The impact of electric vehicles on the environment: What legacy will ‘green’ cars leave behind?

Description:The world is inspired by the idea of moving around in an environmentally friendly manner and at a lower cost of refueling. But is it truly environmentally harmless? Read this article to learn about the environmental impact of electric cars!

The Environmental Impact of Electric Cars: Influence on the Environment and How It All Began

Electric cars are commonly considered an environmentally friendly mode of transportation. This is evident even in their external design: they lack a radiator grille and exhaust pipe, thus eliminating the emissions of harmful gasses that negatively impact the environment.

Due to new ecological standards, many automotive companies are compelled to shift towards producing hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. This shift has also caught the attention of car owners who, leaving behind their concerns and fears, happily switch from vehicles with internal combustion engines to technologically advanced electric cars that not only differ in their power source but also boast a futuristic exterior.

It is worth noting that the mass production of electric vehicles began nearly a century ago. However, at that time, people did not perceive the same prospects and necessity, so the rapid development of electric cars only started in the 21st century. In our century, the first mass-produced electric vehicle was the Nissan Leaf, which rolled off the assembly line and entered the market in 2010. Its range was suitable for drivers primarily traveling within city limits. The first Leaf had some drawbacks that frightened drivers to the extent that they shied away from the idea of purchasing an electric car. Despite its flaws, the “Japanese” car gained the title of “the people’s electric car.”

It was the renowned entrepreneur Elon Musk, leading Tesla, who truly drew attention to electric vehicles. Today, this manufacturer surprises not only with the technical characteristics of its cars but also with its marketing campaign. Even during the challenging period of the coronavirus pandemic, Elon Musk’s company continued to break records in sales and pre-orders.

But what about electric cars afterward? As we all know, lithium-ion batteries do not have infinite lifespans, and according to statements from many electric vehicle manufacturers, these batteries are expected to last from 4 to 8 years or approximately 150,000 kilometers of mileage.

Starting from the production stage

In order to move an electric car, the motor requires power, which it obtains from the battery, typically installed in the vehicle’s floor. Therefore, the battery is an essential component of any electric car. To produce a battery, lithium needs to be extracted. This mineral is primarily mined in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. These regions hold the largest lithium reserves in the world, accounting for approximately 60% of this valuable element, right under the scorching sun.

From just one lake, around 10 billion liters of water containing lithium can be extracted each year. After the water containing lithium is obtained, it is transferred to a pool where the intense sun promotes rapid evaporation, resulting in a concentrated solution with 6% of the precious chemical element. The obtained substance is then sent to a factory for further processing and combined with other elements. On average, a ton of such metal is valued at $14,000.

In this entire process, the astute reader has likely noticed the main challenge that the concept of “clean” vehicles faces – water evaporation. The desired amount of lithium depends on the liters of water that need to evaporate. This stage of production already has an exclusively negative impact on the already arid regions. Furthermore, the dust, which contains various harmful elements, spreads throughout the area, causing various diseases in the local population and animals.

The number of factories involved in battery production is also increasing. This is due to the growing demand for batteries, which is expanding exponentially each year. As we all know, factories, like any type of production, cannot be considered entirely environmentally friendly activities today.

Emissions by “Foreign Hands”

Merely having a battery installed in an electric car is not sufficient for vehicle propulsion. It requires a charge from a dedicated charging station or a power outlet (although the latter is not recommended by manufacturers due to its instability and inability to provide fast charging). The charging station itself is powered by electricity produced at stations that predominantly rely on non-renewable resources. The consumption of these resources emits the very CO2 that we are striving to reduce with increasing efforts every year. Consequently, the emissions from an electric car are generated elsewhere, while the vehicle itself does not produce any emissions whatsoever.

Battery Recycling

Degradation is inherent in any battery, and the onset of degradation depends on the manufacturer. On average, the lifespan of a battery ranges from 4 to 8 years. Some manufacturers may limit it based on mileage. After that, the car owner needs to properly dispose of the battery, which poses another challenge following the previous points, distancing the idea of electric cars from the goal of saving the environment. It is worth noting the active interest of European countries in this area. German company Duesenfeld has developed a technology that converts around 85% of the battery into secondary raw materials. Compared to its counterparts, the company’s results demonstrate good performance.

Summarizing the “Harm” and Negative Effects of Electric Cars

When discussing the eco-friendliness of an electric car, we should pay attention to hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Most studies show results that say that a “green” car is not as “clean” as many environmentalists would like it to be. It is difficult to summarize how bad the footprint of electric cars is for the environment, as the result is influenced by many factors. But in general, to summarize the above, it should be noted that companies involved in lithium mining and battery production are keen to ensure that this is done with minimal damage to the environment. Many companies, including car manufacturers, are extremely interested in developing the idea of maximizing battery recycling. Perhaps, in a few years, mankind will come to a solution to this problem and cars will truly become a “clean” mode of transport.