Experts agree that electrification of transportation will be crucial in our efforts to curb climate change. Electric vehicles (EVs). Have been around for more that 120 years. But, thanks to remarkable technological innovation and advances in the last years, this industry has grown at a phenomenal rate. Research and development resulted in significant improvements in battery lifespan and lower manufacturing and purchase costs. There are more EVs on the roads every year. This raises the inevitable question: Are electric cars better for our environment?They are more efficient than those powered by gas.
Electric Cars are being Invested in by Countries All Over the World
Many countries have made electric car switching a priority in their plans for achieving their climate goals. So far, 17 countriesthey have committed to achieving a zero-emission vehicle target of 100% or to eliminating internal combustion engine vehicles by 2050. The US and China are two of the most powerful economies in the world. Are they racing against each other?To be leaders in the EV market, with them making remarkable progress in expanding it. China has sold over three million passenger EVs by 2020, more than twice as many as the US. China has more than 400 registered brands in New Energy Vehicle (NEV), and over 500,000 vehicles. 500 000 electric busesA staggering 98% of all sales are attributed to this country.The global figure. The US looks promising for the future of this industry. Here, electric cars sales have risen by more thanSince 2016, 40% per yearThe number of vehicles in this category is expected to rise because President Joe Biden’s plan for carbon neutrality (to make sure that half the new vehicle sales in the United States are zero-emission) will increase. The government is helping consumers by increasing their purchasing power. Tax creditsFor USD$12,500, you can purchase a new EV, up from USD$7500 at the moment. You can also finance new public charging infrastructure. States in the US are also taking action with credit programmes and stricter emission standards. California’s fuel demand has sparked a race for 1.2 million chargers by 2030. California Energy CommissionAccording to estimates, by then, there will have been approximately 7.5 million EVs.
They have announced a for the UK After 2030, ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel carsIn an effort to achieve zero-emissions by 2050. To fuel the transition, the government will invest nearly 12 billion (USD$14 billion), which will be used to accelerate the roll-out of charging points across the country, boost mass production of EV batteries as well as support consumers’ purchases with grants that will allow them to save up to 42%. In the same vein, Carrie Lam, chief executive of Hong Kong, announced the Need to increase electric vehiclesas part of the 2050 carbon neutrality plan. It is estimated that Hong Kong’s total carbon footprint would be reduced to 1.4million tons if all vehicles were electric, as opposed to 7.4 million.
Norway is one of the most successful countries in the EV-transition. The European nation saw a remarkable rise in sales in 2021, with EVs accounting for nearly half of the total. 80% off new cars sales. The country also wants to be the first to ban the sale of combustion engines by 2025. Norway is leading the charge, but other European nations are following. According to market predictions, the European market will grow by a staggering 1,697% in 2030 according to a recent study. UswitchAnalysed data from the International Energy Agency, (IEA), suggests that the continent could cut emissions equivalent to planting one-billion trees (or a forest greater than Belgium) and reduce sea level by 2.19mil.
Changing to an EV is a good strategy for reducing global warming. In fact, if all cars were electric, we could reduce almost all global warming. one-fifthGlobal emissions. The benefits of expanding the electric industry go beyond this: We would not only have cleaner air but also less reliant on oil price spikes due to conflict-fuelled spikes. Also, our cities would be quieter. It’s not only about cars. There are many other factors that can be considered. silent revolutionGlobal transport sector electrification is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, with electric bikes, motorbikes as well as buses, trucks, freight trains and tractors becoming more common. Innovation in the field, as well as the drop of clean energy costs (solar becoming the cheapest form), is driving lower manufacturing costs and resulting in lower purchasing prices for EV batteries. Although electric vehicles are certain to be crucial in the fight against climate change, it is equally important that we answer the critical question: are electric cars trulyBetter for the EnvironmentThey are more efficient than those with combustion engines.
The Environmental Footprint for EV Batteries
It is well-known that the initial environmental footprint of current EV production is higher than that of internal combustion engines, especially when producing electric cars batteries.
The most popular type of EV battery, lithium-ion batteries, contains two energy-dense materials: cobalt and lithium. Production capacity and mining for these metals have reached record levels to meet the ever-increasing demand. The question isn’t whether there is enough lithium. Experts believe that there will be a significant increase in demand, with it expected to reach approximately half a billion metric tons by 2021 and 3 million metric tons by 2030. There is plenty of product to supply the industry with lithium-ion batteries. More concerning is the impact drilling for this metal has on the environment. Lithium mining is a destructive process that can be extremely harmful to the environment. It is also resource-intensive and has side effects such as water loss, contamination, ground destabilisation and biodiversity loss.
