Debunking myths

EPA.gov debunks six common electric vehicle myths. Number 5 addresses the issue raised in a letter Sept. 22 by Frank DeNicola. Here is the excerpt: “Some studies have shown that making a typical electric vehicle (EV) can create more carbon pollution than making a gasoline car. This is because of the additional energy required to manufacture an EV’s battery. Still, over the lifetime of the vehicle, total greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing, charging, and driving an EV are typically lower than the total GHGs associated with a gasoline car. That’s because EVs have zero tailpipe emissions and are typically responsible for significantly fewer GHGs during operation. For example, researchers at Argonne National Laboratory estimated emissions for both a gasoline car and an EV with a 300-mile electric range. In their estimates, while GHG emissions from EV manufacturing and end-of-life are higher (shown in orange below), total GHGs for the EV are still lower than those for the gasoline car.”

They go on to add that this analysis does not take into account the widespread recycling of used EV batteries. One final comment is needed. The adoption of EVs is not seen as a panacea but rather as one step in a plan to ameliorate a global climate crisis.

To end, let me add that when I decided to purchase an EV, I (like many EV owners) installed solar panels on my house so that I could further reduce my car’s carbon footprint.

One more thing, EVs are fun to drive.

Frank Gasparro

Branford