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Modes of transportation have been a part of human life since the beginning of its evolution. In the 16th century, wheels helped develop new forms of transportation. Since then, vehicles have gone through various phases of development.
Energy sources for these machines have matured from muscle force of an individual to fossil fuels to electricity and now to the newest discovery, hydrogen, which is still unfamiliar to most.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are now increasingly being preferred over vehicles with internal combustion engines. However, this is specific to only cars and SUVs, not big trucks and semis. Purchasing electric cars from any company is almost as expensive as German luxury petrol heads. Still, its sales are growing day by day. This doesn't, however, mean that it is the future of transportation as buyers are not fully aware that EVs are not totally eco-friendly.
Yes, to some extent it does not emit any harmful gases. But the main component of EVs, the battery, contains elements such as lithium, cobalt, lead and vanadium, all of which require mining. This mining process releases a lot of harmful chemicals. For example, let's take two BMW cars, which share the same platform – the 4 series being a 1.5L petrol head and the i4. 4 electric series with an 83.9 kWh battery.
The 4 series emits 153g of carbon dioxide from its exhaust for every kilometre it travels.
The i4 obviously does not emit any carbon dioxide, but the battery components require mining.
On average, this battery contains lithium only, whose extraction emits 73,000g of the gas for every 1kWh required.
The 4 series has a lifespan of 300,000 kilometres, resulting in the emission of a total of 46 million grams of carbon dioxide throughout its lifespan. Coming to the battery-dependent i4, the total gas emitted into the atmosphere in mining of lithium is around 6 million grams.
While keeping in mind the emission of carbon dioxide while fishing out other integrants used in the battery, the total CO2 gas produced reaches 23 million grams. While it shows a drastic decrease in the discharge of CO2, it might not be that big a difference in the current situation. Given the increasing number of new EV manufacturers, their net CO-2 emission almost equals that of fossil fuel-run vehicles.
EVs might not be completely eco-friendly, but it does help in controlling sound pollution.
And they are better than vehicles with combustion engines.
It obviously is the future of transportation, but not a permanent one as the battery resources will inevitably be consumed and eliminated. This will encourage new sources of energy for transportation, namely, hydrogen fuel.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 1, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
