The EV Myth: Why Electric Cars are probably NOT the best

It’s easy to see why electric vehicles (EVs) have become so popular; they seem like the eco-friendly answer we’ve all been looking for. But the truth is, the reality of EVs is more complicated than it first appears. Although they offer some clear advantages over gas-powered cars, there are also real environmental costs associated with them that many people may not be aware of.

For one thing, EVs require a lot of energy to produce—especially the batteries, which depend on mining materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. In fact, manufacturing an EV can sometimes create a larger carbon footprint than producing a gas-powered car. Then, as these batteries reach the end of their lifespan, we face the issue of disposal and recycling, which, as of now, is far from an environmentally-friendly process. The recycling infrastructure for these batter ...