EVs Are Not Going To to Save the Planet – But there is a form of transport that can.
You’ve probably heard a lot of hype about how electric cars are gonna save the planet, right? Our “climate savior” Elon Musk would certainly have us believe so. While they’re definitely a step in the right direction, but I would be careful not too get too carried away here – they’re not perfect.
Electric Vehicles Pollute…
One issue with electric cars is that they require rare earth minerals and other materials, which can be pretty environmentally damaging to mine, not to mention we haven’t done much to protect the workers mining them and many are paid miniscule wages in extremely harsh conditions. We also have to consider what happens after we finish using them – disposing of those big, ol’ batteries means dumping a lot of heavy metals and nasty chemicals, which can also be a significant problem for the environment. Some have said recycling them might be possible, but we haven’t quite seen this work at scale economically (though we’re getting closer).
…Just less than gas-powered cars.
Now don’t get me wrong here. I’m not here just to badmouth EVs. Electric cars are still way better for the environment than traditional gas-guzzlers. They don’t directly run on fossil fuels, meaning they produce way fewer emissions at the “tailpipe”, which means cleaner air and less impact on the planet. Electricity is also generally cheaper than gasoline per mile. Unfortunately, in most parts of the world, we still get most of our electricity from fossil fuels so it’s likely that unless you have your own solar system on your home, you’re still technically charging up with fossil fuels, though at a much better efficiency than gas-powered cars.
I haven’t even mentioned yet that they’re a whole lot of fun to drive. If you haven’t driven one yet, give it a try. They’re devilishly fast on acceleration and barely make a sound. But I digress.
And they’re getting better.
We should also keep in mind that the technology is improving all the time as well; battery tech is improving, so they require fewer resources and emit fewer emissions. The cars themselves have a lot more software, which means they can improve your car over Wi-Fi (Tesla regularly rolls out fine-tuning updates that improve the car’s range). Plus, with more renewable energy sources like wind and solar power popping up, we can power our electric rides without even harming the planet.
EVs: Unsustainable?
Now we get to potentially the largest issue with EVs: even if we wanted to replace every single car-powered car on the planet with an EV…Could we? Are there enough battery materials? Could our electric grids handle it? Can we build them fast enough to electrify the entire transportation industry and stop rampant climate change? The jury is still out on this, but some studies have come out recently suggesting it would be pretty difficult, if not impossible.
Hence, we need to electrify all necessary transportation as soon as possible, but we also need to start prioritizing reduced reliance on cars and trucks just as much, or maybe more. We need to start building cities and neighborhoods that don’t require cars to live.
OK. So we’ve concluded electric cars aren’t good for the environment and probably are not a realistic solution to save the world from climate change, but they’re certainly better than gasoline-powered cars.
Main point: if we’re going to be talking about sustainable future, we’re going to need something better than EVs.
What could be better than EVs?
If it’s the planet, your health, and your happiness you care about, I can do you one better than an EV: bikes!
Cycling is not only great exercise, but it’s also one of the most sustainable forms of transportation out there. It requires no fuel, produces no emissions, and takes up very little space on the road.
Bikes are also incredibly versatile – they can be used for commuting, leisure, exercise, and even travel. Plus, they’re often much more affordable than cars and don’t require any costly fuel or maintenance. We’ve got a long way to go before our infrastructure stops being car-focused and more people-focused, but I’m a firm believer that if you want to make systemic change, start with personal change. The more we choose to bike, the more the infrastructure will shift to be bike friendly.
Let’s not forget the personal benefits of cycling – it’s great for your physical and mental health, reduces traffic congestion, and helps to build stronger, more connected communities. Whenever I’m on my bike heading to the local farmers market or my job site, I usually end up passing people on the way that greet me and wave.
Biking may not be feasible for everyone or every situation. But if you have the opportunity to bike instead of drive or even take an electric bike, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. So, next time you’re considering a new set of wheels, think about hopping on a bike instead!
Just remember:
Bike > EV > Gas-powered car
Thanks for reading!
