Are EVs Really Environment Friendly?

Electric vehicles (EVs) have quickly become a symbol of the green revolution in transportation. From automakers like Tesla and Nissan, to government incentives supporting EV adoption, the world seems to be driving toward a cleaner future. But…

Are EVs really environment friendly as they seem, or is there more to the story than meets the eye?

In this article, we’ll critically analyze Electric Vehicle’s environmental impact, from manufacturing to end-of-life disposal, and assess whether they truly live up to their eco-friendly reputation.

What makes EVs popular?

The increasing popularity of EVs can be attributed to a growing concern over global warming and carbon emissions. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the transportation sector account for 23% of global CO2 emissions, and it is growing at an annual average rate of 1.7%, making it a primary target for climate action. Governments worldwide have incentivized EV adoption, with global EV sales more than doubling from 2.1 million units in 2018 to over 17 million units in 2024. The reasons to for the adoption of EVs to save environment are:

• Reduced Tailpipe Emission: One of the main environmental advantages of EVs is their zero tailpipe emissions. In contrast to traditional gasoline and diesel-powered cars that emit harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter, EVs produce none during operation. A typical gasoline-powered vehicle emits 6 metric tons of CO2 per year. By comparison, an electric vehicle emits zero direct emissions, which sounds fantastic for the environment, right?
• Transition to Renewable Energy: Another selling point of EVs is their potential to be powered by renewable energy. With increasing investments in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, the idea is that EVs could help decarbonize not just transportation, but the energy sector itself. However, this promise depends on the energy mix of the grid in each region. In 2023, renewables accounted for 30% of global electricity generation, though this figure varies widely by region. In places where the grid is powered mainly by fossil fuels, the environmental benefit of driving an EV is significantly reduced.

Are EVs really Eco-Friendly and Zero Emissions?

We have seen people often talking about the EVs as environment friendly as there is no emission from it while using it. Several factors position EVs as the answer to reducing emissions and fighting climate change. But while they have obvious benefits, are they as environmentally friendly as claimed?  No, they are not. Although they do not emit emissions while being driven, but they might emit during its stages of manufacturing, energy production and at the end of their life cycle. Let’s understand how these stages impact the Environment.

Manufacturing of EVs

• Building an EV is an energy-intensive process. Studies suggest that manufacturing an EV emits 60% more CO2 than producing a gasoline car, primarily due to the high energy consumption involved in manufacturing batteries. A single EV battery can generate 15 to 20 tons of CO2 during its production phase before it’s even used, undermining the overall environmental benefits of the vehicle.
• Producing EVs, especially their batteries, comes with significant environmental costs. The raw materials required—such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel—have a heavy environmental footprint. The extraction of these materials is highly resource-intensive and harmful to ecosystems. Lithium mining, for example, consumes 500,000 gallons of water per ton of lithium. This has contributed to water shortages in lithium-rich regions like the Lithium Triangle in South America. Cobalt, a key component in many EV batteries, is mined predominantly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where labor practices raise ethical concerns, including child labor.

Energy Production to charge Batteries

• Although EVs themselves don’t produce emissions, the electricity used to charge them often does, depending on the energy grid of the region. In 2023, 60% of global electricity still came from fossil fuels, including coal (36%) and natural gas (24%). In the regions, where power grid is powered by renewable sources, the EVs can be considered somewhat to be environment saving. But in the regions where the power grid is mainly powered by fossil fuels, EVs can emit as much CO2 over their lifetime as conventional hybrid cars.
• Building the infrastructure to support EVs is another hidden environmental cost. A typical Level 2 charging station requires about 18 tons of raw materials and results in 30 metric tons of CO2 over its lifetime. While this is far less than the emissions produced by fossil fuel stations, it’s still an important consideration.

Batteries after the end of its lifecycle

In the conventional car industry, according to a study from the international council of clean transportation (ICCT), 99% of lead-acid batteries (the ones running in fossil fuel powered cars) are recycled in the US. This is not the case for the lithium-ion batteries that have a very specific mix of chemical components and little quantities of lithium, which doesn’t make them an appealing market opportunity. According to CAS.org ,  only 5% of lithium was being collected and the rest was either incinerated or dumped in landfills  due to high recycling cost and lack of storage solutions and recyclable materials(this specifically doesn’t make electric cars greener at all), as it was not justified by price or regulations to recover it by hydrometallurgical processes.

How it can be improved?

• To reduce the environmental and ethical impacts of EVs, we need breakthroughs in battery technology. For example, solid-state batteries are seen as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries. They are more energy-efficient, safer, and less reliant on rare earth materials. Although still in production, SSBs hold potential for the next generation of Electric Vehicles.
• For EVs to truly be effective in reducing emissions, they must be charged using renewable energy. Expanding solar, wind, and hydroelectric power could help maximize the benefits of EV adoption and ensure they play a key role in reducing global carbon emissions.
• Procuring the metal from sustainable producers—those that might already have switched to electrified mining equipment or renewable-energy sources for electricity, for example—can result in an emissions reduction in some cases of up to 30 percent per battery cell created.
• Players across the value chain could scale up battery collection and recycling, including logistics, testing and disassembly, processing, and digital track and trace. Increasing the share of recycled materials in new battery cells would not only help address the expected supply shortage for battery materials but also significantly reduce the CO₂e footprint of such batteries.

Conclusion

Electric vehicles represent a promising step toward reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change. However, their environmental impact is more nuanced than the “green” label often suggests. The manufacturing process, the raw materials required, and the source of electricity all play a crucial role in determining how environmentally friendly EVs truly are.
To make EVs a genuinely sustainable solution, it’s essential to innovate in battery technology, improve recycling practices, and transition to cleaner energy sources globally.