A widely circulated meme was sent to us in March 2022. We investigated and found that it contained a mix of true, false, unproven claims. In a nutshell the meme claimed that ecofriendly electric vehicles (EVs), are bad for the environment. It also presented a number of vague and unsupported facts as a way to support this argument.
The Facebook post we received seemed to have been circulated online since March 12, 2022. The fact-checking site Lead StoriesYou can find it here Complete versionThe post, which we have Archive.
The The entire postIt is too long to list here, but we have broken down its main claims below. We spoke with Elena KriegerDirector of Research at PSE Healthy Energy. This multidisciplinary research and policy institute focuses on the adoption evidence-based energy policies.
Claim: Batteries do not make electricity. They store electricity generated elsewhere, primarily from coal, uranium or natural gas-powered plants or diesel-fueled generators.
Although batteries can store electricity produced elsewhere, what that electricity is generated from depends on the electric grid to which the battery is connected. (Read on for more information. Energy Storage:
The Union of Concerned Scientists explains How It Works and What Its Role is in an Equitable, Clean Energy Future.
California has created its Self-Generation Incentive program (SGIPKrieger pointed out that charging should be encouraged at times when grid emissions are low. Jeff St. John wrote in a article Green Tech MediaProjects like SGIP aim to encourage power-producing technology that emits less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. There are some controversies surrounding the technology, such a concern that natural-gas-fueled generators weren’t reducing fossil fuel consumption.
Batteries are also available AllowFor power from renewable sources to come when the wind blows windmills, or the sun shines on solar panel panels. After being stored, it can be used during high consumption times.
Claim: An electric vehicle cannot be said to emit zero emissions.
Krieger noted that electric vehicles emit zero tailpipe emissions. However, emissions from greenhouse gases and air pollutants during the course of the vehicle’s use are dependent on how and where it was produced, what electricity was used, and how the vehicle has been disposed of.
Union of Concerned Scientists has analysed data from 2018 affirmedEVs emit significantly less emissions than gasoline
Based on the number of EVs sold, it is estimated that an average EV drives at least as much global warming pollution as a gasoline vehicle with a fuel economy of 88 MPG. This is significantly higher than the most efficient gasoline car (58 MPG) and far less than the average new gasoline car or truck (31 MPG) sold in the US. Our estimate for EV emissions was Our previous estimate from two years ago was almost 10% lower than our current estimate. Now, 94 percent of Americans live in an area where an EV produces fewer emissions than a 50 mpg gasoline vehicle.
Claim: Fourty percent of electricity produced in the United States comes from coal-fired plants. This means that 40% of EVs currently on the road are coal powered.
DataThe U.S. Energy Information Administration (EPA), shows that 22% of electricity produced in the U.S. in 2021 was from coal plants. This is an increase of 19% from the previous year. Krieger explains that this is incorrect.
The second part suggests that the generation is proportional with vehicle charging. This assumption could be false for two reasons. First, EV adoption is high in California, which has very little coal in its power mix. Second, it depends on when and which power plants are dominant at the time that the vehicles are being charged.
Claim: There is a rechargeable and a single-use battery. Batteries store electricity chemically using toxic and heavy elements like zinc, manganese or lithium, silver oxide, zinc, carbon, and zinc.
There are rechargeable and single-use battery options. Both can contain toxic materials in varying amounts.
While no technology has zero impact, some battery chemistries have lower toxic materials than others. Tesla, for example, is an example. Phase outAlthough cobalt may have been removed from its batteries due to pressure from outside, cobalt is often mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by children. Krieger explains more.
Claim: The Congo is home to 68% of the world’s cobalt. This is a significant portion of a battery. These mines are not subject to pollution controls and they employ children.
It is believed that more than 70% of the world’s cobalt is made in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Around 70% of foreign-owned businesses are mainly Chinese. 60% of the global cobaltTo be used in electronic devices and cars, there is a demand for cobalt. Cobalt mining has environmental risks that may outweigh its benefits in rechargeable electronics. Wilson Center is a nonpartisan research organization. ReportsGlobal warming is caused by cobalt extraction. However, mining operations can produce high levels carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Contribute to the greenhouse impact.
According to the Human Rights Groups, there have been severe violations of human rights in mining operations. Council on Foreign Relations. It is EstimateOut of the 255,000 Congolese who mine for cobalt in their country, 40,000 are children.
Cobalt has been shown to increase battery life and has been used in a variety of applications. Popular choiceFor EV batteries, the U.S. Geological Survey NotesThe mineral is also used in a wide range of other products, such as airbags for oil and chemical industries, paints, varnishes and dyes, and magnets for many other goods and processing.
Claim: According to Einstein’s formula E=MV2, it takes equal energy to move a 5,000-pound car per mile as an electric one.
Snopes spoke with Brandon Baxley (an engineer and physicist based in Los Angeles) who stated that Einstein’s formula was not the best to use in this instance.
Einstein’s formula is about how much energy can be extracted mass, such as in a nuclear blast. Baxley stated that this formula is not applicable to such an event. If [the original poster]They are referring to Einstein’s formula, which means that they aren’t completely clear on the physics behind the theory.
But that doesn’t mean the argument is completely incorrect. Baxley observed that the theory of Kinetic Energy is a better concept in this case. This means that it would take the exact same amount of energy for two vehicles of equal weight to move, regardless of whether they were powered by electricity or gas.
According to a 2020 report by The Battery Company, the average vehicle weight in the United States has increased from around 3,200 pounds to almost 4,200 pounds in the past 40 years. EPA. Vehicles that are heavier require more energy to move than vehicles that are lighter, but weight is only one component. Other factors include velocity and speed.
