Increasing Size of Electric Vehicles Raises Environmental Concerns

The increasing size of electric vehicles is a cause of environmental concern for researchers. This is because, although electric vehicles theoretically avoid the fossil fuel emissions of traditional cars, they still create dangerous pollution. Larger vehicles create more of this Pollution due to their increased weight and the size of the batteries needed to power them. 

From 2019 to 2022, the percentage of Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) style electric cars increased from 30 percent to 40 percent. This increase reflects an overall trend in automobile purchasing. SUVs have become popular in recent decades. 

The majority of electric vehicles use lithium-ion celled batteries. Production of these batteries demands large amounts of natural resources be extracted. Some of the natural resources necessary to produce these batteries include cobalt, nickel, and lithium. Large electric SUVs require bigger batteries to power them. In some instances, the batteries required for large electric vehicles may be up to twice the size of those needed for smaller vehicles. This increases demand for the raw materials used to manufacture these batteries. Larger batteries may use up to 75 percent more natural resources than smaller ones. 

Extraction of the raw materials needed to produce batteries for electric vehicles can be extremely damaging to the natural environment. A 2022 study showed evidence that lithium mining in Chile has already disrupted the natural ecosystem in the region. According to the study, the mining has caused significant harm to flamingo populations in the region by disturbing breeding sites and impacting access to sources of food and water. If demand for electric vehicle batteries continues, this site and others could see continued environmental destruction. 

Not only is mineral extraction damaging to the environment, but the process of creating electric vehicle batteries is also emissions-heavy. Additionally, manufacturing larger batteries has been shown to produce greater emissions than manufacturing smaller ones. The Global EV Outlook 2023 even showed that emissions from larger battery production may be 70 percent higher for electric SUVs when compared to smaller electric vehicles.

Some research has also shown a significant likelihood that demand for the raw materials needed to produce electric vehicle batteries will outstrip the availability of these materials. Increasing demand for finite resources could increase pressure on these materials and wreak havoc on the supply chain. 

Eclectic vehicles also need a clean source of energy to be environmentally friendly. The larger batteries needed to power electric SUVs will require more electricity than smaller models. As electric systems move away from centralized, fossil fuel-reliant sources of electricity to decentralized, renewable energy sources this could create problems. Decentralized energy grids increase the likelihood of bottlenecks and other issues in distributing electricity due to the lack of existing infrastructure. Although many utility companies around the world are currently working to increase infrastructure and prevent this issue, there have already been problems surrounding the distribution of clean energy. 

As demand for larger electric vehicles increases, so does concern about their environmental impact. The environmental impact of mining raw materials, emissions from producing batteries, and lack of infrastructure to Support clean energy are all issues that have been raised surrounding electric vehicles’ impact. Due to these concerns, it is unclear if electric vehicles will remain an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional, fossil fuel-powered vehicles. 

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Related Content: 

• SUVs are Worse for the Environment than Older Cars!
• How Electric Vehicles Can Power Your Home and the Grid
• Experts Push UK Government to Ban SUVs to Reach Climate Targets 
• Diving Deep into Electric Vehicle Production
• Bigger, Heavier Cars Cause More Pollution  

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