Myth: EVs are just as bad for the enviÂronÂment as fosÂsil fuel cars because the enerÂgy fuelÂing them comes from oil/gas/coal and due to heavy reliance on extracÂtive indusÂtries for manufacturing.
Myth BUSTED: EVs run more effiÂcientÂly when comÂpared to fosÂsil fuel cars. AddiÂtionÂalÂly, EVs have zero tailpipe emisÂsions, leavÂing the air cleanÂer as you driÂve. EVs proÂduce fewÂer emisÂsions overÂall when comÂpared to fosÂsil fuel cars, espeÂcialÂly as the elecÂtric grid becomes more renewÂable. FinalÂly, EVs allow for secÂondary batÂtery appliÂcaÂtions and techÂnolÂoÂgy is conÂtinÂuÂalÂly improving.
One of the most common—and contentious—questions that elecÂtric vehiÂcle (EV) experts are freÂquentÂly asked is, “are elecÂtric vehiÂcles realÂly betÂter for the enviÂronÂment? EspeÂcialÂly in the case of batÂterÂies and the manÂuÂfacÂturÂing process? And, what about when EVs are driÂving off fosÂsil fuel-based electricity?
This is a prickÂly quesÂtion for a reaÂson! Are EVs 100% green with no assoÂciÂatÂed emisÂsions? Of course not! NothÂing that is manÂuÂfacÂtured on an indusÂtriÂal scale today can reach zero emisÂsions or “carÂbon neuÂtralÂiÂty.” HowÂevÂer, it is still true that elecÂtric vehiÂcles are betÂter for the environment—and your health—when comÂpared to gasoÂline and diesel vehicles.
EffiÂcienÂcy:
Let’s first start with effiÂcienÂcy. The averÂage EV is 2.25 times more effiÂcient than a comÂpaÂraÂble interÂnal comÂbusÂtion engine (ICE) vehiÂcle. While an ICE vehiÂcle is 40% effiÂcient, a comÂpaÂraÂble EV is about 90% effiÂcient (RufÂfo 2020). It is this effiÂcienÂcy, even when chargÂing the averÂage EV off a dirty (coal-based) elecÂtric grid, that makes EVs more enviÂronÂmenÂtalÂly friendÂly when comÂpared to the averÂage ICE vehiÂcle. Think of it this way: you may be chargÂing your car off a dirty grid, but you are getÂting more mileage out of that enerÂgy input in an EV. In a fosÂsil fueled car, you are simÂply burnÂing up 60% of your enerÂgy to get the car to run, while in an EV, only 10% of that enerÂgy is wastÂed. AddiÂtionÂalÂly, EVs do not require petroÂleÂum extracÂtion, refinÂing of petroÂleÂum into gas, or transÂportÂing that gas to refuÂelÂing staÂtions across the world (CridÂer, 2020).
Zero Tailpipe Emissions:
SecÂondÂly, EVs have lowÂer life-cycle emisÂsions as comÂpared to gas cars, even when fueled by coal-powÂered enerÂgy (Patel, 2022). One major conÂtribÂuÂtor to this fact is that they have zero tailpipe emisÂsions (also known as direct emisÂsions). This is also true for plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) when runÂning off the batÂtery. It should be emphaÂsized that PHEVs have shortÂer elecÂtric ranges comÂpared to all-batÂtery elecÂtric vehiÂcles (BEVs) and thus need to be charged more freÂquentÂly to keep emisÂsions low. If you forÂget to recharge your PHEV after runÂning down the batÂtery range, then you will be emitÂting fosÂsil-fuel based tailpipe emisÂsions. HowÂevÂer, when runÂning on the batÂtery, EVs do not emit noxÂious gas creÂatÂed from the burnÂing of fosÂsil fuels in your engine. This lack of air-based polÂluÂtion allows for cleanÂer air, less smog, fewÂer polÂluÂtants introÂduced in our waterÂways, and healthÂiÂer and hapÂpiÂer peoÂple! (CridÂer, 2020; WilÂson 2020). Just imagÂine walkÂing down a busy street and not coughÂing on the fumes of the heavy-duty pick-up idling next you. The future is bright!
