Liamson Times: Opinion Electric Cars

== [Opinion] Electric cars: An inane shift ==
Kenneth Aragones | 4:17 PM | November 9, 2014
Our fight for a greener earth has resulted in various creative solutions such as "Live in Trash Advocacies", banning of plastic bags and the use of electric vehicles (EVs). Study shows the latter, though great in many aspects, does virtually nothing when dealing with global warming.
The 2012 comprehensive life-cycle analysis in an acclaimed journal shows that almost half of the lifetime carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of an EV came from its production alone, especially the production of lithium batteries. In fact, when a single EV rolls off the production line, it is already responsible for a staggering 30,000 pounds of CO2 emissions. The amount of CO2 emission used to make a typical conventional car is 14,000 pounds.
Meanwhile, the burning of fossil fuels for transportation is accounted as the second largest source of CO2 emissions. Regarding this, transportation is responsible for the 26% of total greenhouse emission worldwide in 2013. At the same time, fossil fuel dependence has become such a huge problem, but promoting the use of electric cars, especially if it's done in a wide scale, could surely solve it, as it doesn't use that much fuel.
EVs run on rechargeable batteries instead of fossil fuels. EV batteries need to be replaced every three to ten years depending on its quality and usage but they can wear out and may need to be replaced immediately. Battery disposal, whether from a conventional vehicle or an electric one, is likely hazardous.
A battery itself is safe, but precautions apply in its disposal, since it contains lead — a toxic metal known to cause brain damage, deafness, blindness and even death. Many countries labeled lead acid as a hazardous toxic material. It can enter the body by inhalation and ingestion. Cadmium and sulfuric acid are other harmful chemicals found in batteries.
The biggest environmental advantage of owning an electric car, however, may also be its major drawback. EVs run on electricity, while electricity is produced mainly by burning fossil fuels and coal. Transportation, as mentioned, is the second largest source of CO2. Unfortunately, electricity is the largest source of it. In fact, electricity production and use are accounted for 37% of CO2 emission worldwide.
Even if an electric car is charged using clean energy, the car will only cause 24% less CO2 emission than conventional car. Certainly a far cry from their "Zero Carbon Dioxide Emission" tagline. EVs have higher manufacturing emission than normal cars. They also use lead batteries and, obviously, they depend on electricity which as we know has its own carbon footprint. Summing up, these clearly contradict any climate benefit of EVs.
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