It is vital to understand the driving force behind the electric vehicle (EV) revolution to understand the mechanical design impact, whether positive or negative, on the environment. Unlike adapting to other technological advancements to accommodate the shift in consumer preferences, technological innovation is just one aspect behind the electric vehicle movement, environmental consciousness awakening being a critical variable. According to a Thomas Reuters story, the automotive sector, on average, contributes around 15% to 25 % of polluting emissions, such as nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide.

The auto manufacturers turned to market alternatively powered vehicles to respond to a large public outcry against the rising smog, local pollution, and health problems. Toyota became the first to capture the EV market by launching its hybrid Prius in Japan in 1997. In the last decade, the global market for electric vehicles has made significant progress. Light electric vehicles or EVs have seen a 9 percent spike in numbers from 2018 to 2019 and 2020, reaching over 2.2 million units. These numbers are already suggestive of electric cars' bright future, particularly with key players in the automotive sector stepping up their EV-related developments. For instance, Tesla has delivered its first Cyber Truck model in Shanghai, China, while Lamborghini has announced its first-ever hybrid supercar.

However, EVs will not comprise more than 33 percent of the total number of cars on the highway. Electric vehicles have gained momentum in the transportation sector, attributing to the increase in demand for fuel-efficient and lightweight vehicles.

Types of electric vehicles

There are four types of electric vehicles:

Environmental impact of electric vehicles

Environmental awareness has been the driving force in bringing electric vehicles to the forefront of the automotive industry. With air pollution on the constant rise and impending climate change, the results might favor the environment. Air pollutants coming from gasoline can lead to various health issues, including asthma, respiratory diseases, cancers, and more. Car manufactures are striving to optimum utilization of eco-friendly materials for manufacturing their vehicles. Furthermore, Electric vehicles have a zero exhaust discharge. Various studies show that electric vehicles can reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, leading to reduced air pollution. Compared to diesel and gasoline-fueled cars, an electric vehicle has a smaller carbon footprint, i.e., the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Car owners of electric vehicles can further reduce their carbon emissions by deriving electricity from renewable sources, including wind and solar energy, that don't pollute.

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How good are electric vehicles for the environment?

All technological innovations had their pros and cons, and electric vehicles are no different. Electric vehicles have been under scrutiny ever since the first electric vehicle took to the road in the 2000s for issues relating to manufacturing and battery power sources. Electric vehicles might reduce air pollution on the road, but their battery production composition can contribute to carbon emission. The air pollution generated through the extraction process of minerals and the production of electronic vehicle batteries remains on par or even higher than diesel or petrol-based engines' manufacturing process.

Various other uncertainties surround electric vehicle battery production. With the production of larger batteries and longer driving ranges in the future, battery production emissions can harm the claimed electric vehicles' climate benefits. More than half of the emissions from battery production come from the electricity used in manufacturing and assembling the batteries. Furthermore, producing batteries and electric motors requires various toxic minerals, including nickel, copper, and aluminum. Lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles are huge and can be a potential environmental hazard.

Conclusion

With the first step in the technological innovation of what was believed to improve the environment, proving to cause air pollution, these electric vehicles might have caused their share of damage to the environment even before they took to the road. If these electric vehicles were powered by electricity generated from low-carbon electricity sources, they have the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the future. However, in regions where fossil fuels are the main sources of power, electric vehicles can cause more harm than offering any benefit. Even if electronic vehicles don't directly emit greenhouse gases, they still run on electricity generated from fossil fuels in major parts of the world. More often than not, there’s more to technological innovations than its initial promise of benefitting the environment.