CleanÂer ElecÂtricÂiÂty Grids = FewÂer IndiÂrect Emissions
Next, EVs can be fueled by renewÂable enerÂgy. If you have solar panÂels, pay for a renewÂable enerÂgy mix from your utilÂiÂty, or have an off-grid sysÂtem, the elecÂtricÂiÂty will not be assoÂciÂatÂed with any fuel-based emisÂsions! LikeÂwise, as the Nation’s elecÂtric grid becomes increasÂingÂly renewÂable, your EV’s fosÂsil fuel enerÂgy impact will likeÂwise reduce. CurÂrentÂly, Colorado’s grid is still about 45% coal-based, howÂevÂer, with Colorado’s RenewÂable EnerÂgy StanÂdard, renewÂables are proÂlifÂerÂatÂing in the state, and coal powÂer plants are conÂtinÂuÂing to shut down (EnerÂgy InforÂmaÂtion AdminÂisÂtraÂtion, 2020).
SecÂondary MarÂket AppliÂcaÂtions & TechÂnoÂlogÂiÂcal Advancements:
What about the enviÂronÂmenÂtal impacts of batÂtery manÂuÂfacÂture and raw mateÂrÂiÂal extracÂtion used to build the cars themÂselves? The polÂluÂtion creÂatÂed through extracÂtive processÂes and proÂducÂtion for EVs are on par with or slightÂly highÂer than the manÂuÂfacÂturÂing process of buildÂing an ICE vehiÂcle (Ellsmoor, 2019). HowÂevÂer, EV batÂterÂies are often reused in secÂondary appliÂcaÂtions, like servÂing as genÂerÂaÂtor backÂup batÂterÂies. These secÂondary appliÂcaÂtions also reduce the need for more extracÂtive minÂing, as preÂcious resources can be reused in othÂer marÂkets (Ellsmoor, 2019).
FinalÂly, rememÂber that elecÂtric vehiÂcles are still in the beginÂning stages of develÂopÂment. The design, manÂuÂfacÂturÂing, and perÂforÂmance of EVs and their batÂterÂies conÂtinÂue to develÂop and improve every year (ReichÂmuth, 2020). As more EVs hit the road, there will be greater opporÂtuÂniÂty to study and improve how they perÂform in real-world appliÂcaÂtions. EVs will conÂtinÂue to improve in enerÂgy effiÂcienÂcy and performance—driving towards a greenÂer horiÂzon and leavÂing fosÂsil-fueled cars in the rearview mirror.
Source 1: JohnÂna CridÂer "U.S DepartÂment of EnerÂgy: EVs Emit FewÂer EmisÂsions, BetÂter for the EnviÂronÂment." 19 OctoÂber 2020. <https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/19/u‑s-department-of-energy-evs-emit-fewer-emissions-better-for-the-environment/>.
Source 2: James Ellsmoor. 20 May 2019. "Are ElecÂtric VehiÂcles RealÂly BetÂter for the EnviÂronÂment?" Forbes. <https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/05/20/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-for-the-environment/?sh=1767576a76d2>.
Source 3: EnerÂgy InforÂmaÂtion AdminÂisÂtraÂtion, State EnerÂgy Data SysÂtem. 19 March 2020 "ColÂorado ProÂfile Overview". <https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=CO>.
Source 4: David ReichÂmuth. 11 FebÂruÂary 2020. "Are ElecÂtric VehiÂcles RealÂly BetÂter for the CliÂmate? Yes. Here's Why" Union of ConÂcerned SciÂenÂtists. <https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-reichmuth/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-for-the-climate-yes-heres-why>.
Source 5: GusÂtaÂvo HenÂrique RufÂfo "ICE Vs. EV — Do You Know How InefÂfiÂcient ComÂbusÂtion Engines Are?" 10 JanÂuÂary 2020. <https://insideevs.com/features/392202/ice-vs-ev-inefficient-combustion-engine/>.
Source 6: Kea WilÂson. 28 OctoÂber 2020. "Study: How Cars Are MakÂing Us All Depressed (Even If We Don't DriÂve)" StreetsÂBloÂgUSA <https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/10/28/study-how-cars-are-making-us-all-depressed-even-if-we-dont-drive/>.
Source 7: Prachi Patel. 13 JanÂuÂary 2022. "In a comÂparÂiÂson of life-cycle emisÂsions, EVs crushed comÂbusÂtion cars" AnthroÂpocene MagÂaÂzine <https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2022/01/evs-crush-combustion-cars-even-when-weighing-emissions-from-battery-and-electricity-production/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=evs-crush-combustion-cars-even-when-weighing-emissions-from-battery-and-electricity-production>