FINETELLIGENCE contributes to this
True sustainability is achieved when technological complexity is reduced. This is precisely where FINETELLIGENCE comes in with its direct payment software called E-nfinity.
The solution ensures:
- Simple, transparent payment processes at every charging station or a separate payment terminal
- Digital receipts instead of thermal paper receipts
- Less maintenance required thanks to cloud-based updates
- Rechtskonforme Fiskalisierung und Skalierbarkeit
In this way, FINETELLIGENCE is helping to make electric mobility not only cleaner, but also simpler and more efficient, both for operators and users alike.
Conclusion: Environmentally friendly? Yes—if the overall system is right.
Electric cars are not automatically the perfect solution, but they are a decisive step toward climate-friendly mobility.
Their environmental footprint depends on many factors: the energy source, the production method, the charging infrastructure, and the intelligence of the systems that power them.
With E-nfinity, FINETELLIGENCE simplifies the complex processes in the background so that electric mobility is not only green in concept, but also smart in practice.
Sources:
[1] Fraunhofer ISI – Ein Update zur Klimabilanz von Elektrofahrzeugen (PDF)
[2] UBA – Klimavorteil für E-Autos bestätigt
[3] DUH – 10 facts about the environmental compatibility of electric vehicles (PDF)