Environmental impact of EV batteries — Sanket Jha
In the rapidly transforming landscape of the transportation industry, Electric vehicles have emerged as a revolutionary and sustainable solution to the versatile challenges posed by vehicles having internal combustion technology. The credit for the success of EVs clearly goes to their advanced energy storage systems that allow them to travel longer distances, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reshape the way modern people perceive automotive technology. However, there are numerous problems caused by the making and use of EV batteries and their components like the exploitation of resources, increase in carbon footprint and much more. In this blog, we will look at some of the most challenging impacts of EV batteries on nature. Be with us!
EV batteries vs. Mother Nature
In contrast to internal combustion engines, EV engines don’t produce pollutants through their exhaust systems and help reduce air pollution and GHG emissions. Nonetheless, the manufacturing process of EVs includes the emission of higher amounts of greenhouse gases. This is due to the minerals required and used in making these batteries.
Secondly, extracting lithium from beneath the earth’s crust requires a substantial volume of fresh water. The extraction process diminishes accessible surface water reserves, contributing to higher levels of worldwide water scarcity. Miners inject the water into a cavity within a salt flat, pumping up mineral-rich brine and the overall process also leads to pollution in the nearby ecosystems. Another problem that occurs during the manufacturing of these batteries is the habitat loss of the native species. The chemicals and other components used in the production of EV batteries alter the pre-existing conditions which in most cases becomes fatal for the native organisms.
It’s not always easy to recycle these EV batteries as there are varieties of products in the market with multiple compositions and a single way isn’t enough for all of them. There is not a single universally expected method that can minimize the hazards caused by discarded batteries. In some cases, the push for increased battery production can also lead to unexpected and unintended environmental consequences. Also, the transportation of raw materials components and finished EV batteries contributes to greenhouse gas emissions if not optimized for efficiency.
Due to all these problematic aspects in the manufacturing of EV batteries companies are making efforts to make the process cleaner. There are companies that are trying to recycle older batteries and use the by-products in newer batteries so that the dependence on mining can be reduced. Some companies are also trying to streamline the disassembling process.
It is important to note that the EV industry and researchers are actively working to address these environmental challenges. Efforts are being made to develop more sustainable battery chemistries, improve recycling methods and reduce the overall environmental footprint of EV battery production and its use cases. It’s a basic fact that EVs are much more sustainable as compared with conventional vehicles. However, it’s important to understand that the batteries used in EVs and their components need to be much more sustainable compared to what they are today. The more we invest in making them better the more we can reap its benefits.
Sanket Jha — akjoriginal@gmail.com
Content Writer
