EVs and the climate: Can the Polar Bears “chill” now?
The Cool New EVs and The Burning Planet.
We recently did a shoot with an all new EV: The Audi e-tron and we were pleasantly surprised by not just its looks but its performance too. Which got us thinking– are EVs the next big thing?
Can they really help save the environment?
And can they reverse climate change and protect animals from going extinct?
Some deep thinking, yes. But here’s what we learned:
Talks are that EVs are the more sustainable option now and marketers all around the world tend to label them as ‘Environment Friendly’ and the ‘Green Choice’. Which made us question further: How beneficial are they really to the environment? Are their benefits good enough to completely replace petrol and diesel cars for the long run? And deeper into the topic, we dived.
Before we were misled, this is what we first figured out: Comparisons between your conventional car and electric vehicles are in fact quite complex. It all narrows down to the size of the vehicles being compared, the accuracy of their fuel-economy used, the method in which the electricity emissions are being calculated and a lot more detailed factors. There is no single formula or index that can apply everywhere.
Coming towards the environmental aspect of EVs, besides lower fuel cost, we learnt that they can prove to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which are a major factor behind global warming. A conventional car emits around 4.6 metric tons of CO2 every year. If we assume the average petrol/diesel vehicle on the road today has a fuel economy of about 22.0 miles per gallon and drives around 11,500 miles per year. Every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 8,887 grams of CO2. And we wonder why our beloved animals are going extinct!
EVs use electricity powered by lithium batteries to run with great efficiency and are reliable for a good 8-10 years, per vehicle. However, the batteries used in EVs do emit some greenhouse gasses, but if compared to conventional vehicles, this is 43% lower.
EVs sure have their pros and their cons, but here’s why we think our future is greener with an EV on every block!
#1 EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions
Because EVs run on electricity, they do not require tailpipe typical liquid fuel components such as fuel pump, fuel tank or fuel line which reduced the emissions considerably. Apart from being greener for the environment, this also makes them reduce noise pollution, usually caused by vehicle exhausts.
#2 The Battery Production For Electric Vehicles can be green
There is a substantial amount of CO2 emission while producing lithium batteries, designed for EVs, but as technology is evolving, this can be reduced to next to no emission at all. EV production must be done keeping the environment in mind, and we already see a positive approach towards the same with the carbon footprint of EV Batteries already reducing by 2-3% in the past 2 years.
#3 EV produces fewer emission even when using electricity
As compared to conventional vehicles, EVs can use renewable energy sources, which are being made available slowly but steadily across the globe, which can lead to fewer chances of long-lasting environmental damage. In fact, China has already seen a 20% decline in environmental pollution since a good percentage of their population adapted to EVs.
#4 EVs can be manufactured using eco-friendly materials.
Manufacturers want their EVs to be lighter and faster, which will also help them reduce their carbon footprint. But this can be a challenge with traditional materials that are much heavier and harmful for the environment. Hence, to reduce weight manufacturers are turning towards recycled material that is environmentally safe and sustainable.
#5 Reduced Noise Pollution
Have you cruised by an EV and noticed that they are much quieter compared to a conventional car? This is because they do not need an exhaust, which is an upholding factor towards noise pollution transmitted by vehicles. Apart from that, their light-weight body also causes them to be much more easy on the road and less noisy.
Can EVs Reverse Climate Change?
No, EVs cannot reverse climate change, but they sure can slow it down. A recent study pointed out that Polar Bears would be extinct by 2100 if we continued to pollute our environment. However, with the all new, all cool addition of EVs, we still have hope! Since automotive industry is one of the largest in the world with very high fuel consumption, replacing them with EVs can improve the overall condition of our planet. As these cars get better and more sustainable over time, with technological advancements, we can help make the planet a “cooler” place for our dear Polar Bears.