When we think about EVs, we think about zero emissions, but all-electric cars may not be as green as we thought. An EV company wants to change that.
When we think about electric vehicles, we think about green technology, but EVs may not be so climate-friendly after all. There have been many reports that assess direct and indirect EVs emissions. Concerns have been raised about EV factories, batteries and energy use.
EV supply chain and manufacturing are one of the causes of carbon emissions. Mining for electric components and battery materials like lithium has created not only unethical labor conditions in some regions but also contaminated water supplies. Factories, like Tesla’s, in California, have been found in breach of the United States Environmental Protection (EPA) Agency Clean Air Act and come under criticism for the use of water and land.
Polestar, the high-performance EV car maker, wants to lead the zero-emission EV movement. It announced a new partnership with manufacturers of its components to make its supply chain and its factory completely green. Their goal is to build the first carbon-neutral EV. Working under the project Polestar 0, it is calling for researchers and the industry to join and work together.
EV Myths, Time To Face Reality
The EPA says EV myths should be set straight. EPA states that EVs generate about 40 percent fewer emissions compared to regular gas cars. But what about the 60 percent they do generate? While EVs have zero tailpipe emissions, “generating the electricity used to charge EVs may create carbon pollution,” EPA says. The amount varies depending on how a region generates its energy, whether solar or generated by coal or natural gas.
The EPA adds that while EVs in the total life cycle of a car produces fewer carbon emissions than a gas car, building an EV generates more carbon emissions than building a regular gas car. Polestar recognizes the EV reality and stopped comparing EV emissions to gas emissions. Instead, they are now focused on home, their moonshot goal, the first carbon-free car. But Polestar does not want to work at it alone. They say an “unprecedented scale” of international collaboration is needed to reach the goal.
“Building a car with 0 CO2e means that we must find, and eliminate, every single CO2e emission linked to our supply chain: from mining, material refining, and production, to overland and sea transportation,” Polestar says. The company adds that simply planting trees to try to offset carbon emissions will not get the job done. So Polestar partnered with clean steel makers, green airbags and seatbelt factories, carbon-free aluminum makers, sustainable electric manufacturers and other suppliers to build their zero-emission EV car. The company assures they are not on a “solo mission” and welcomes work with its new partners.
