From politicians to environmental activists, many proclaim, “Electric is the future.” The catchy phrase often refers to the shift from gas-guzzling cars to electric-powered ones.
It is true that once they hit the road, the vehicles do less harm to the environment than their gas-powered counterparts. But detractors point to the current process and components that make an electric car less than the fix-all solution it is touted to be.
The current generation of electric vehicles runs on lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries. These rechargeable, lightweight fuel cells are composed of different components than the internal combustion engine. The core components of EV batteries are elements and alloys like lithium, manganese, cobalt, graphite, steel, and nickel. The heightened demand for electric vehicles has driven the need for these rare earth minerals sky-high.
Lithium is so much in demand that it has been dubbed “white gold.” Considered one of the most valuable commodities by industries as varied as chip makers and battery manufacturers, its availability and steady supply are crucial to power the shift to green energy technologies.
As with any finite, non-renewable resource, the first question is whether there is sufficient quantity to meet the demands of humans and industry. The Earth is said to contain close to 88 million tonnes of lithium. But the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) opines that only about a quarter of that is “economically viable to mine” and can be considered “reserves.” It is hoped that advancements and breakthroughs in the mining and exploration sectors will eventually lead to more discoveries or bring large swathes of deposits to the “reserves” category.
The current reserves and accessible lithium is estimated to be enough to power close to 2.8 billion cars. Considering that only half that number of vehicles are on the streets now, the question is why the automobile industry has yet to shift to this green technology entirely.
But everything comes at a cost, and the most significant debate is whether the harm caused, even before an EV hits the road, is worth the price of shifting away from fossil fuels. The biggest concern is the extraction of rare minerals that are necessary components of the EV battery.
As with any mining activity, there is the threat of loss of biodiversity and soil erosion. Besides the degradation of air quality in the vicinity, lithium mining is a water-heavy industry. Approximately 600,000 gallons of water are needed to produce just one ton of lithium. Groundwater contamination, as a consequence, is very real. Traces of arsenic and antimony have been found in groundwater near these mines.
The saving grace is that lithium-ion batteries can be recycled. If done right, industry experts claim that a whopping ninety-five percent of the components can be used to make new batteries or in other industries. EV enthusiasts call for the parallel development of recycling infrastructure and facilities as the popularity of these vehicles grows.
The proposed and promised shift to EVs is seen as a crucial step in fighting some of the staggering problems humanity is facing today. The reduction of fossil fuel usage is expected to rein in the rising global temperatures. Reduced exhaust fumes will help heal the ozone layer. The overall drop in pollution is anticipated to bring many health benefits and facilitate the planet’s healing.
The conundrum is how to achieve these goals without causing irreversible harm.
Editor’s note: We will continue to explore various challenges facing the electric vehicle industry and the transition to a clean energy future.
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Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
