The Shocking Aspect of Electric Car Production: Lithium Batteries Are Expensive, Use Rare Materials, and Can Cause Environmental Disasters

Written by Roberta Souza

Published on 02/01/2023 at 18:07

Updated on 02/01/2023 at 22:38

Foto: Reprodução br.pinterest.com

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Electric cars are known for being allies of the environment, as they use clean energy and thus do not directly pollute the atmosphere. Their batteries are expensive, emit carbon during production, and rely on lithium, a resource that is scarce in nature and must be extracted through mining. Additionally, the world’s lithium sources are located in conflict regions, such as the Congo, located on the African continent.

Damage Caused by Lithium, Used in the Production of Electric Car Batteries

In addition to being a rare element that must be mined in distant and conflict-ridden areas, 2.1 million liters of water are needed for the extraction and refining of each ton of lithium, enough to produce batteries for just about 80 electric vehicles. To worsen the environmental issue, the lithium contained in the rocks must be separated using highly toxic chemicals, such as sodium carbonate, bases, and acids. The release of these chemicals through the leaching process, spills, or atmospheric emissions endangers local communities and ecosystems.

High Cost of Electric Car Batteries Is Another Negative Factor

According to researcher Carolina Pineda Castro from the Electric Vehicle Study Laboratory (Leve) at the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), several obstacles must be overcome to make the lithium battery production chain less complex and cheaper. “The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war affected battery prices, which had been declining,” she states. “This is because the price of metals such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel increased, raising serious concerns about the supply chain,” she adds.

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The Shocking Aspect of Electric Car Production: Lithium Batteries Are Expensive, Use Rare Materials, and Can Cause Environmental Disasters

Damage Caused by Lithium, Used in the Production of Electric Car Batteries

High Cost of Electric Car Batteries Is Another Negative Factor

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The Shocking Aspect of Electric Car Production: Lithium Batteries Are Expensive, Use Rare Materials, and Can Cause Environmental Disasters

Electric Cars Are Not As Harmless As They Seem. Their Batteries Can Cause Great Environmental And Social Damage

Damage Caused by Lithium, Used in the Production of Electric Car Batteries

High Cost of Electric Car Batteries Is Another Negative Factor

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China is building an artificial island in the middle of the sea, covering 20 km², to construct the largest offshore airport in the world, the Dalian Jinzhouwan. This $4.3 billion project is anchored on more than 3,000 pillars embedded in the rock beneath the ocean and is scheduled to open in 2035.

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