Can EV’s Solve Climate Crisis or Further Increase CO2 Emissions?

The most piercing question that persists right now is, “are electric vehicles the new source of pollution?” Experts say that driving electric cars won’t have any significant impact in reducing global carbon emissions, in fact it may even exceed pollution levels.

The fundamental difference between a conventional vehicle and an electric vehicle is the process through which they transform potential (stored) energy into kinetic (movement) energy. In conventional vehicles, energy is stored in a chemical form and is released through a chemical reaction inside the engine. On contrary, electric vehicles release the energy without any kind of combustion since it runs on the lithium ion batteries.

However, if the main source of energy to power electric vehicles isn’t coming from a renewable source like solar panels, hydroelectricity etc., the CO2 emission in the environment would likely be higher because the electricity used to charge its batteries would be generated by burning the fossil fuels.

Although usage of electric vehicles looks like a viable option for the future, it will also create a systematic problem for the environment due to more emission, and the higher number of electric vehicles would mean more pollution.

On an average, the electric cars generate more than eight metric tons of CO2 in the process of manufacturing and an additional two metric tons of CO2 every year based on the energy mix used for electricity generation.

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The production of lithium batteries also carries environmental and human rights concerns like child slavery, mass usage of water, among others. With less than a decade to reduce carbon emissions to 50 per cent, the electric vehicles won’t get us any closer.

The higher demand of electric vehicles would further increase the demand for oil by 2030. If the population keeps sprawling, the Paris Climate goals would not be achieved without decreasing the dependency on the fossil fuels.

What we need is a more efficient form of transportation that would let us move faster without carbon emissions. Divesting from fossil fuels would be the first step in this direction. Some countries like Germany, Norway and Costa Rica have realized the consequences of electric vehicles, and they are simultaneously decreasing their dependence on the non-renewable energy; setting deadlines for scrapping conventional vehicles on the road.

The transition towards a greener and sustainable economy can only be achieved if global superpowers are willing to aggressively make changes over the next few decades.