Are EVs really that sustainable?
At a FICCI event in October 2021, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari set an ambitious goal for EV adoption in the country - after all, the Indian Government was targeting 30% electric vehicle penetration in India by 2030! If that happens, India could potentially save upwards of INR 1 lakh crore on crude oil imports every single year! Furthermore, 30% EV penetration could potentially reduce particulate matter & NOx emissions by 17% & CO2 emissions by 18%. Not just this, such EV penetration could potentially create 1.2 lakh new jobs in the sector. Sounds too good to be true? Well it might be just that - while EVs are “greener” when compared to internal combustion vehicles, EVs do contribute towards environmental & social damage in multiple ways. The global warming potential from EV production is twice that of a conventional vehicle! Additionally, the production of batteries and electric motors requires a lot of toxic minerals such as nickel, aluminum & copper. Despite virtually zero emissions while operating an EV, the production phase of an EV leads to much more environmental damage that isn’t visible to the driver. So how sustainable are EVs really? Well, let’s find out!
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So are EVs sustainable? Well, it’s complicated - most experts agree that EVs create a lower carbon footprint over their lifetime when compared to traditional internal combustion vehicles. However, this is a broad generalization of a complicated situation. The dichotomy starts with the fact that the electricity being used to charge an EV itself is being generated using fossil fuels in the first place. Secondly, the batteries being used to run an EV are probably the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. EVs rely on rechargeable lithium ion batteries to run. The manufacturing of these batteries requires mining and processing of cobalt, lithium & manganese along with scores of other raw materials is highly energy intensive & is one of the biggest contributors of carbon emissions from EVs today. Manufacturing of a typical EV battery requires between 350 to 650 megajoule of energy per kWh. A regular EV battery pack can generate 80 to 90 grams of CO2 emissions. If you add the emissions of grid electricity used to power the vehicle, along with other raw materials apart from the battery, a typical EV emits 200 grams of CO2 per mile. In comparison, a typical internal combustion vehicle emits 275 grams of CO2 per mile. That doesn’t sound too big of a difference now, does it?
These high emission numbers, especially at the production stage of an EV are seen as an initial investment, which pays off in the long run over the lifetime of the vehicle. Furthermore, the carbon footprint of an EV can be reduced over time by decarbonizing the electricity grid & recycling batteries. The recycling of batteries can be a game changer for the overall sustainability of electric vehicles. Since the industry is at a very nascent stage currently, the number of batteries in use is limited. Over time, as these old batteries begin to accumulate, there is a possibility of creating a strong battery recycling industry that could help EVs further reduce their carbon footprint. The global battery recycling industry is expected to touch $23.2 billion by 2025. Battery recycling is the only option for EV manufacturers since the raw materials being used in lithium ion batteries are limited in supply. Furthermore, the regulatory environment in many countries could force these companies to recycle their batteries as disposing them could end up being more expensive for them. From upstarts like Noida based Attero to legacy businesses like Tata Chemicals, everyone is getting into the recycling business to make EVs more sustainable in the future.
Another way to reduce the carbon footprint of EVs and batteries is to develop better batteries. The current lithium ion batteries have an energy density of 0.3-0.4 MJ/liter, compared to 34.6 MJ/liter for petroleum. In other words, fossil fuels typically have 100 times more energy density when compared to lithium ion batteries. A slew of alternative battery technologies are being explored currently to replace lithium ion batteries, including lithium-sodium batteries, sodium ion batteries & solid state batteries. Solid state batteries, in particular, could prove to be a game changer for the EV industry. Unlike current batteries that use liquid electrolytes, solid state batteries have a solid in place of the liquid electrolyte, thus making the batteries safer, non-flammable, lighter & more energy efficient. Over the next decade, solid state batteries are set to become the gold standard for EV batteries, which could further reduce the carbon footprint of EVs, taking them a step further to being truly sustainable!