We often consider eclectic cars as an environmentally friendly alternative or its been sold to us in that format. What do you think, the EVs are eco-friendly?
What a stupid question right? Of course, electric cars are environmentally friendly.
Emissions from Gasoline cars
An average gasoline passenger vehicle emits about 400 grams of tailpipe carbon dioxide (CO2) per mile, Which accounts for 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year. In addition to carbon dioxide (CO2), automobiles using gasoline produce methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from the tailpipe and all vehicles can emit hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) from leaking air conditioners. For gasoline vehicles, the emissions of HFCs are small in comparison to CO2; however, the impact of these emissions can be important because they have a higher global warming potential (GWP) than CO2.
Emissions from Electric cars,
CO2 emission from electric cars is 0%. Period.
We compare/ being sold in this way.
What about the emissions while producing large lithium-ion batteries?
- To produce the batteries we need minerals like lithium, cobalt nickel, etc. These are not available on the surface of the earth. Same as extracting crude oil from the earth we need to mine these elements from the earth. For extracting and transporting these materials we still use machinery that runs on fossil fuels and then we have to heat them in high temperatures to make these batteries. As a result, building an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery found in a Tesla Model 3 creates between 2.5 and 16 metric tons of CO2 (exactly how much depends greatly on what energy source is used to do the heating). This intensive battery manufacturing means that building a new EV can produce around 80% more emissions than building a comparable gas-powered car. . . There goes one point from your eco-friendly badge.
- Like most gasoline cars most of the emissions of today’s EVs come after being rolled off from the production floor. The major source of EV emissions is based on how we charge the batteries. These emissions will vary enormously based on where you drive and what kind of energy is being used there to produce electricity. The best case model available in the world right now is Norway, the nation that draws most of its energy from hydropower. This means that the carbon footprint left by EVs is minuscule. In other countries, the condition is different because they generate electricity by burning fossil fuels or nuclear power plants. Hence EVs are almost in par or a little bit better than burning gasoline.
There goes one more point from your eco-friendly badge
We could still get these points back by being environmentally friendly in the way we extract, source, and manufacture things
There is a third point that we have never thought/discussed about. The point that the world knowingly ignores.
The Environmental Impact of Mining and the Social impact on human life in those countries.
The cathodes in lithium-ion batteries typically used in EVs are made of metal oxides that contain a combination of cobalt and other elements. It’s even used in the device which I am using to write this article to the device you are using to read this article from.
Most of these elements are extracted from African countries. Take Lithium and cobalt as an example. Democratic Republic of Congo( There are two Congos, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the larger country among the two and the Republic of Congo” ) has the largest source of Cobalt (44 % comes from here ) and 8th largest source of Lithium. In spite of having all these natural resources, they remain one of the poorest nations in the world, what an irony right?
They use a totally carbon-neutral way to extract the cobalt, they use child labor, and people dig out using their hands and not using any machinery. The most inhumane way possible. Believe me or not we are still doing this in the 21st century.
“Cobalt should be handled as a CARCINOGEN — WITH EXTREME CAUTION. * Cobalt may cause a skin allergy. If allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a skin rash. * Exposure to Cobalt dust can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.”
We are using humans, that too kids to dig out these minerals using bare hands. We want these minerals even more now because we are trying to be carbon neutral, we are trying to be eco-friendly, we are trying to collect green points. What about the people who live there, what about their family, their social life? The fact is: “We just don’t care !!”
Their last generation had beautiful dreams about their grandkids. The current generation is petrified and the future looks bleak, cloudy and remains scary for them.
Take the example of Goma, a place in Congo that is very rich in Cobalt. Once it was a green hilly paradise. Now it is one of the most dangerous places in the world to live/visit. It’s all because of our greed to collect the green points, that is getting funded to the militias as weapons and money so that they can evacuate the once paradise and extract Cobalt from there.
This Cobalt comes at a high human price. It should not be called cobalt, instead, it should be called “Blood Cobalt”. Knowingly or unknowingly we all are using that “blood cobalt” in our daily lives. We have a complicit/ accomplice liability in this.
The second part of the last point: The Environmental impact of these mining
The second part of the last point: The Environmental impact of these mining
A mine in Goma
The negative environmental impacts of mining include climate change, deforestation/habitat destruction, pollution, soil erosion, human-wildlife conflict, and the loss of biodiversity. Take the case of Goma, it was once a lust green hilly paradise now being turned into a place of rubble and stones. The people are being thrown out of their homes and the biodiversity is being harmed.
Now what do you think about the question I asked at the start
“The EVs are eco friendly?”
The answer is “Not yet !!”
Will it ever become eco friendly:
“There is sufficient in the world for Man’s need but not for man’s greed.” Mahatma Gandhi
Trooming 