Electric Vehicles Have a Unique Impact on the Environment

One of the major political platforms facing our country right now is the environment and how we are going to make sure it’s clean and present.

We all live on this planet, we want to pass on a world that’s better for our children and grandchildren than what we currently have, and there are many initiatives in place to help improve the environment. Electric vehicles have caused several people to fall on either side of the conversation with facts that support both sides.

Initial Environmental Concerns about EVs

The production of batteries for electric vehicles currently uses several materials that are difficult to mine out of the earth and need to be combined in a way that expels pollution into the air. Electric vehicle technology and production is an additional process beyond simply making gasoline models. This means companies are producing more emissions initially by adding the process of making EVs to their lineup.

Not only does the process of building an EV cause a company to have an additional production line and produce more emissions, but the materials used are also limited and there is a concern of these materials to eventually disappear. Using items that could eventually run out and adding more pollution doesn’t appear to be a positive solution for the environment as a whole. This is generally the argument given by those opposed to electric vehicle production.

Zero Emissions is Great for the Atmosphere

After the production of the EV models, they immediately have a positive impact on the environment when compared to a gasoline model. A true electric vehicle doesn’t expel any emissions, which is much less than the most efficient hybrid or gasoline vehicle. When you have a vehicle that doesn’t add pollution to the atmosphere, you’re making a huge difference in the environmental impact of the vehicle that you drive.

From the time an EV is on the road, the impact it had on the environment to produce it begins to be reduced. By the time this vehicle has been driven for a year, it’s much more environmentally friendly than the gasoline counterparts. Those that support the production of EV models typically point to this area of the conversation to support their points and give us an idea that EV models can be right for everyone to drive.

Challenges Facing Automakers and Politicians

Overall, an EV is certainly better for the environment, but automakers have to find a way to move to better battery technology. The use of materials that are limited and have to be mined from the earth will eventually run out and will cause shortages that can be troublesome. We already see this with a recent computer chip shortage due to the lack of production during several of the past few months that were mired with the COVID-19 pandemic.

A healthy balance between the use of materials mined, pollution during production, and the emissions from the vehicles when in use is important to ensure the continued positive impact on the environment. This is what automakers and politicians should be working toward to offer the best solution for the future of our world.