EVs also harm the environment, just in different ways

Seriously, trading one for another? I was so glad to finally read some truthful facts that people tend to ignore about EVs.

I am referring to John Leacock’s column in Monday’s (July 10) Business Outlook, “Do EVs also harm the environment?”

In the last part of the article he says, “With EVs, there are other environmental issues, like the coming pileup of used and toxic batteries.”

‘Like many other batteries, lithium-ion cells that power most electronic vehicles rely on raw materials — like cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements — that have been linked to grave environmental and human rights concerns. Cobalt has been especially problematic,” (Hiroko) Tabuchi and (Brad) Plumer (of the New York Times) write.

Human rights? Yes. There are a couple of countries that are using children to mine the minerals for the batteries for our precious EVs.

“Mining, much of it in developing countries, introduces toxins into the air, poses health risks for workers and nearby communities, contaminates water and air, and can produce dangerous radiation,” Leacock wrote.

This is where the subtle deception/ lie comes in: If we aren’t doing it in the U.S., then who cares. Just give us our EVs. I don’t think this is a conscience thought, but it is there. Just look at all the dealerships that are pushing EVs right now and all the people buying them without a second thought, except to their pocketbooks.

“No doubt those problems will be in sharp focus and not easy to be swept under the rug in a vigilant environment, though that doesn’t mean there will be timely fixes,” Leacock continued.

This last statement, I would argue with. I think vigilant environmentalists are being shut down. I don’t think their findings are being published because people would stop buying EVs. That would hurt governments, automakers, dealerships.

My point is, they are all willing and pushing to get rid of coal mining and drilling, without considering where all the raw minerals will come from in the first place. So, we trade mining for coal, one item, for mining for lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other rare earth materials. A minimum of 4 to 1. Seriously?

“To meet the demands of the (Inflation Reduction Act), a steep increase in domestic mining would be needed. That could pose environmental issues, including water pollution, in addition to creating greenhouse gas emissions from burning fuel to operate mining equipment,” Brian Sandalow, Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering, wrote on March 6, 2023. Still burning that fuel.

What about building the infrastructure for all these new mines, the complexes, roads, etc. for building the batteries and cars? What about all the pollution from the mining equipment, diesel trucks and trains, and barges to move all of this? Barges dump tons of pollution into the air. Is this really going to be less problematic than coal?

The answer to Mr. Leacock’s question, “Do EVs also harm the environment?” To my way of thinking, it is a resounding yes.