An electric car operates on an electric motor, instead of an internal combustion engine that generates power. The concept of electric vehicles has been around for quite a while. In recent years a considerable amount of interest has been built among the rising carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of fuel-based vehicles. But are electric cars really green and eco-friendly? Are they zero-emission vehicles? What is the environmental impact of electric cars?
What is the difference between thermal or fuel-based cars and electric cars?
The main difference is with the process of transforming potential energy into kinetic energy. In thermal cars, energy is stored in chemical form and released through a chemical reaction inside the engine. Whereas in electric cars it is released electrochemically without combustion, thanks to lithium-ion batteries.
Growth of electric vehicles
In between a pandemic, amidst a decline in the sales of the passenger car market, electric vehicles have shown growth. The global sales of electric vehicles increased in 2020, by 39%.
Why are people choosing electric cars?
Factors such as growing demand for low emission community. Governments supporting long-range, low emission cars through subsidies and tax rebates. Manufacturers are compelled to produce electric cars around the world.
Coming to the moot question, how green and eco-friendly are electric cars.
Let us be clear, electric cars are not zero-emission vehicles. It is important to note that no fuel is burnt and carbon dioxide (Co2) is not emitted while driving an electric car. But let us consider three stages:
- Manufacturing
- Energy Production
- End of life Cycle
The process of manufacturing is quite similar between electric and fuel-based cars. Electric cars store energy in large batteries, which are made of rear-earth elements (REE) like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. They exist beneath the surface of the earth and therefore depend on mining activities and come at high environmental costs.
Mining activities pollute our environment immensely.
If the electricity used to charge electric cars comes from the burning of fossil fuels. An electric car might not emit CO2 while driving but pollution would have been released in some distant power plant while burning fossil fuels. The source of energy to power electric cars must come from solar panels, wind turbines, nuclear or hydroelectric to reduce carbon emission. When it comes to electric car batteries being recycled, it is still an expensive and ongoing process and most batteries are not being recycled.
Lithium-ion batteries have a very specific mix of chemical components and little quantities of lithium. Therefore it becomes extremely difficult to recycle batteries.
While still being a better climate friendly alternative to regular vehicles, electric vehicles are yet to be 100% green!