Figure 1 Global Lithium Demand, 2015-2030
Nearly three quarters (75%) of the world’s lithium can be found in the so called Triangle of lithiumThis area spans Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. Water loss is one of the most serious environmental problems associated with the intensive mining for lithium extraction. The massive lithium reserve and Salar de Uyuni salt flat, which is the largest in the world, is being mined in southwest Bolivia. This is threatening to devastate the ecosystem and drain the water supply. Extracting even a tonne lithium can take up to 2 million litres water. Droughts and desertification will become more frequent as water sources in the region decline. The Salar de Atacama Mine is Chile’s desert. It has also consumed an estimated 2.2 billion liters of water. 65% of the area’s water is potable.. Additionally, a large portion of the energy required to extract and process lithium is generated from fossil fuels. This causes CO2 emissions. 15 tonnes per tonne of lithium mined. These CO2 emissions are also dependent on the size of the battery. They can range from three to around 16 tons. However, producing one tonne steel, the most common material used in internal combustion engines, generates 1.9 tonnes of greenhouse gases, far less than lithium.
As battery technologies improve, so does the cost of making EV batteries. However, these emissions are decreasing. Furthermore, the lifetime of electric cars is highly compensated for emissions that are generated during production.
You might also enjoy: 7 Misconceptions about Electric Vehicles
How much do electric vehicles emit when they are on the road?
There are emission savings opportunities when electrifying vehicles. They produce very few emissions over their lifetimes, especially compared to conventional vehicles. Internal combustion (IC), engines that burn fossil fuel oil, produce 10%The world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Non-electric cars require gasoline to run. However, the majority of emissions are caused by the refinement of crude oil after it has been extracted. This not only includes greenhouse gases, but also methane, nitrous dioxide, and methane. While it is common to argue that oil will be extracted for other purposes regardless of whether or not we switch to EVs, it is clear that phasing out gasoline-powered vehicles will reduce the demand and therefore the emissions associated with this industry.
Even though electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions (which is why they are considered zero), the actual amount of pollution they cause depends on where their electricity comes from. EVs offer a significant opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When combined with a low-carbon electricity industry. However, many countries like the US still have power from coal plants. These regions have a greater impact on electric cars than areas with clean energy. Yet, as renewables expandWorldwide, concerns about EV emissions are falling at an incredible rate.
What about Battery End-of Life Emissions?
When trying to figure out if electric cars are better for our environment than traditional combustion engine vehicles, there is one last thing to consider: EV battery disposal. The industry is growing, so does the number and quality of used batteries. Problematic is the fact that not enough batteries are being recycled or properly stored.
According to the IEAThe volume of electric vehicle batteries to be retired by 2030 is almost equal to the annual production. This will prevent it from becoming a serious environmental problem. The industry must devise effective ways to address this issue. A 2021 data analysis revealed that only 5% of lithium-ion battery are being recycled. This is alarming considering the fact that It is possible to easily remove more than 90% of nickel and cobalt.
EV batteries can also contain metals that can be very harmful even in small amounts. Leakage of environmental contaminants is common because most of them are disposed off in landfills. These leaks can often lead to Underground firesThe atmosphere is exposed to more pollutants. The human respiratory system can become contaminated with hazardous metals such as arsenic or chromium, chromium and cobalt. This can lead to a host of health problems. These toxic metals can also contaminate drinking water, posing a risk to both humans and animal biodiversity.
Due to the problems associated with battery end of life, key regions around the globe are looking at ways they can improve their policy landscapes to regulate battery collection and recycling. For example, 2019 will see the introduction of a new battery collection and recycling policy. China has mandated producer responsibilityThe European Union is holding manufacturers responsible for the disposal and recycling waste batteries. The European Union is also working on the Battery DirectiveThis would prohibit the sale of batteries containing certain hazardous substances, regulate collection, recycling, and set forth provisions regarding labelling and removability of batteries from equipment. The US government depends on the Lithium-Ion Car Battery Recycling Advisory GroupThe California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), which was commissioned to advise the legislature about EV battery recovery policies, was the lead.
EOs Position The net-zero equation is undoubtedly incomplete without the electrification and modernization of vehicles. Although it is great to increase electric cars, electrifying the entire transport sector will make a significant difference. To ensure that EVs can become a strategy to achieve carbon neutrality, governments must address some of the problems that the sector still faces by creating strong mining and battery disposal regulations. Even though production electric vehicles are still relatively young compared with gas engines, their role in decarbonisation is becoming more important with the right policies.
