Compromise to Compensate: The Other Side of EVs

Compromise to Compensate: The Other Side of EVs

Amidst the growing concerns about climate change, several governments and climate-change activists are persuading automobile manufacturers to push for EVs, be it commercial or passenger vehicles. 

Yes, EVs are known for boasting no-tailpipe, hence zero emissions, but it doesn’t end there. The first and foremost stage where EVs pollute is the production process, especially their batteries. The batteries powering the EVs are made from a blend of lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The mining process of those three metals can be extremely detrimental to the environment. Cobalt mining, for instance, releases toxic chemicals and gases that are linked to environmental concerns. All-in-all, extracting metals directly from the ores releases sulphur oxide, which is also harmful to the ecosystem. 

Additionally, the EV manufacturing process is energy- and water-intensive, as compared to the manufacturing of internal combustion engine vehicles.

As for India, the country doesn’t have adequate lithium reserves, which is why China is India’s lithium-ion battery supplier, according to reports. For your reference, there are three major lithium (Li) producers in the world- Australia, Chile, and China.

Having said that, in some parts of the world, the local ecosystem is also taking a major impact from the leakage of toxic fumes and chemicals, released during the manufacturing of tons of batteries. Moreover, specific regions and nearby areas within China, where lithium is produced have reports of severe water contamination, as a result, the local ecosystem and the human beings there are affected. 

Speaking of fumes and chemicals, charging an EV is also impacting the environment, especially in those countries where there is coal-powered electricity. 

In fact, several countries use coal-powered electricity. As per some reports (2023), China (Mainland) tops the chart, followed by India, as far as coal consumption is concerned. No wonder, China has the highest EV sales in the world (as of 2023).  

The Weight Effect on Tyres & Brakes

As you might be aware, electric vehicles are significantly heavier than gasoline-powered vehicles, thanks to the weight of the battery packs. If you ever plan to buy a specific vehicle, that is available in both gasoline and electric, then you should definitely compare their weights. On average, electric vehicles are usually 20-30% heavier than gasoline-powered vehicles.

For example, the Ford F150 EV (pick-up truck) weighs 6000 pounds (2721.5kg), making 2000 pounds (907kg) more than its gasoline iteration that weighs 4000 pounds (1814.3kg). 

Due to this, the excess weight accelerates the wear and tear of the tyres on the EV. 

Just so you know, light-duty tyres are manufactured using synthetic rubber, which is derived from crude oil and natural rubber with added fillers and additives. Some of the added chemicals are recognized carcinogens (potential to cause cancer). 

The study, conducted by Emission Analytics, stated that the pollutants from tyres penetrate directly into the soil and water, whereas tailpipes’ emissions directly affect the air quality.  

All-in-all, the excess weight on tyres can lead to excess tyre emissions that can be significantly greater than that of tailpipe emissions. The brakes installed on EVs can also emit particulate matter that can be equally harmful to the environment.

Closing Words

Keeping various information and reports in mind, it seems that the EV manufacturers need to keep weight shedding as one of their top priorities. However, at the same time, downsizing the battery packs won’t resolve the “range anxiety” problem, either, especially with the current technology. In the future, we might get to see lightweight electric vehicles. 

Apart from that, countries that are currently using coal-powered electricity should aggressively try to look out for other ways to produce electricity. However, at the end of the day, the global economy and climate change are caught in a vicious cycle. Therefore, some things are compromised to compensate.