Claim: Many rechargeable battery packs contain harmful chemicals such as nickel and cannot be recycled.
I think nickel-metal hydride refers to nickel-metal oxide, which is a common term in older Priuses. Nickel-cadmium batteries used to be common in small electronics. They aren’t used in cars, laptops, etc. and are becoming less common. Rechargeable lead-acid batteries are also available, such as the ones used to start most cars. Nearly allAlthough lead-acid batteries can be recycled, Kireger explained that these facilities aren’t always safe to manage.
See, for instance, the Excide plant that was located in Los Angeles. PollutingSince decades, the community has been dominated by low-income Latinos. Although there are many start-ups in this area (e.g., Lithium-ion Batteries), the current recycling rate for lithium-ion batteries is low. This is largely because it costs less to make new batteries than to recycle old ones. Redwood MaterialsFounded by former Tesla CTO. This area needs additional funding, research and regulations.
Claim: Leaked electricity can cause batteries to fail, resulting in a ruined flashlight analogy.
Krieger explained that most batteries self-discharge at a certain rate, some higher than others. This means that if a battery has been left unattended for a long time, it will likely lose its charge. She continued:
The flashlight that was ruined sounds like a side reaction. This could have occurred over time. Materials that were produced put stress on the battery, leading to it to burst, leaking battery acid, and causing damage to the casement. If the voltage of the battery drops below certain levels, a battery is usually considered dead.
The poster is correct in that you could theoretically drain more from a battery if you connected it to a circuit. The battery is not leaking electricity. It is likely to undergo additional electrochemical reactions that, in a perfect world, wouldn’t. Because the electrolyte is more likely a liquid, I believe that what usually comes out is the electrolyte. The electrolyte should not be touched. It is often acidic.
Oakland residents are told not to throw batteries in the trash. They should put them in a bag on their trash can. This will allow hazardous waste to be properly managed and not just thrown into a landfill. I do agree that a lithium-ion batteries should not be thrown in a landfill. We should find low-energy and economical ways to recycle them all. As mentioned, lead-acid battery can be recycled. This is good news for managing the future generation of lithium-ion battery waste.
Claim: Solar panels and windmills use more energy than they produce.
This is part the ongoing debate over whether renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines are green. Many of these resources can be harmful to our health.
Silicon is made from quartz. Primary materialThis is used in the manufacture of solar cells. It produces greenhouse gas emissions and requires that manufacturers handle toxic chemicals. Solar panels can also come in a variety of materials such as silicon-based panels or gallium arsenide.
They aren’t all made at once, except in rare multi-junction cell cases. Instead, most manufacturers make silicon cells and others use other semiconductors like cadmium telluride. Some parts of these cells are RecycleSome are, and some aren’t. Kreiger stated that the production process, as with any material processing, must be done in a way that protects human and environmental health.
The EPA NotesMany of the materials can be recycled easily, including glass (75% of a panel), the aluminum frame and copper wire and the plastic junction box. Solar panels may contain toxic chemicals such as cadmium that can make recycling more difficult. However, at least one American manufacturer has dedicated recycling facilities that can recover semiconductor material such as cadmium or tellurium.
The quoted windmill is also slightly off, and it all depends on the model and size of the turbine. For example, Haliade-X turbineThe production capacity of the, which is one of the largest, is just over 900 Tons. According to an analysis, wind turbines can last for an average of 25 year and around 85% of their components, including steel, copper wire and electronics, can be recycled. ArticlePublished by the Union of Concerned Scientists. As of today, it is not possible to recycle used blades. Windmills consume a lot of energy, so the blades can’t be recycled. While some windmills may not be able to recover their energy-construction costs as quickly as they were built, it is unlikely that any windmills will produce as much energy as the money spent on them. In some cases, a well-placed turbine could pay back its energy costs in three years.
The question is: How long does it take for a windmill to produce enough energy to create more than it took to build? The energy payback time for a good wind site could be three years or less. However, in poor locations, it might take much longer. David Hughes, an earth scientist, wrote in Carbon Shift, How Peak Oil and Climate Crisis Will Change Canada (and Our Lives) in 2009.
Claim: A typical EV Battery weighs around one thousand pounds. This is roughly the size of a small travel trunk.
Data in the meme appears from the Tesla Website(900 pounds, 6,831 cell; this is old and may vary from model to model). Krieger points out that it is difficult to determine the weight and quantity of materials in an EV because each manufacturer uses a different chemistry, and these chemistries are constantly changing.
A 2021 article published by NatureIt was suggested that EV batteries could contain 8 kilograms lithium, 35 kilograms nickel, 20 kilograms manganese and 14 kilograms cobalt. However, many companies are moving away or advancing technologies and the use of certain materials.
Claim: California is the country with the largest battery.
It appears that the original poster is referring to Moss Landing Project batteryIt replaced an old gas station. It currently has 400 megawatts and operators are looking at doubling it. It remains to be seen what the expansion will look like.
It is possible that some of the power it uses to charge its batteries might be generated by solar and wind power, but there is no guarantee that it will. It only charges and discharges from a grid. It might charge more for solar because we are beginning to see a surplus at the middle of the afternoon.
Conclusion
The claim that EVs are worse for the environment then other energy sources is a copypasta. Social media users copy and past content without verifying it. Uncited facts have been republished numerous times on social media. Although the post contains some truth, it overgeneralizes battery science and EVs and doesn’t list sources that can verify the claims. This claim has been rated as a Mixture.
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