wheather electric cars are eco friendly?

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ELECTRIC CARS
ECO-FRIENDLY OR NOT

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SRI VENKATESWARA COLLEGE
Name: Vansh Singla
Roll no: 0121212
Course: B.A. prog.
[economics + mathematics]

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INTRODUCTION
 The number of electric vehicles
on the world’s roads is surging.
That should seem like good
news, as the world tries to wean
itself off fossil fuels that are
wrecking the global climate. As
electric vehicles have become a
topic today, it does raise some
questions in front of us :

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 Are electric vehicles really more eco-friendly than modern petrol
and diesel vehicles?
 How does the evaluation turn out if the data is obtained from
everyday driving, rather than from information provided by the
manufacturer or found in brochures?
 And how is the electric car rated if we look beyond what comes out
of the vehicle’s exhaust pipe and also consider the additional
emissions that occur during generating electricity and
manufacturing the vehicle (especially its battery), as well as the
quantity of raw materials used?
These questions can only be answered by a comprehensive life
cycle analysis.

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This figure shows the climate impact of a compact car powered
by diesel, petrol, and electricity.
This analysis is based on the realistic assumptions detailed
below. The results show that the greenhouse gas emissions over
the entire life cycle of a contemporary electric vehicle classified as
a compact car are lower than those of comparable vehicles with
internal combustion engines. Its greenhouse gas emissions are
around 30 percent lower than those of a petrol vehicle and around
23 percent lower than those of a comparable diesel vehicle.
Assumptions used in this calculation
• The entire life cycle of the vehicle is taken into account. In
addition to the running of the vehicle, the life cycle also
includes the production, maintenance, disposal, and recycling

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of the vehicle and the battery and the consumption and effort for
producing the electricity or fuel.
 The prognosis is that both electricity and fuel will have a lower
climate impact in the future, due to the increasing share of
renewable energy being used in both sectors.
 To enable a fair comparison between different types of use,
the total emissions are apportioned to an average vehicle
lifetime mileage of 150,000 kilometers.

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ELECTRIC MOTORS V/S
CONVENTIONAL ENGINES
V/S
Electric Engine Conventional Engine
Which one is more energy
efficient. Let’s see…..

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 “Despite more than 100 years of refinements, the internal
combustion engine used in cars just isn’t that good at converting
fuel into movement. Even in the most efficient petrol engines. I have
a question for you all, how much energy do you think a conventional
engine converts from a unit of fuel? Any wild guesses? Let me tell
you that it converts only around 12-30% of the energy in the fuel
ever makes it to the wheels or other useful functions. Then where
does the rest energy go? It got wasted as noise and heat.
 Electric motors, by contrast, are more like 77% efficient – they get
more than twice as many miles out of the same amount of
energy. This makes the all difference. You see, the tables are just
turned in the case of electric vehicles.
 As we can see about 70% of energy gets wasted in conventional
engines. This makes electric vehicles eco-friendly in terms of
energy consumption.

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 Whether the electric vehicles be eco-friendly will also depend on
the energy/electricity mix of that particular area.
 As we all know there are two sources of energy renewable and
non-renewable, which are further classified and I am not going to
waste your time explaining those as we have been studying all this
for many years.
 So, the eco-friendliness of electric vehicles will depend on the
source using which the electricity is being produced. It does matter
because you will be charging your electric vehicle using the same
electricity.
 If the electricity is being produced using relatively low polluting
energy sources, emissions from electric vehicles would be
relatively low and it’s pretty obvious.
 Lets’ look at the electricity mix of India first and then we’ll do further
discussion.

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 So, this is the data for 2020 of the Indian electricity mix. As you
can see in India most of the electricity comes from coal only
(about 52%) which is a non-renewable source of energy.
 If we consider the contribution of all the non-renewable sources
of energy it comes out to be about 72% of the total generation
capacity
 Renewable sources of energy which include solar, wind energy,
etc. are quite less which is definitely a point of concern
 If we keep producing electricity using coal we won’t be able say
that our EVs are environmental friendly at least in India.

