Are Electric Vehicle Batteries Bad For The Environment?
The production of electric vehicle batteries emits harmful greenhouse gas emissions, whilst mining raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel cause further harm to the environment.
Fossil fuel mining, including lithium extraction and cobalt mining, is estimated to be responsible for the emission of around 34 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent worldwide annually.
It was in fact found that 46% of an electric vehicle’s (EV) carbon emissions come from the production process. This environmental impact from C02 emissions speeds up climate change, pushing the importance of recycling electric car batteries.
Electric cars use lithium-ion batteries, which can be recycled with the help of our team. Recycling reduces hazardous waste, conserves valuable raw materials, and supports a circular economy, making the manufacturing process more sustainable.
Why Are Electric Vehicles Good For The Environment?
Electric vehicles (EV) are a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. One of the key advantages is that EVs emit zero tailpipe emissions, which helps to significantly reduce air pollution and improve urban air quality.
By switching to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind for EV charging, the environmental footprint of EVs can be further minimised.
While the production of EVs, particularly the manufacturing of lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate batteries, involves significant energy use, the overall lifetime emissions of an EV are generally lower than those of conventional gasoline-powered cars.
Once on the road, EVs consume less energy per mile, especially when powered by renewable energy sources, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The energy efficiency of electric vehicles is also superior to that of internal combustion engine vehicles. EVs convert over 85% of the electrical energy from the battery pack into motion, whereas traditional vehicles only convert about 20% of the energy stored into motion. This efficiency, combined with the potential for greener energy sources, makes EVs a key tool in combating climate change.
We Recycle EV Lithium Batteries
At Lithium Cycle, we are committed to closing the loop on battery waste by offering comprehensive recycling services for EV lithium-ion batteries. As battery manufacturers continue to develop new energy sources to enhance battery longevity and performance, the need for efficient recycling becomes even more critical.
Recycling EV batteries not only helps recover valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, but also reduces the demand for raw material mining. This, in turn, lessens the overall environmental impact of the battery manufacturing process. Our services ensure that hazardous waste is minimised, and materials from used batteries can be reintegrated into new battery packs.