Manufacturers claim “zero emissions” badges for their EVs but it is not entirely accurate. How EVs truly Affect the Climate? Although battery-electric automobiles don’t produce greenhouse gases when they drive, the manufacturing and charging of the vehicles do produce some pollutants. Nevertheless, electric vehicles are unquestionably a lower-emissions choice than automobiles with internal combustion engines, according to Sergey Paltsev, Deputy Director of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. Under almost every circumstance, EVs will produce fewer carbon emissions over the length of their driving lifetimes than gasoline-powered vehicles.
The Source of pollution
The production of the massive aa lithium batteries used in EVs is one source of pollutants. Minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are essential for current EV batteries, must be mined and heated to high temperatures using fossil fuels. Thus, the 80 kWh lithium-ion battery used in the Tesla Model 3 requires between 2.5 and 16 metric tons of CO2 to manufacture. Creating a new EV can result in approximately 80% higher emissions than building a comparable gas-powered car due to the extensive battery production process. However, the majority of emissions from today’s EVs occur after they leave the factory, much like with gasoline-powered vehicles.
The energy used to charge EV batteries is the main cause of emissions. Recycled EV batteries are commonly used. The ideal situation is what is currently taking place in Norway, the largest EV market in Europe: the country gets the majority of its energy from hydropower, which gives all those EVs a negligible carbon footprint. The emissions figures for EVs don’t seem as good in nations where polluting coal is the main source of electricity, but they’re still on par with or better than burning gasoline.
The Numbers…
The researchers discovered that over the course of their lifespan, gasoline cars release more than 350 grams of CO2 every mile traveled. The entirely battery-electric vehicle produced only 200 grams of CO2 per mile, compared to about 260 grams for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. The U.S. Department of Energy’s statistics reveals a similar pattern: EVs produce about 4 thousands of lbs. of CO2 equivalent annually, compared to 5,800 lbs. for plug-in hybrids about 6.3 thousand lbs. for conventional hybrids, and 11,435 lbs. for gasoline vehicles, using the nationwide average of various energy sources.
While internal combustion engines are becoming more efficient, EVs are on track to become significantly cleaner as more nations incorporate more clean energy into their energy mix. According to MIT, the CO2 emissions from gasoline cars will decrease from more than 350 grams per mile to roughly 225 grams by the year 2050. Battery EVs might, however, weigh as little as 125 grams during that time, and even as little as 50 grams if the cost of renewable energy were to significantly decrease.
What about the energy needed to power an electric vehicle?
Even after producing energy, according to research by the European Energy Agency, driving an electric car emits between 17 and 30% fewer carbon emissions than doing so in a gasoline or diesel vehicle. When low-carbon electricity is used, the emissions from electricity generation are also significantly reduced.
Concluding, EVs can also help with noise pollution, especially in cities where speeds are generally low. As electric cars are far quieter than conventional vehicles, driving electric creates a more peaceful environment for us all. Technology changes and evolves in a crazy manner and through technology, we are able to get more efficient in every aspect of our lives thus and for our own transportation.
