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Apr 27, 2023

The Harsh Truth About EVs That No One Is Telling You

Electric vehicles might not be the solution to our problems. Governments all

Electric vehicles might not be the solution to our problems.

Governments all over the world praise EVs as they firmly believe that battery electric vehicles will save our planet by drastically reducing emissions. However, that simply isn't the case. Electric vehicles are by no means harmless, and this is obvious. As soon as one tracks the process required to produce an electric vehicle, the fact that this type of car alone isn't the solution to our problems is clear for various reasons. Here's why that is the case based on facts from credible sources. We are by no means trying to undermine EVs. We are only stating the truth of the matter in an effort to reduce misinformation that can often be projected by the media and the internet.

Related: Why Tesla Will Never Be Better Than It Is Right Now

EVs have provided the world with many benefits, and they most certainly have a place on our roads, and that place is in congested cities with EVs that come in small and lightweight forms. EVs make a difference in the air we breathe around cities, but they barely make any difference when it comes to global emissions emitted. Since EVs have no exhaust when they drive by people in congested cities, they won't blow harmful gases right beside them. Instead, they pass by silently and in that specific moment, cleanly. So, one of the biggest benefits of electric vehicles is that they clean the air we breathe in certain locations. The "certain locations" part is important to remember.

Another benefit includes the fact that electric vehicles have brought many innovations with one of the most significant ones being autonomous driving. Electric vehicles are easier to control thanks to their design; therefore, making them autonomous is a more straightforward job. Finally, EVs have brought more technology to the interior, more power thanks to their instant torque, and even the ability to have electrical accessories that can be used wherever you happen to be as the vehicle itself has the energy to power them.

Related: What Other Automakers Could Learn From Toyota As The Shift To Electric Cars

In many instances, we are here the phrase "electric vehicles emit zero emissions" and while this is true in some form, it is also misleading. Yes, an electric vehicle emits zero emissions while it's moving. However, it has certainly emitted a lot of emissions while it was being made and even while it was being charged. You see, most people acknowledge the fact that in order to charge an electric vehicle you need to use fossil fuels to produce the electricity. However, the most damaging and perhaps most overlooked part of EVs is their production. An electric vehicle has emitted 10-20 tonnes of carbon dioxide before you even plug it in for the first time. The batteries, for example, are mined in underdeveloped countries by using underpaid workers to operate heavy machinery that heavily relies on fossil fuel and oil to work. Then, after the necessary materials are gathered, they are shipped to factories with big lorries where further pollution occurs to turn them into batteries.

Oh, and as soon as they are turned into batteries, they are loaded onto huge tanker ships to sail halfway across the earth and into countries like America or continents like Europe. There they will be put in electric vehicles which leads to even further pollution. And it's not like first-world countries are willing to do anything about this. America has strict regulations which make mining and producing batteries nearly impossible. This, of course, is being done in an effort to keep the polluting and harsh work environments of producing such components as far away from "developed countries" as possible.

Related: Why Electric Crossovers Are Becoming So Popular

The problem with EVs is being exaggerated by governments who seem to be ignorant of the reality of the situation. Most countries have put Draconian measures in place stating that all internal combustion vehicle sales should stop by 2035. The problem is that these statements are made by people who don't seem to know much about cars and infrastructure. A minimum of 60,000 miles needs to be driven before an electric vehicle begins to provide benefits related to environmental issues and most EVs are traded in for a new vehicle long before that. Furthermore, the infrastructure to support such a movement simply doesn't exist yet and big cities like California have already asked their residents to reduce the usage of electric vehicles due to power shortages. Finally, the pollution made by personal cars, in particular, is so mere that even if we managed to make them run on zero emissions, the difference that would make to the climate is minimal. Most pollution comes from the agriculture/forestry industry and the power industry which ironically powers electric cars.

Agriculture/Forestry

33%

Power Industry

27%

Transport (all included) road, rail, sea, and air.

16%

Other Industrial

16%

Buildings

8%

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Well, electric cars certainly have a place in the future. However, they shouldn't be viewed as the only solution. Automakers have drastically reduced internal combustion engine sizes, fuel consumption, and emissions. Also, some manufacturers like Toyota who don't agree with this rush towards electric vehicles are researching technologies such as hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. Also, we believe that some efforts should be made in order to solidify the fact that keeping a vehicle for longer is good for our planet. Modern-day cars are being changed every three to five years due to leasing deals. So, electric vehicles rarely get the chance to make up for their production pollution during their first ownership. Keeping these vehicles for longer reduces production and therefore exaggerates the benefits. But let's be honest, there is no way this will ever happen as manufacturers will lose sales and therefore money.

So, simply put. Our best bet in reducing emissions through cars is to buy new vehicles less frequently, utilize smaller engines, and come up with alternative technologies that can be sold alongside EVs. However, if we really want to save the planet, we should stop focusing on the arguably insignificant impact of personal cars and begin paying attention to heavy industries like planes, mining, and power production.

Theo has dedicated his life to cars. He has studied the only Automotive Journalism course in the world located at Coventry University and describes this passion as a clinical obsession. Give Theo four wheels and he will drool over the piece of metal, plastic, and glass in between them for hours. Once he is done, he will let you know if it's good or not.