No. While experts broadly agree that plug-in vehicles are a more climate-friendly option than traditional vehicles, that is not all worth consider about electric cars.
A few years ago all big car manufacturing companies saw an opportunity to diversification which was new, rapidly developing electric vehicles market. Then they started competing in advertising new eco-friendly way of transportation. In their advertisements, they were using misleading definitions and statements that helped them in crating fashion for electric cars.
So, why electric cars aren’t that good comparing to petrol ones?
China is the leader in the battery race, with nearly 80% of global Li-ion manufacturing capacity. The country also dominates other parts of the battery supply chain, including the mining and refining of battery minerals like lithium and graphite. It can lead to serious battery shortage in case of problems with supply chain or trade war with China. The other big problem is battery life, according to U.S. Department of Energy’s advanced batteries in electric vehicles are designed for extended life but will wear out eventually. Several manufacturers of electric vehicles are offering 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranties. It means that after warranty period, battery will need replacement. Other disturbing fact about EV are Congo’s cobalt mines. Child labor is commonly used there, the workers earn minimal wages and work in inhuman conditions. The mines aren’t own by car manufacturers, they only source car batteries from a different company that buy cobalt from Congo. Next problem will develop in a decade or two, the used batteries need to be storage or recycle somewhere, and I believe that Third World countries will need to deal with this problem. which will lead to polluting water and soil.
What should we do?
As a consumer, we need to focus on sustainable car manufacturing and verification of information that surrounds us.
Sources:
Visualcapitalist.com