Mark Israelyan and Ethan Dill / Staff reporters
The recent rise of EVs across Canada is evident, according to the University of Toronto, electrification is essential moving forward into the future; bringing countless benefits, however these benefits are contrasted by critical negative issues.
When purchasing an EV three main factors are often considered. The initital purchase and running costs. The limited range and the implications that come with charging on the go. Lastly, how safe these vehicles are. Though there are impacts that most don’t think about when they consider purchasing an EV. Those mainly being the impact of mining for the raw resources on both the environment and people. As well, the direct impact on the environment.
When many people think about buying an EV, they think about saving money by not paying for gas. Buying an EV will actually cost most people more depending on how much a person drives. Lots of people steer away from EVs because of their high initial costs. While EVs do cost more at the start, they require less maintenance and therefore have lower maintenance costs. According to the federal Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the average EV would cost a person $0.05 per kilometer, lower than the conventional gas-powered vehicle which averages $0.08 per kilometer on maintenance.
EVs also have the upper hand when it comes to running costs, as electricity is much cheaper than paying for gas. Though the cost to both buy and own an EV has not yet levelled out. In fact, a research team at UBC found that over a seven-year period in BC, an electric vehicle would cost an estimated $8,000 more than a gas vehicle.
In many cases, owning an EV comes down to personal preferences and concerns. One of the major factors considered by many when buying an EV is the range. The range of electric vehicles taken from a data chart of 325 cars came out to an average of 377km, which is about the same distance between Coquitlam and Kelowna. Though that is not factoring variables such as speed, elevation gain, heating, air conditioning, and extra weight among other factors that reduce range. Stopping to charge could be quite a hassle, as charging can take anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple days depending on the charger and charging time. Charging on road trips can be difficult in some areas as electric chargers aren’t always available, for example in the BC interior. Though when it comes to short everyday trips, the ability to charge overnight and go is simpler than filling up at gas stations.
EV’s are less likely to catch fire than gas and diesel vehicles, some sources state that hybrid vehicles are the most likely. Statistics could be slightly scewed due to intentional damages. It was found that there were an average of “3.8 fires per 100,000 electric or hybrid cars in 2022, compared with 68 fires per 100,000 cars when [considering] all [other] fuel types” (Jasper Jolly, 2023). While electric car fires can be much harder to extinguish, EV fires happen far less often. EV Firesafe, funded by Australia’s Department of Defense, found EVs 83 times more likely to catch fire than the standard gas powered vehicle. They tend to burn hotter and longer, causing damage to surrounding property. Once batteries ignite a thermal runaway occurs. With more electric vehicles the chance of such an accident rises.
Mining for the resources that make up the batteries in electric vehicles is not only environmentally harmful, but also brings up many social and ethical issues. The two main resources used are nickel and lithium. While not as significant as some other countries. Canada still has a large amount of mining for these resources.
Nickel is an essential part of EV batteries being the reason that they are a viable form of transportation. According to Nickel Institute, the use of nickel in batteries increases range, lowers the weight, and size of batteries. Nickel is primarily mined in the Philippines, Russia, and Indonesia. Canada is “The sixth-largest global producer and contributing 6.7% to worldwide production” (Herter Roach, 2024) The process of mining for nickel results in contamination of air, water, and soil, greenhouse gas emissions, and degradation of land. The process of refining nickel into a usable state additionally releases emissions.
Currently most of the lithium deposits are located in developing countries. In these countries labour and additionally environmental regulation are loose. This results in human rights violations, including forced labor, child labor, and environmental issues in foreign countries. Most of these people work in unsafe conditions with improper safety gear.
Lithium primarily mined in Australia, Chile, and China. Similar to nickel there is some lithium mining done in Canada. Like nickel, lithium mining has most of the same impacts. Unlike nickel the process of collecting lithium requires extreme amounts of water. “Approximately 500,000 gallons per ton of lithium” (Amit Katwala, 2018). Expansive flats are used to dissolve lithium into water, followed by evaporating off the water. Where this process is done water demand is high resulting in limited water for agriculture purposes.
While the impacts of mining are severe, most of the batteries used in electric vehicles are able to be infinitely recycled. Both nickel and lithium can be fully recycled and used indefinitely. While this fact being great if batteries aren’t recycled, more mining will have to take place. “Global lithium production has grown from about 37,000 tons a decade ago to 130,000 tons in 2022.” (Climate Portal, 2024) As the demand for EVs grow this figure will undoubtedly increase.
Luckily, as the Electric vehicle industry grows new innovations rise up. Possibly decreasing the demand for lithium and nickel. Additionally, development in electric vehicle batteries trickles down to other consumer devices and electronics. Providing benefits such as greater capacity, lighter, and smaller batteries.
Electric vehicles come with some positive and negative environmental effects. Firstly, with the correct supporting grid EVs have neutral CO2 emissions when in use. Typically, even when considering grids that rely on fossil fuels, EVs are still more economic, and environmental friendlier than regular ICE powered vehicles. This is because most engines don’t reach the efficiency found in fossil fuel power plants. While developments in internal combustion engines have made leaps in progress as of late. On average “approximately 20 percent [of the fuel used], actually propel an internal combustion vehicle forward” (Justin Westbrook, 2022). This is compared to “Typical thermal efficiency for utility-scale electrical generators is around 37% for coal and oil-fired plants, and 56 – 60% (LEV) for combined-cycle gas-fired plants” (wikipidia)
British Columbia dams often have a major environmental effect.These being the harm to ecosystems and environment, eroding of the river and lake systems, and displacement and extirpation of sensitive species. While most of the west coast is decommissioning its dams. BC continues to build new dams, site c being the latest addition. Most notably dams destroy salmon runs. Sockeye salmon being the most effected, needing a lake to spawn.
Subsides on electric car purchases, improvements in electric vehicles, and the cost of fuel and the taxes on them. Not to mention the benefits like greater acceleration, regen breaking, greater tech, and one pedal driving. Have made electric cars more popular as of late, making up 20-30% of new cars purchased. This means that many Gleneagle students’ families either own an electric vehicle or plan on purchasing one. Some families buy EVs because of environmentally friendly reasons. As discussed above EVs do come with negative implications to the environment and the people that mine, refine, and build the parts. Fortunately for students and teachers that drive to school charging their vehicles isn’t a problem, due to installed charging stations.
There are many different factors to consider when deciding if an EV is the right option. Costs, practicality, safety, mining and impact on the environment. There are both pros and cons of owning an EV but it depends on the individual, their views, and how they intend to use the car.
Main Source:
Can Electric Vehicles Save the Planet? (Impacts of EVs)
Sources
- How is lithium mined? | MIT Climate Portal
- How nickel makes electric vehicle batteries better!
- The Social and Environmental Impacts of Lithium Mining
- What Is Thermal Runaway In Batteries?
- Do electric cars pose a greater fire risk than petrol or diesel vehicles
- Fossil fuel power station
- Electric Vehicles Are Way, Way More Energy-Efficient Than Internal Combustion Vehicles
- Everything You Need to Know About Nickel Mining in Canada
- As EV batteries consume more lithium, report warns against increased mining of it
- The spiralling environmental cost of our lithium battery addiction
- What it Costs to Maintain an Electric Vehicle
- Electric Vehicle Database
- The Average Price of an Electric Car Keeps Dropping
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