ARE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THE SOLUTION?

As pollution & climate changes are reaching catastrophic levels, it has become our necessity to look out for more cleaner and ecological alternative solutions. One such alternative has been in talks for a long time now & is gradually making it's way into our lives i.e. electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles are often presented as 'non-polluting' or 'zero emission' vehicles. Not just this, various advantages such as fast charging & long-lasting batteries, high driving range, reliability, affordable cost, increased safety & comfort are enough to propel someone into buying these EVs. Also, higher authorities & conglomerates in various countries are offering hefty tax rebates, e-vehicle policies, subsidies & promising incentives in an effort to protect the environment. EVs are being cited as a sustainable initiative towards a pollution-free healthy ecosystem. Thus, leaving the demand for next-gen mobility soaring. According to the International Energy Agency, there will be around 250 million EVs on roads by 2030, re-modelling the graph of the automobile industries globally.

But the question here is: Are electric vehicles really greener? Are they really worth the hype? Is it true that they are harmless to the planet?

Electric Vehicles are said to be a more viable option in comparison to fuel-powered vehicles, for their eco-friendly nature. The use of lithium-ion batteries makes them more fast, efficient & reliable. But, there is another side to the story. Some facts state that; EVs leave more carbon footprints during their lifetime than fuel-powered ones. Though driving a fully electric vehicle does not cause any air pollution, but the way they are charged, manufactured & recycled is a matter of concern.

Charging

If the source of energy to power these EVs doesn’t come from solar panels, wind turbines or even nuclear or hydroelectric plants, their CO2 emissions will be much higher & toxic than fuel vehicles.

Manufacturing

The process of manufacturing EVs & conventional vehicle is very much the same. Nevertheless, Evs at the end release more carbon emissions, owing to their lithium-ion batteries. The production of a regular electric car emits 8-11 metric tons of CO2 . The larger the size of the battery, the higher the deadly emissions.

Mining

These batteries are made of rare earth elements like lithium, nickel, or graphite that only exist beneath the earth and therefore depend on mining activities with very polluting processes. Also, this leaches massive amounts of groundwater & decreases the water supply for locals.

Recycling

EV batteries contain some specific chemicals which makes them difficult for decomposition or recycling.

It doesn't matter if the EVs are not polluting while being driven, as this pollution was already released at some distant power plant.

So, what should we do now, ditch EVs?

No, the problem here is not the electric vehicle but the way we carry out the processes. EVs are undoubtedly, better than fuel vehicles both in terms of cost & ecological impact. What we have to do is: find out solutions to make them more green & sustainable. We can use renewable energy for electricity generation instead of coal & thermal production; opt for hydrogen / solar-powered vehicles than lithium-ion ones; develop better waste management systems & techniques. Majorly, we need to change our lifestyles to regress the pollution & climate consequences.

Electric Mobility is beneficial for all. Along with swift speed & comfort, it will also allow us to save more money. As customers, we will be at the utmost profit, as prices of electricity as fuel are expected to fall as low as ₹1.1/km by 2040. This will help an electric vehicle owner save ₹20,000 for every 5,000 Km traversed according to the BASF report, in comparison to the present fuel prices.

Conclusion

There are several disadvantages of electric vehicles, but as they say "every side has two coins", & we certainly need to focus on the better side of the EVs. They can help economies flourish, combat climatic wars & lifeforms prosper.

With our concerted efforts & eco-friendly measures: we can make EVs greener & safer for the planet (or ourselves). Indeed, electric mobility is one of the greatest steps towards a better economy & prosperous environment. Concluding the topic with a definite answer to: