Posted on 09/08/2022 10:03:19 AM PDT by Heartlander
While praising California’s decision to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035, Governor Gavin Newsom declared that this will require “100% of new car sales in California to be zero-emission vehicles” like “electric cars.” In reality, electric cars emit substantial amounts of pollutants and may be more harmful to the environment than conventional cars.
Toxic Pollution
The notion that electric vehicles are “zero-emission” is rooted in a deceptive narrative that ignores all pollutants which don’t come out of a tailpipe. Assessing the environmental impacts of energy technologies requires measuring all forms of pollution they emit over their entire lives, not a narrow slice of them. To do this, researchers perform “life cycle assessments” or LCAs. As explained by the Environmental Protection Agency, LCAs allow for:
the estimation of the cumulative environmental impacts resulting from all stages in the product life cycle, often including impacts not considered in more traditional analyses (e.g., raw material extraction, material transportation, ultimate product disposal, etc.). By including the impacts throughout the product life cycle, LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects of the product or process and a more accurate picture of the true environmental trade-offs in product and process selection.
LCAs are subject to multiple levels of uncertainty, but an assessment published by the Journal of Cleaner Production in 2021 shatters the notion that electric cars are cleaner than conventional ones, much less “zero emission.” The LCA found that manufacturing, charging, operating, and disposing of electric vehicles produces more of every major category of pollutants than conventional cars. This includes:
an increase in fine particulate matter formation (26%), human carcinogenic (20%) and non-carcinogenic toxicity (61%), terrestrial ecotoxicity (31%), freshwater ecotoxicity (39%), and marine ecotoxicity (41%) relative to petrol vehicles.
Foreshadowing that result, a 2018 report by the European Environment Agency warned that studies on the “human toxicity impacts” of electric vehicles were “limited” and that electric cars “could be responsible for greater negative impacts” than conventional cars.
Similarly, a 2018 article in the journal Environmental Research Letters stated that a failure to account for the “environmental implications” of mining lithium to make batteries for electric cars “would directly counter the intent” of “incentivizing electric vehicle adoption” and “needs to be urgently addressed.”
The 2021 paper in the Journal of Cleaner Production has now addressed this issue, and it shows electric cars emit more toxic pollution than gasoline-powered cars. Yet, politicians who embraced the electric car agenda before comprehensive data was available continue to plow ahead in spite of the facts.
Local Pollution
Regardless of overall toxic emissions, the European Environment Agency points out that electric vehicles “potentially offer local air quality benefits” because pollution from their manufacturing, charging, and disposal is usually emitted away from densely populated areas.
Simply stated, switching to electric cars transfers pollution from urbanites in wealthy nations to poor countries that mine and manufacture their components and to communities with power plants and disposal sites. In the words of the 2021 paper in the Journal of Cleaner Production, this “transfer of environmental burdens” causes “workers and ecosystems in third countries” to be “exposed to higher rates of toxic substances.”
China dominates the global supply chains for green energy components not merely because of cheap labor but because they have lax environmental standards that tolerate the pollution these products create. Thus, China supplies 78 percent of the world’s solar cells, 80 percent of the world’s lithium-ion battery chemicals, and 73 percent of the world’s finished battery cells.
Highlighting the implications of “China’s role in supplying critical minerals for the global energy transition,” a 2022 study by the Brookings Institute found that “continued reliance on China” will “increase the risk that sourcing of critical minerals will cause or contribute to serious social or environmental harms.” It also documents that the U.S. and other wealthy nations have been unwilling to accept these harms on their own soils.
Even if Newsom disregards the health of poor and slave laborers in other nations, electric vehicles are still not “zero-emission” for the people of California. This is because electric vehicles emit pollutants from road, tire, and brake wear, and these forms of pollution are worse in electric vehicles than standard cars. Per a 2016 paper in the journal Atmospheric Environment, “Electric vehicles are 24% heavier than their conventional counterparts,” and this creates more “non-exhaust emissions” like “tire wear, brake wear, road surface wear and resuspension of road dust.”
Greenhouse Gases
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activity, and the 2021 paper in the Journal of Cleaner Production found that electric cars emit 48 percent less CO2 than gasoline-powered ones. Although this is lower, it is still far from “zero-emission.”
Moreover, a study published by the Ifo Institute of Germany in 2019 found that an electric Tesla Model 3 emits 11 percent to 28 percent more CO2 over its lifespan than a diesel Mercedes C220D. Again, LCAs are subject to uncertainty, and no single study is an end-all, but this clearly proves that electric vehicles are far from emission-free.
With no regard for those facts, Gavin Newsom asserts that “California now has a groundbreaking, world-leading plan to achieve 100% zero-emission vehicle sales” that will help “solve this climate crisis.”
Contrary to Newsom’s claim of a “climate crisis,” a wide array of environmental and human welfare measures related to climate change have stayed level or improved for more than three decades. This includes foliage productivity, extinction rates, forest cover, agricultural production, coastal flooding, rainfall and droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, and extreme weather fatalities. These empirical facts refute more than 30 years of failed predictions by global warming alarmists.
Newsom then adds another layer of deception by stating that the plan reduces “dangerous carbon emissions” that “pollute our communities.” This misportrays CO2 as a toxic, dirty substance. In reality, it is an organic, colorless, non-carcinogenic gas that has no toxic effects on humans until concentrations exceed at least 6 times the level in Earth’s atmosphere.
Referring to CO2 as “carbon” is also unscientific. That’s because CO2 is not carbon, just like H2O (water) is not hydrogen. There are more than 10 million different carbon compounds, and calling CO2 “carbon” conflates this relatively innocuous gas with highly noxious substances like carbon monoxide and black carbon.
In summary, there is no reliable evidence that greenhouse gas reductions from electric cars will benefit anyone.
Consequences
Like Newsom, the California Air Resources Board boasts that “100% of new cars and light trucks sold in California will be zero-emission vehicles” by 2035. Assuming Newsom and the board members have at least a rudimentary knowledge of electric cars, calling them “zero-emission vehicles” is a lie.
A Google search reveals that journalists and many others are also using this inherently false phrase.
The harms of this deceit extend well beyond pollution. This is because electric cars are more costly than other options, and that’s why people rarely buy electric cars unless governments subsidize or mandate them. As documented by a 2021 paper in the journal Transport and Environment:
Mass market adoption of electric vehicles will likely require either that governments restrict the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles (as planned in some countries and California) or that BEVs [battery electric vehicles] become cost-competitive with gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and styling.
Regardless of whether these additional costs are paid by consumers or taxpayers, they make people poorer because these expensive cars ultimately travel fewer miles for every dollar spent.
The same applies to other “clean energy” policies that are prevalent in California. This is a major reason why it has the highest electricity prices in the continental U.S., or 77 percent more than the national average.
Such policies increase the costs of living and have contributed to making California the state with the highest real poverty rate in the nation.
Despite its “green” agenda, California dominates the American Lung Association’s list of cities with the poorest air quality in America. In fact, the nation’s worst four cities for ozone pollution, worst five cities for year-round particle pollution, and worst two cities for short-term particle pollution are all in California.
There are certainly many other factors besides energy policies that have led to those dreadful outcomes in California, but lying to people deprives them of the opportunity to make informed decisions about the pros and cons of these policies.
But, I throw away a fair amount of batteries each year, also, for flashlights, radios, etc. and I charge some, too.
All things have a cost/benefit number, right? … toys, tools, house and home, pets, vehicles, women, whatever … and with EVs, hopefully we still get to choose the numbers we like best. So, to each their own.
“Battery power is not like that.”
Li-ion batteries are much better. I really don’t see any power reduction with my tools and cut my lawn every week using one battery.
But I don’t think I’m in the range for current battery tech with this yard as is. I wore my phone to see how far I walked pushing the mower, edging and weed whacking and blowing street, driveway and sidewalks.
About 3.3 miles or so and 4 floors usually finished in about 4+ hours.
In this heat and Carolina humidity, I run out of power now long before the wall outlet does!
“But, I throw away a fair amount of batteries each year, also, for flashlights, radios, etc. and I charge some, too.”
All my previously listed items are still running on original batteries.
Trimmer - 8 years - every week
Lawnmower - 5 years - every week
Blower - 5 years - every week
“About 3.3 miles or so and 4 floors usually finished in about 4+ hours.
In this heat and Carolina humidity, I run out of power now long before the wall outlet does!”
I have two batteries for my mower.. Never really timed it but one battery is more than 30 minutes. Depends on the grass. My mower is not self-propelled.
Most come with two batteries. You can charge one as you continue cutting or taking a break.
“The extension cords are a pain and you have to be a combination lariat and snake handler to make the cord work like you want it to and it’s taken 4 or 5 replacement cords t”
“Old reliable” is a patchwork of splices, tape and shrink tubing.
“However, 150’ is my max range for mowing, edging and blowing. So, anything beyond 150’ is why I have gasoline powered vehicles!”
You have gas-powered mowers, blowers and edgers also?
“They seem to be such a waste of energy and it’s all because of the battery.”
An EV running off combined cycle gas generated electricity is more efficient that a gas engine.
And EV’s can run off nuclear, hydro, coal, etc.
“The loss of energy due the extension cords is consistent and doesn’t change over time or with use.”
The more power you draw, the higher the energy losses.
Ping
You could always drag a small wheeled generator for the past 150 foot areas. (ducking for cover).
This (in use)!! Words mean things and zero emissions is when the device is in its normal use. We don’t measure ice emissions when the car is not running. Otherwise terms like lifetime emissions are used trying to cover all the steps in mining, manufacturing, use to disposal. Even when doing lifetime emmisions BEV are generally less carbon producing the ICE.
Lots of people are also buying BEV for other reasons then emmisions or climate change. Most are a blast to drive, can wake up to a “full” car, is not difficult to produce your own energy to fuel the car. Much lower maint. requirements (so far). I don’t believe these will be considered green long term, almost nothing humans manufacture can be. In 10-15 years we will see what is happening to millions of spent batteries and know if the recycling dream is achieved.
I wonder what ‘emissions’ are produce mining rare earth elements used in making the batteries?
And ‘emissions’ from steel mills making sheet metal used in the car - and emissions created from manufacturing tires.
The problem with greenies is they only see emissions if they’re coming out of a tail pipe.
Exactly what is the composition of these new batteries? None of the ingredients are mined using child slave labor? Are the new batteries disposable in a landfill?
Perhaps they are filled with compressed unicorn facts? My whole point is EV’s are not a utopian invention, they are not zero emissions on either end of their life cycle. They are a lot of Madison Avenue hype and BS like most of the junk sold to us.
“Exactly what is the composition of these new batteries? None of the ingredients are mined using child slave labor? Are the new batteries”
Apparently you get your news from Mother Jones and other environmental extremists organizations,
“My whole point is EV’s are not a utopian invention, “
Neither are ICE cars.
“In 10-15 years we will see what is happening to millions of spent batteries and know if the recycling dream is achieved.”
Battery companies are working with recycling companies to ensure technology compatibility be the problem is that batteries are lasting longer than expected slowing the growth of recycling.
“There’s some alleged Freeper here that claims EV’s are as pure as the driven snow, that Tesla’s new (when are they coming?) batteries won’t contain cobalt or lithium. “
No FReeper ever said that. What hype are you pushing?
” Are the new batteries disposable in a landfill?”
The battery in YOUR car is not disposable in a landfill.
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