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 Concsiously or subconsciously we all know that electric cars are
the future and climate change is also a big concern. So it is the
responsibility of our governments alongside the manufacturers
of electric vehicles to make them more environmentally friendly,
which indeed are doing a great job.
 Our government has also taken many steps to increase the
share of renewable sources in the electricity mix of India
 Like joining the International solar alliance, making the
commitment to be a zero net emission country by 2070. These
kinds of steps definitely help electric vehicles to become more
environmental friendly

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 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
TYPES OF ELECTRICAL
VEHICLES

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Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Main components Tata nexon

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Now we’ll see different types of electric vehicles and try to
understand their main components and differences between them.
So, first on the list is BEVs that is battery electric vehicles and this
type is the most common one.
 BEVs are also known as All-Electric Vehicles (AEV). Electric Vehicles using
BEV technology run entirely on a battery-powered electric drivetrain. The
electricity used to drive the vehicle is stored in a large battery pack which can
be charged by plugging it into the electricity grid. The charged battery pack
then provides power to one or more electric motors to run the electric car.

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Examples of BEVs
MG zs
TATA Tigor
Hyundai Kona
Mahindra Verito

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Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV):
Main components
This Photo by Unknown
Author is licensed under
CC BY-SA
Toyota Prius

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The second type of electrical vehicles is Hybrid Electric Vehicle:
HEVs are also known as series hybrid or parallel hybrid. HEVs have both engines
and electric motors. The engine gets energy from fuel, and the motor gets electricity
from batteries. The transmission is rotated simultaneously by both engine and
electric motor. This then drives the wheels
The fuel tank supplies energy to the engine like a regular car. The batteries run on an
electric motor. Both the engine and electric motor can turn the transmission at the
same time.

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Examples of HEVs
Ford Escape
Honda Civic
Lexus rx 400h

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Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle (PHEV):
Main Components
BMW 330e

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Plugin hybrid electric cars are quite interesting, these are the most
advanced version of electric cars.
The PHEVs are also known as series hybrids. They have both engine and a motor.
You can choose among the fuels, conventional fuel (such as petrol) or alternative
fuel (such as bio-diesel). It can also be powered by a rechargeable battery pack.
The battery can be charged externally.
PHEVs can run in at least 2 modes:
• All-electric Mode, in which the motor and battery provide all the car’s energy
• Hybrid Mode, in which both electricity and petrol/diesel are employed

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 Their ability to run on two different modes makes them unique
from other types of electric cars
 PHEVs start-up in all-electric mode and make use of electricity until their
battery pack is depleted. Once the battery gets drained, the engine takes over,
and the vehicle operates as a conventional, non-plug-in hybrid. PHEVs can be
charged by plugging into an outside electric power source, engine, or
regenerative braking. When brakes are applied, the electric motor acts as a
generator, using the energy to charge the battery. The engine’s power is
supplemented by the electric motor; as a result, smaller engines can be used,
increasing the car’s fuel efficiency without compromising performance.

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Examples of PHEVs
Chevy Volt
Mercedes C350e
Mini Cooper SE Countryman

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As we have seen different types of electrical vehicles. Now it’s
easier for us to understand which kind of electric vehicle is most
energy-efficient and hence eco-friendly.
According to me, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are the most
advanced version of electric vehicles because in this vehicle once
the battery is drained out completely it automatically shifts to
conventional fuel and its battery can be charged while driving, you
don’t need to plug it in into an outside electric power source. They can be
charged by regenerative braking. When brakes are applied, the electric motor acts
as a generator, using the energy to charge the battery.
Hence helps in saving electricity and good for our environment because of its
energy efficiency even smaller engines can be used this also helps to cut-off
resources used in it manufacturing.

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EMISSIONS FROM ELECTRIC
VEHICLES
• Tailpipe: Due to
internal
combustion
• Well-To Wheel:
All emissions
from production
to use

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TAILPIPE EMISSIONS
• These are the emissions
released from the tailpipe of
the car by the internal
combustion of the engine.
• When an electric vehicle is
running on electricity, it emits
no tailpipe (also known as
direct) emissions.

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When evaluated on that factor alone, EVs are a lot more eco-friendly
than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles on the market today.
All-electric vehicles and PHEVs running only on electricity have zero
tailpipe emissions, but emissions may be produced by the source of
electrical power, such as a power plant. In geographic areas that use
relatively low-polluting energy sources for electricity generation, all-
electric vehicles and PHEVs typically have lower emissions well-to-
wheel than similar conventional vehicles running on gasoline or
diesel. In regions that depend heavily on coal for electricity
generation, EVs may not demonstrate a strong well-to-wheel
emissions benefit.

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 Well-to-wheel emissions include all emissions related to fuel
production, processing, distribution, and use. In the case of
gasoline, emissions are produced while extracting petroleum from
the earth, refining it, distributing the fuel to stations, and burning it
in vehicles.
 In the case of electricity, most electric power plants produce
emissions, and there are additional emissions associated with the
extraction, processing, and distribution of the primary energy
sources they use for electricity production.
 Vehicle emissions can be divided into two general categories: air
pollutants, which contribute to smog, haze, and health problems;
and greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide and
methane. Both categories of emissions can be evaluated on a
direct basis and a well-to-wheel basis.

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 Conventional vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE)
produce direct emissions through the tailpipe, as well as through
evaporation from the vehicle's fuel system and during the fueling
process.
 Conversely, all-electric vehicles produce zero direct emissions.
PHEVs produce zero tailpipe emissions when they are in all-
electric mode, but they can produce evaporative emissions.
 When using the ICE, PHEVs also produce tailpipe emissions.
However, their direct emissions are typically lower than those of
comparable conventional vehicles.

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 When taking well-to-wheel emissions into account, all-electric
vehicles emit an average of around 4,450 pounds of
CO2 equivalent each year (as we can see in the bar graph). By
comparison, conventional gasoline cars will emit over twice as
much annually. The amount of well-to-wheel emissions your EV
is responsible for is largely dependent on your geographic area
and the energy sources most commonly used for electricity.
 Electricity production results in a varying amount of emissions
depending on the resource. While “being green” in the act of
driving your electric vehicle is a start, if your primary goal in
purchasing an electric vehicle is to reduce your greenhouse gas
and pollutants emissions, you should also prioritize using zero-
emissions electricity wherever possible.

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One way to compare the climate impacts of different vehicle models
is with this interactive online tool (press ctrl to access the link) made
by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who
tried to incorporate all the relevant factors: the emissions involved in
manufacturing the cars and in producing gasoline and diesel fuel,
how much gasoline conventional cars burn, and where the electricity
to charge electric vehicles comes from. The yellow section at the
bottom shows the low (in comparison) greenhouse emissions of
electric car production and use, compared to other car types above.
This chart can be very helpful in comparing the carbon emissions
from different cars.

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 Electric vehicles are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Mining
lithium and manufacturing these batteries is water-intensive and
contributes to air, soil, and water pollution.
 But when you look at the bigger picture, EVs are “greener” overall
than gasoline cars when comparing their entire life cycles
(including battery production & disposal). So electric car batteries
actually reduce our overall environmental impact.
 Think about it this way: even though the production and disposal of
batteries is harmful, they help power electric vehicles, an
alternative to gasoline-powered cars which benefits the
environment overall.
 This doesn’t mean that EV batteries have no environmental impact
at all.

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As you know, an EV draws power from its battery pack. These
batteries are made of relatively rare metals and minerals which are
often sourced using environmentally-invasive mining techniques.
And during the time an electric car is on the road, these batteries
require electricity that may or may not be sustainably sourced.
Then, there’s the added environmental cost of disposing of battery
packs in EVs.

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MINING FOR LITHIUM, COBALT, AND
NICKLE
Cobalt mine
Today’s industry-standard electric batteries are made mainly
using lithium, a relatively rare metal. Cobalt and Nickel are the
two other key ingredients in lithium-ion batteries.
Cobalt

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 Some of the largest lithium
deposits on the planet reside in
Mexico, South America, and East
Asia. In these poor parts of the
globe, environmentally damaging
mining operations can go
unchecked in the name of fueling
desperate economies.
 Researchers in Nevada found that
pollution from mining chemicals
had effects on fish as far as 150
miles downstream from a lithium
mining operation.
Dead fish in the Lichu River, Tibet, believed
to be poisoned by pollution from a nearby
lithium mine

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 Unlike lithium, which is usually harvested from brine (salt-water)
pools, cobalt and nickel are usually mined underground.
 Depending on the mining method used, these mines can
physically disturb or even completely destroy local habitats.
Chemical byproducts of mining often pollute surrounding soil,
rivers, and drinking water
 The chemicals and mining processes used inevitably lead
to water, soil, and air pollution, with major implications for the
surrounding landscapes and ecosystems.

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Life Cycle Analysis Comparison:
Electric Vs. Gasoline Vehicles
V/S
• Every single aspect from the extraction of raw resources for
manufacturing to the final disposal and recycling of the car is considered
• Assumed an approximate life expectancy of about 179,000 miles.

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 The production of a full-sized long-range electric vehicle (similar
to a Tesla Model S) adds about 6
tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, 68% higher than the
production of a comparable gasoline car.
 Most of these increased emissions come from battery
manufacturing and resource extraction for the battery,
because of the factors discussed in the previous slide.
 However, even with increased manufacturing emissions, the
average EV is still better for the environment than a comparable
gas car when you consider their lifetime CO2 equivalent
emissions (this includes the disposal/recycling phases).
 It’s important to note that a new gasoline car is greener than a
new electric car out of the lot.

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As we can see in the graph the most greenhouse
gas emissions released by an electric vehicle are
at a stage of battery production.
 However, the longer you drive an EV, the more
environmentally friendly it gets because the
increased manufacturing emissions are quickly
offset by reduced emissions from driving on
electricity instead of gasoline.
 Overall, it takes about 19,000 miles (16
months) of driving to offset the increased
emissions from the production of an
EV equivalent to the Tesla Model S. For smaller
EVs like the Nissan Leaf, this time is even less
(~4,900 miles).
Tesla model s

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Disposing of Electric Vehicles
• Lithium-ion batteries
contain corrosive chemicals
and dissolved metals.
• But, EV batteries can be
recycled

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 If these batteries aren’t disposed of properly, then they can
eventually leach chemicals into the surrounding soil. These
pollutants may even make it eventually into rivers and lakes,
endangering not just the animals that live there, but also
potentially endangering our own water supplies.
 What’s more, if a lithium-ion battery is damaged or punctured,
the chemicals inside the battery could react and create enough
heat to eventually cause a chemical fire (you may have seen
videos of phone batteries exploding or catching on fire—it’s the
same concept here).
 While EV battery packs are recyclable, currently, less than 5%
of lithium-ion batteries are actually recycled. Lithium batteries in
EVs are a relatively difficult item to recycle.

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CONCLUSION
By comparing the pros and cons of electric vehicles from all the
points discussed above, now we can conclude whether electric cars
are eco-friendly.

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• Electric motors, by contrast, are more like 77% efficient – they
get more than twice as many miles out of the same amount of
energy. They are way better than combustion engine.
• Electric vehicles of all types emit zero tailpipe emissions.
• When taking well-to-wheel emissions into account, all-electric
vehicles emit an average of around 4,450 pounds of
CO2 equivalent each year. By comparison, conventional
gasoline cars will emit over twice as much annually.
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is can be charged by the
regenerative braking system. You don’t need to make an extra
effort to charge its battery.
PROS

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 Over a life cycle of a vehicle, the carbon emissions of an electric
vehicle are the lowest
 The batteries of electric vehicles can be reused for other purposes like
storing solar energy etc. this also helps to reduce electronic waste
 Pure electric cars produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving.
This reduces air pollution considerably.

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CONS
 Electric car batteries are lithium-ion batteries made mainly of
lithium-containing compounds like lithium carbonate. Also,
contain materials like cobalt and other chemical additives or
dissolved metals. Mining of these ingredients destroys the
ecosystem and often pollutes air and drinking water
 Manufacturing an electric vehicle creates 6
tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, 68% more than the
production of a comparable gasoline car.
 It takes 500,000 gallons of water to refine one ton of lithium
carbonate (Li2CO3)

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 Less than 5% of lithium-ion batteries are recycled. If thrown in
landfills, EV batteries can leach chemicals into the ground and
into the water, or even cause toxic chemical fires
 A lot of infrastructural development is required to develop
charging stations for electric cars which might lead to
deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

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My Opinion
 Electric cars are not yet perfect; in that mining resources for
batteries, the carbon emitted in production, and fossil-fuel-
powered electricity used in charging, all come into play, and
reduce the overall eco-credentials.

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 However, as stated above, battery production is evolving and will
become less of an issue, while energy sources are becoming more
sustainable.
 So the foremost solution to make electric vehicles eco-friendly is
solar-generated electricity to charge them. This will make our EV zero
carbon-emitting vehicle
 Also there is a lot of improvement needed in battery technology to
make it more sustainable as most of the emissions come from battery
manufacturing.
 As we have seen that only 5% of the batteries got recycled. This can
also be improved. Manufacturers have to take the responsibility to
recycle each and every battery used in electric cars and put it for
some other commercial use.

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 Improvements are needed in the manufacture and production of
batteries, to evolve the materials and processes used, while
countries need to continue to decarbonize the grid, by focussing
fully on renewable and sustainable sources.
 Despite the current drawbacks, the evidence shows that electric
cars are far more environmentally friendly in their overall carbon
footprint than petrol or diesel cars.

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