Electric cars are widely regarded as a beneficial to the environment and a strategy for mitigating climate change. But, are electric cars (EVs) as environmentally friendly as we believe?
Hybrids and all-electric cars emit little or no pollution. That means the vehicles create nearly no greenhouse gas emissions, which is unquestionably excellent for the environment. However, there are additional things to consider when calculating how much pollution your electric car produces. These factors include where your electricity comes from, when you charge, the temperature where you reside, the battery production process, and your driving habits.
The five parameters listed above have an influence on an EV's performance, as well as how much, if any, negative environmental impact it has. Let's take a look at each one separately.
1. Electricity Sources
Electric vehicles create energy through electrochemical processes in their lithium-ion batteries, rather than burning fuel like a gas-powered vehicle does. Vehicles that run entirely on electricity are known as battery vehicles. Hybrid vehicles reduce emissions by using a battery in low-demand situations such as city driving and relying on the gas engine the rest of the time. Most hybrids and electric vehicles include some form of regenerative braking, which uses kinetic energy to charge the vehicle's battery and improve economy even further.
Electric cars, on the other hand, produce pollutants in a different way. If the power plants that give energy to the grid we use to charge such cars are fuelled by fossil fuels, they can cause detrimental greenhouse gas emissions. Coal plants, which have shown to be ecologically damaging for producing power, are nevertheless used in parts of the Midwest of the United States. On the West Coast, the balance is more renewable, with wind and solar powering more of the grid, but they still rely on fossil fuels to some extent.
We need to rebuild the grid in order for EVs to completely realize their promise as "clean" vehicles. Coal and oil, both polluting sources of energy, should be phased out in favor of renewables. EVs may still emit harmful emissions until that happens if the power they utilize is generated by burning fossil fuels. But make no mistake: even when utilizing non-renewable power, electric vehicles emit less CO2 during their lifetime than gasoline vehicles.
Some claim that removing emissions from highways near homes and businesses reduces hazardous air pollution, even if power plants are located outside of cities and individuals continue to emit greenhouse gases. Although this is true, a cleaner grid might help to reduce pollution even more. According to the UK climate magazine Carbon Brief, the UK has decreased carbon emissions from energy generation by about 40% in the last three years. Almost all of Norway's and France's energy comes from renewable sources such as hydroelectric and nuclear power. The manufacture of electric vehicle batteries (which we'll discuss later) is the most carbon-intensive aspect of an electric vehicle's existence in nations with this energy mix.
2. Charging At What Time Of Day
At different times of the day, different energy sources are used in different parts of the United States. Coal-fired power plants are utilized at night in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. While this lowers monetary energy expenses, it increases pollution. Charging throughout the day, when electricity is taken from cleaner sources in such locations, may assist to minimize emissions.
If one is available, this may mean charging at a public station in a garage or outside your job rather than at home. Because most people charge their electric vehicles overnight at home, this may not be an option for many EV owners. It is also not a long-term sustainable model. To address this issue, the grid must be made greener.
3. The Climate in the Area
Extreme heat and cold have a detrimental impact on electric vehicle efficiency. According to Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Engineering and Technology, EVs in more harsh temperature locations in the United States can use up to 15% more energy on average. It might be as much as 40% greater energy usage in the coldest parts of the country. The chemical processes inside the lithium-ion batteries that power all-electric automobiles are slowed by cold weather, which necessitates extra power for auxiliary electrical systems like heating. If the extra energy is derived from fossil-fuel-burning power plants, it might result in increased emissions.
EV battery technology, on the other hand, is always improving. Battery packs that charge faster and have better energy density are being developed. EVs are also equipped with cooling devices to protect their batteries from the impacts of excessive heat.
4. Manufacturing of Batteries
The most emissions-intensive operations in an EV are battery and car manufacture. According to the Swedish Environmental Institute, the power required in the production and assembly of an electric vehicle's battery accounts for almost half of the vehicle's lifetime emissions.
The metals used in such batteries, like as cobalt and lithium, are also a consideration. These metals must be extracted from the earth using procedures that are far from environmentally friendly. In fact, mining the ingredients for an EV battery and putting it together emits more pollution than manufacturing a gasoline automobile. Mining rare earth metals uses a lot of water and may be detrimental to the environment, animals, and humans.
Despite the foregoing, EVs still outperform gas cars in terms of emissions during their lifetime. Although gas cars emit more hazardous pollutants as they age, an electric vehicle retained for several years would emit very little, with battery manufacturing being the most damaging aspect of its life.
