Powering up the Environment
May 4, 2022 2022-05-13 10:42Powering up the Environment
Electric cars are all the Rage
The new age of technology has finally started rolling around, the start of it being electric cars. Electric cars are a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way of transportation and an increasingly viable solution to global pollution troubles, yet the pros do not always outweigh the cons.
The goal of electric cars is to better the environment by causing less pollution than a gas-powered vehicle does. The downsides are the methods required to mine for the raw materials and their subsequent environmental effects.
Battery production is likely the most environmentally damaging stage in manufacturing electric vehicles. Remove the lithium battery from the equation and the production of electric to gas-powered vehicles is very similar. There would be no difference in how dangerous the effect would be on the environment.
Electric cars are charged by an electrical grid powered by fossil fuels. This can be harmful because when fossil fuels burn, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas, into the air.
On top of the fossil fuels consumed, they contain lithium batteries. Most lithium batteries end up in landfills, where their hazardous components can leak into the soil and groundwater.
Landfills are also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. They usually don’t recycle because it takes a lot of time, money, and effort to do so.
“Electric cars are dangerous for the environment just as gas-powered cars are. The amount of energy they consume eventually adds up.”, said anonymous Deerfield Beach High student.
In the end, an electric car has its highs and lows. Even though an electric car is meant to benefit the environment, it might not be a viable option for many. There isn’t much out there to benefit the Earth but cars like that may just be a start to a healthier future.
