"IMPACTS OF ELECTRIC CARS"

Electric vehicles have grown in popularity because of their image as environmental beneficial, but it's vital to recognise that they have some environmental impacts as well. Despite the fact that it may seem contradictory, there are a few areas in which electric vehicles are worse for the environment than traditional hybrid vehicles.

Production and Disposal:

          Lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electric cars, rely on the mining of rare earth metals like lithium and cobalt. The process of extraction frequently results in severe environmental harm, such as deforestation, soil degradation, and water pollution. Since they contain dangerous components, these batteries are difficult to dispose away. Their disposal could result in pollution and harmful health impacts if it is improperly handled.

Energy Generation:

          Electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions, but the type of electricity they use affects how environmentally friendly they are in general. In this case, the pollutants are merely transferred from the car to the power plant if the electricity is generated using fossil fuels. Electric vehicles' carbon footprints can be greater than hybrid vehicles' in areas where coal or oil are frequently used to generate energy.

Battery renewal and lifespan:

          Although the lifespan of battery in electric cars varies, they gradually decay and need to be changed. It is environmentally harmful to make new batteries, and it is difficult to get rid of used ones. Since the process of properly disposing of electric vehicle batteries is still being developed, dangerous materials may end up in landfills or be burned, it endangers both the environment and human health.

Dependence on Rare Earth Minerals:

          The production of electric cars is largely dependent on rare earth minerals, and since many of these resources are concentrated in a small number of nations, there are geopolitical issues and potential resource disputes. In the areas where they are extracted, the mining and shipping of these minerals may have negative effects on the environment and the local economy.

It is significant to remember that the environmental impact of automobiles relies on a number of variables, including the individual models, battery technologies, energy sources, and driving habits. The comparisons made above should be taken into consideration in a broader context, taking into account the full lifespan analysis and potential long-term advantages of electric vehicles, such as decreased greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality.

REFERENCES:

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in 2021:

Title: "Net environmental benefits of electric vehicles increase with renewable grid integration"

Authors: Constantine Samaras, Kyle Meisterling

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917824117

A study published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology in 2017:

Title: "Are Electric Vehicles Overrated? The Environmental Impacts of Electric Mobility in Germany"

Authors: Florian Hacker, Stephan Reichart, Dominik Wiedenhofer, et al.

DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12631