I’ve seen a lot of posts here on Lemmy, specifically in the “fuck cars” communities as to how Electric Vehicles do pretty much nothing for the Climate, but I continue to see Climate activists everywhere try pushing so, so hard for Electric Vehicles.
Are they actually beneficial to the planet other than limiting exhaust, or is that it? or maybe exhaust is a way bigger problem?
The biggest hurdle that needs to be overcome in my own eyes is how we source the precious metals for the batteries. Look up Lithium and Cobalt mines in Africa. Of course this applies to all lithium batteries (phones and cars being the biggest players).
Sodium-ion batteries are already a thing and they look very promising. A few more years and we might not need precious metals for batteries anymore.
Interesting. I’ve not heard of this new battery technology before. Sodium should be much more easily sourced I would think. We’ll see, but for the meantime I’ll hang onto my phone as long as possible and not buy lithium battery powered vehicles. Most people don’t know about the working conditions that those children and adults are exposed to while mining lithium and Cobalt.
ICE vehicles are no better for mining and labor, it’s just a talking point at this point to try to make people buying EVs feel stupid. Like oil companies don’t have blood on their hands and we haven’t literally started multiple wars over oil
Manufacturing as a whole is terrible. Fact is if you buy anything there will be ethical concerns. At least with an EV once the purchase is done you won’t be continuing to poison the planet with fumes.
