Keoni Buenavista
Date: 05/08/2022
Prompt: Is the rampant production of Electric vehicles in the United States and across the world more beneficial or harmful to the environment/society?
In a world where the effort to have zero carbon emissions, electric vehicles are becoming much more common and are expected to replace ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles within the next few decades. Having an increased amount of production of electric vehicles across the U.S. and the world is perceived to be a really good thing for the public eye, but it does come with a few drawbacks. Companies that are producing these types of vehicles such as Tesla, Ford, and other car manufacturers have shown in recent years how expensive, time-consuming, and difficult these types of cars are to make. Additionally, mining or obtaining some of the materials used for EVs is unethical and dangerous for the environment.
The main reason behind the drawbacks that these auto manufacturers have when it comes to electric vehicle production, is cost. The costs of materials to make these vehicles and other vehicles in general currently is very expensive for the manufacturer. Many manufacturers have to outsource their materials such as batteries, electronic components, paint, tires, and other interior/exterior components. Major costs for production mainly come from the batteries and electronic components which have increased in price overall in recent times. Costs that are associated with production, when increased for the manufacturer, will usually go onto the consumer buying the car; currently, all-electric vehicles have come at a high price compared to their ICE counterparts which run on gasoline or diesel. In my opinion, having costs increased for people to buy vehicles can be harmful to society and restrict people from being able to enter the EV market.
Another reason that I believe shows that EVs have shown more harm to the environment and society rather than benefits is through the mining of many of the materials that go into EVs. To have an electric vehicle, the battery component is one of the most crucial parts. Currently, the battery technology used widely in these vehicles is Lithium-ion batteries which still have environmental and human rights issues. Regarding lithium’s effects on the environment, to manufacture lithium to where it can be utilized for batteries, a solvent is used which produced mining waste. This waste can be extremely hazardous to wildlife and marine life due to water pollution. The brine from mining lithium has been found to degrade ecosystems, cause water contamination, damage to landscapes, and respiratory issues in animals.
With the issue of human rights, lithium extraction companies in South American countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia (which are large producers of lithium) have been accused of not protecting the rights of indigenous peoples regarding free prior and informed consent. Under this, extraction companies are to consult indigenous tribes and receive consent before developing land or using the resources on the land that is sacred or important to a tribe’s population. Adding to this, there has been evidence that extraction companies have had control over the community’s access to information regarding the mining of lithium.
In conclusion, the production of Electric vehicles across the world is currently not the most beneficial for the environment. If companies and manufacturers can find a more efficient, clean, and ethical way to get materials, EVs would be a much better option. The battery and electronic components are quite expensive, and will only continue to do so if no new methods are created.