How green is your EV? Let's talk cradle to grave greenhouse gas emissions.
Though manufacturing EVs--including sourcing battery metals and minerals--generates more greenhouse gases than a conventional car, they quickly compensate for that through the absence of tailpipe emissions. This is true even in places with significant coal-fired electricity.
However, lack of ubiquitous and reliable charging infrastructure caused consumers to demand ever bigger batteries, which erodes their greenhouse gas advantage. This not only results in more required metals/minerals and increased electricity demand, these hulking EVs damage roads and can be a liability given their hefty road weight.
The solution is an expansion of reliable charging infrastructure now. This will reduce range anxiety and promote smaller, more efficient cars.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
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