According to the International Energy Agency, an electric vehicle needs six times as many mineral inputs as an equivalent internal combustion engine vehicle (ICE). EV batteries can be very heavy and contain some expensive, toxic, flammable, and toxic materials.
Nickel, Cobalt and Copper are the primary metals used in EV batteries. These materials pose significant environmental problems due to their mining, use in manufacturing, and disposal. Ninety percent (90%) of ICE lead-acid battery are recyclable, while only five per cent of EV lithiumion batteries can be recycled.
We tend to overlook the positive aspects of oil as a source of power relative to the EVs’ battery power. Oil has been so demonized. Oil is a universal commodity that is abundantly available all over the world and provides the power for an internal combustion motor.Particularly in our backyard). The four largest oil-producing nations in 2019 were the United States of America, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. EVs are, on the other hand, dependent upon a combination of diverse commodities from a handful third world countries.
Despite the environmental hysteria surrounding oil drilling, the area that is actually disturbed by the oil is very small because it is extracted from below the ground. Many of the materials that are prominent in the clean-energy revolution are obtained by open-pit horizontal mines, which can be extremely destructive to large areas of nature.
Nickel
Nickel, a major component in EV batteries, can be found just below the topsoil of the Rainforests, Indonesia and the Philippines. The nickel is extracted by horizontal surface mining, which results in extensive environmental degradation. Deforestation and removals of the top layer soil are two of the causes. Rainforests are a key part in combating climate change, as they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. photosynthesis.The environmental battle cry Save the RainforestsMust be replaced with a slogan that is similar to the one from Vietnam War. To save the village, it was necessary to burn it. Here is the new environmental bumper sticker that will be used on all Clean Energy EVs. To save the planet, we had to clear the rainforest..
Lithium
Three South American countries bordering South America’s Andes Mountains account for more than half the world’s Lithium resources: Chile (Argentina), and Bolivia (Bolivia). These countries are collectively called the Lithium Triangle.
According to the Institute for Energy Research Lithium is often found in salt flats located in very arid regions, which can complicate the mining process. Below the salt flats is a multi-mineral mixture that contains Lithium. The process of removing the Lithium from the mixture takes 12 to 18 months and is very water-intensive. Each ton of lithium requires 500,000 gallons water. In addition to the discarded mineral salt mix, the process can cause water and soil contamination as well as a depleted waters table.
It is important to note that the United States ranks 4th in total Lithium resources, behind the Lithium Triangle countries. However, NIMBY (Non-Independent Business Buyers) is a good option.Not in My BackyardThe US Lithium market has been stalled by environmental protests to Save the Planet. Our provincial Earth-Firsters are determined to preserve the US as it is, but they don’t mind turning a blindeye to the environmental exploitation in third world countries.
Cobalt
70% of the world’s Cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although there are many environmental issues associated with Cobalt mining in the DRC, the most important problem is human rights. This includes dangerous working conditions and child labor. Cobalt can be a hazardous metal. Inhaling prolonged amounts of Cobalt dust can cause health problems in the eyes, skin, and lungs. Cobalt can be extracted easily from the ground by hand. Small scale, bare-bones, artisanal mines of Cobalt are common. The operation is simple and does not require occupational safety measures. It encourages child labor.
According toAccording to the Wilson Center small-scale mining in DRC requires people of all ages to work in harsh conditions. 40,000 of the 255,000 Congolese who mine for cobalt are children, some as young six years old.
Amnesty International has also Similar comments. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo thousands of children mine cobalt. Adult and child miners are exposed to cobalt for long periods of time, which can cause serious health problems.
The suspect (bad Cobalt), is mixed with the legal (good) Cobalt from large-scale mines, which have the required safety standards. They also employ only adults. This mixture of good and poor Cobalt helps to hide the human rights violations in the country’s mining operations.
However, it turns out that this charade is largely unneeded since most of the DRCs cobalt mining operations are owned or financed primarily by Chinese companies.
Eighty percent of DRCs Cobalt ends up in China. A country not known for its championing human rights (the Uyghurs?) What is more important? Are you fighting against human rights abuses or combating climate change?
Copper
Chile is the world’s largest copper producer. The majority of Chile’s Copper comes from open pit/strip mines. This type of mining is very destructive to vegetation, topsoil, wildlife habitats, groundwater, and groundwater. China, Peru, and the infamous Democratic Republic of the Congo are the next largest copper producers. The United States is the fifth largest producer of copper. A number of states, including Arizona, Minnesota, and Arizona, have shown promise as new sources of copper domestically using underground mining rather than open-pit mining.
The Biden Administration cancelled two Minnesota copper mining leases on January 26th. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland commented on the matter. The Department of the Interior takes serious our obligations to steward public land and waters for all Americans. This decision was supported by America’s strongest supporters: Democrats and environmentalists.
It’s Time to be Honest about Clean Energy
In December, President Biden issued an Executive Order stating that the United States government will provide a strong base for American businesses to compete globally in the clean-energy economy and create well-paying union jobs [except in mining]At home Today’s executive action reinforces President Obama’s directive to Buy American [except for clean energy raw materials]Ensure equity [in the US, but not in Third World countries]Environmental justice [in the US, but nowhere else]These are the most important considerations.
Our actions are a superficial reflection of our commitment to Clean Energy, despite all the talk and excitement. We are not willing to do the heavy lifting necessary to make the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Our role in the Clean Energy revolution won’t extend beyond the final assembly of electric cars. This is good enough for Earth First environmentalists, politicians, and others.
However, it is necessary to do a thorough and honest assessment of the entire lifecycle of clean energy, from its raw materials to its disposal. All forms of energy have pros and cons. All we have heard so far is the positives of clean energy. Now it is time to bring out the true costs of clean electricity. This must include the negative societal, and environmental impacts.
This article was originally published at FEE.org. Read the Original article.
