Report: Environmental Sustainability Issues of Electric Vehicles

This report addresses the environmental sustainability issues associated with the growing use of electric vehicles (EVs). It identifies key problems, including the environmental impact of mining and extracting materials like nickel, lithium, and cobalt for batteries, as well as the potential hazards of battery disposal. The report also highlights the environmental consequences of charging EVs, particularly when electricity comes from coal-powered stations. Solutions proposed include increasing consumer awareness, promoting public transport, and encouraging government and manufacturing firms to adopt sustainable practices. The report emphasizes the roles of consumers, governments, and manufacturers in mitigating the environmental impact of EVs and promoting sustainable practices, providing a detailed overview of the challenges and potential remedies in order to foster environmental protection and sustainability.

A sustainability issue with
electric vehicle along with its
problems and solutions to
them.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Identified problems.................................................................................................................1
Solutions.................................................................................................................................1
Stakeholders involved............................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
With the rise in the use of electric vehicles by the people, there has been a rising threat to
the environment and the side effects of these vehicles are harming the nature as well as
environment of the world. This report will identify the different problems arising out of the use
of electric vehicles and creating harmful environmental and sustainable issue in nature. The
report will also determine specific solution to these problems.
MAIN BODY
Identified problems
The electric vehicles batteries use a greater amount of elements such as nickel, lithium
and cobalt. Also, Electric vehicles uses large amount of copper in the wiring of their cars and
scooters. However, these metals are less toxic than that used in other batteries but the mining and
extraction of these metals creates a major environmental impact. The Nickel is extracted from
sulphide ores and this can have lasting impact on surrounding areas.
Also Electric Vehicles use is currently new technology and the impact of disposing its
battery filled up with lithium cells can be harmful and may posses threat to the environment. The
rise in the use of electric vehicles will increase the disposal of batteries and which may result in
soil erosion and other harmful impacts on the surroundings and environment.
Another issue is regarding the charging of the electric vehicles battery. If the charging is
done at coal power station then again it is harmful for the environment as in case of emissions of
carbon in air and also the use of Coal which creates impact on its sustainability as well.
Thus it can be observed that the above identified problems can lead to environmental
degradation and may affect the sustainability of the resources in the environment and can make
them extinct.
Solutions
The solution may be yet hard to find out as there is new technology which will take time
in understanding it by the people. However the consumers can be aware of all the known impacts
before making any purchase decision.
The customers may be replacing the environmental impact of lead/acid batteries disposal
with another problem of increased mining of copper, nickel and cobalt(The Environmental Pros
and Cons of electric cars, 2019).
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People need to understand how the electricity is produced rather than being blind on the
assumption that electric vehicles is completely clean technology.
People must make less use of vehicles and should recommend public transport vehicles
for reducing the harmful impact of vehicles on environment and sustainability of various non
renewable sources of energy and materials used in those vehicles.
Stakeholders involved
The following stakeholders are involved in the eradication of their issue and their roles for
contributing the awareness and change-
Customers or buyers of the vehicles- The buyers plays an important role in relation with the
rise of various issue or their solution as well. The mindset of the buyer regarding the
sustainability and the environment matters much as of they change their mindset consider the
awareness factors like harmful effects of those vehicles, there will be specific solution to the
problems and turn out to be well being of the environment.
Government- The government also plays an important role in relation to the issue of the
environment with the use of electric vehicles. The government frames different standards for the
pollution or put restrictions on the use of various resources from the environment or may avoid
the disposal of the batteries by encouraging the companies to find out alternative solution to
overcome the problems.
Manufacturing firms- They are the primary stakeholders and are responsible for the issues of
the environmental sustainability. The companies manufacturing the vehicles must have concern
regarding the harmful effects of their manufactured products on the environment and accordingly
use the resources or the technology that can lower down the impact or can find alternate
solutions for it.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it is summarized regarding the environmental sustainability issues
arising due to the use of electric motor vehicles. The report stated the identification of different
problems in relation to this issue,. Further the report suggested various solution that stakeholders
must undertake to avoid such issues and contribute their efforts in the protection of the
environment.
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REFERENCES
Online
The Environmental Pros and Cons of electric cars, 2019 [ONLINE] Available through
<https://www.admiral.com/magazine/guides/motor/the-environmental-pros-and-cons-
of-electric-cars>
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