Drilling Down on the True Environmental Impact of EVs vs. ICE

By Edward A. Sanchez — Sept. 2, 2022

As the inevitability of the electrification of transportation draws ever-nearer, the opponents and skeptics of the technology seem to be ramping their FUD campaigns into hyperdrive. Their “yeah, but” posts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and on various media outlets decry the environmental impact of mining for the raw material feedstocks for graphite, lithium, cobalt, nickel, or any of the various other raw materials that go into making EV battery packs.

They claim the purported environmental friendliness of EVs is a “Big Lie” perpetuated by misguided environmental activists that conveniently overlook the “raping” of the earth by mining these materials, and that the environmental devastation brought by EV raw materials sourcing is actually far worse than the pollution caused by internal-combustion vehicles. And that they’re a national security risk since we’re currently so reliant on China for the battery technology and sourcing.

So I will be candid, speaking as a pragmatically-minded EV enthusiast and supporter. On the last point, the critics are absolutely right. We are currently too over-reliant on China for battery components and technology. That was one of the issues supposedly addressed by the recently passed “Inflation Reduction Act.” Although the intentions were noble, the legislation will likely inadvertently punish many automakers selling EVs for not sourcing enough of their battery components domestically. Well, guess what, with just a few exceptions, nearly all EV batteries are sourced from foreign countries, and those that are produced in the U.S. are predominantly produced by foreign-owned corporations like LG, Panasonic, SK Innovation, and the like.

In terms of the whole “raping the Earth” schtick, it’s a well-documented fact that the initial manufacturing of an EV is more resource-intensive than an ICE vehicle. Nobody disputes that. The specific tipping point at which an EV becomes “greener” is debated by some, but it is dependent on battery size and vehicle efficiency.

The manufacturing of EVs is proven to be more resource intensive when compared to similar ICE-powered vehicles. But the paradigm flips not long into ownership. (Image courtesy Ford)

Conveniently ignored by almost all critics of EVs are the efforts being put into whole-lifecycle management of EV batteries (i.e. end-of-life recycling) that will drastically mitigate the environmental impact of EV manufacturing. Granted, it could take years or decades for this virtuous cycle to be fully realized, being as it’s reliant on a sufficient and reliable feedstock of depleted or no longer viable packs. But recycling and reuse of battery raw materials could dramatically reduce the need for mining of virgin materials.

Finally, and I’ve touched on this before, is beyond simply the efficiency advantage over ICE and the lack of tailpipe emissions, EVs allow for fuel source diversification. Whether the energy source is coal, natural gas, hydrogen, nuclear, or renewables, they allow regional and national utilities to determine the most economically and ecologically viable sources to produce electricity. Rather than internal combustion engines, which are almost completely reliant on oil. Yes, mention “e-Fuels” and ethanol if you must, but the former is in such miniscule volumes and high costs that it’s irrelevant, and the latter is arguably even worse for the environment than oil exploration, extraction, and refinement.

We’re seeing this very scenario play out before our eyes in the Russia/Ukraine conflict, in which Russia is playing energy bully by threatening to cut off its natural gas and oil supplies to Western Europe. While this may give Russia a short-term advantage, it is catalyzing an accelerated move to renewables and nuclear across Europe, which now realizes the folly of being reliant on an increasingly belligerent Russia for their energy needs.

Prices of any energy will rise and fall due to world issues, but one thing electric vehicles can do over ICE is diversify their energy source. (Image courtesy Lance Reis)

Yes, EVs have their issues – chief of which is the abysmal charging infrastructure experience and reliability in many countries and many parts of the U.S. Second of which is the need for electric utilities to increase power production and output to meet the growing needs of EVs. To hear the critics frame the issue, all the power production capacity that will ever be built has already been built, and that in about 10 years, there will be widespread brownouts and blackouts across the country, because too many people are plugging in their EVs while they’re also watching TV, doing laundry, and running their air conditioning.

Will there be some instances of grid overload? Yes. Will it be a cataclysmic disaster that will throw the entire country into chaos and bring us to our knees in obeisance to communist China? Not likely.

Utilities, Tier-1 automotive suppliers, and OEMs are working hard on V2G (vehicle-to-grid) technologies that will smartly and dynamically initiate and stop charging vehicles on an as-available/as-needed basis, and if necessary, back-feed power from the cars onto the grid to prevent the aforementioned blackouts and brownouts.

Beneath the skin of modern EVs sit massive batteries that, in theory, can be used for more than propelling the vehicle. With vehicle-to-grid technologies, load leveling of the power grid could be possible, preventing black and brownouts. (Image courtesy Hyundai)

I will be the first to admit EVs are not some magical, mystical solution that will solve world hunger, racial injustice, economic inequality, and usher in a global era of peace and harmony. But they are a key component in the critical task of improving energy efficiency, utilization, and independence. Those with a vested interest in a specific kind of energy (namely oil) may not be happy about the development, and are actively and vociferously throwing shade at the new technology. But it’s important to take a look at the big picture and the strategic objectives that are achieved by broader adoption of EVs.

(Main image courtesy Albert Hyseni)

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