A product or an activity is sustainable, if it has a positive impact on society. We have learned that internal combustion vehicles are not, because of the damage they cause to our atmosphere. Electric transport reduces this impact, but not entirely. Today we ask ourselves are electric vehicle batteries sustainable yet?
How Sustainable Are Electric Vehicle Batteries Really?
A team of experts at University of California in San Diego, reviewed each stage of a typical electric vehicle battery’s life-cycle in search of an answer.
This is a very important question, they believe, because transportation contributes 29% of greenhouse gases. And almost 80% of this pollution comes from road vehicles.
Are Electric Vehicle Battery Minerals Sustainable?
Batteries are at the heart of electric vehicles, although they share many aspects with smartphones and laptops. They have four main components, using multiple minerals taken from below earth’s surface. Some of these minerals are in relatively short supply. Extracting them consumes large amounts of energy.
Is Battery Manufacture Environmentally Responsible?
We will have to mass-manufacture huge quantities of batteries, if we are to see electric vehicles worldwide. We need to factor-in industrial pollution to fully address the question, are electric vehicle batteries sustainable. Battery giga factories irreversibly damage our environment.
Are Electric Vehicle Batteries Really Green Energy?
Our national electricity grids contain a blend of fossil, nuclear, hydro, and renewable energy. Therefore, electric vehicles support the generation of some high-polluting energy. However, this pollutant can be captured and disposed of. Whereas the pollution from gasoline vehicles is widely dispersed, forever.
How Many Lives Does an Electric Vehicle Battery Have?
If we use a battery once, then its single cycle carries a heavy burden for environmental pollution. This burden lightens if we can recharge it. But if we recycle its materials, then these become more sustainable. Our poor performance in this dimension is a blot on our industry.
So no, electric vehicle batteries are not fully sustainable yet. But we are getting there slowly. We can already detect their positive impact on the environment.
More Information
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