Are EVs really do zero emission?
Are EVs really do zero emission? Is this possible?
The answer is very clear, NO. There is nothing called zero emission by using EVs we are just transferring the emission to somewhere else.
Let’s discuss why I am saying this. The EVs mostly runs on Li-ion battery. The main components of a Li-ion battery are Lithium and Cobalt, in the mining process of these two metals release high amount of CO2 and the emission not stops here. The emission continues when the EV is charging cause in India around 60% of electricity made from fossil fuel (Coal, Gas, Lignite, Diesel).
About Lithium-ion Battery:
Around the borders of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile is the Lithium Triangle, an area of the mountains with rich lithium reserve. It is estimated that 54% of the world’s lithium reserves are located in the region. To made a battery it needs around 20 different elements that sourced around the globe, these elements also pass through several refining stages. The stages are depending on the different energy sources and these energy sources are not renewable at all and also not environment friendly.
The Lithium-ion battery is the most preferrable for car manufacturers because its power density is much higher than any other conventional batteries. Li-ion battery’s weight to power ration is also very high and less dangerous than Li-polymer battery. In a Li-ion battery there is only 6% of Lithium another important part of this battery is cobalt. The cobalt mining and blasting itself emits high amount of CO2 & NO2 which also damaging the environment.
Emissions of Li-ion Battery in production phase:
The emission of CO2 depends on the capacity of the battery it means as the capacity will increase the CO2 emission will also increase. This battery can hold a maximum of 240wh per kg of charge. The CO2 emission rate is 177 kg CO2 /kwh on average, 121 kg CO2 /kwh on the low end, and 250 kg CO2 /kwh on the high end.
The average CO2 emission rate is 177 kg CO2/kwh of electricity. Therefore, the 30.2kwh battery pack’s overall CO2 emissions are about 5.3 metric tones. A larger battery will produce more carbon dioxide; a 60kwh battery produces over 10 metric tones CO2, while a 100kwh battery produces 17 metric tones CO2.
Emissions at Li-ion battery charging phase:
The problem of carbon emission not stops in the production phase after manufacturing its need to be charge for up and running, by the electricity. So, the demand of the electricity will go up, in India most of the electricity comes from fossil fuel as a result carbon emission will also go up. From this we can say by using EV we are passively increasing the carbon emission.
Emissions at conventional fuel production:
1 litre of petrol requires 1.06kwh of energy to purify or refine. The CO2 emissions per litre of diesel fuel burned are approximately 2.68kg, while petrol emissions are approximately 2.31kg. LPG produces approximately 1.51kg per litre.
Let’s Calculate the carbon emission for Electric Vehicle (EV) and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV):
ICEV:
Considering a regular diesel engine gives mileage around 18KM/L. To clock 15000KM the car will need around 833.34 litters of diesel.
To produce 833.34 litters of diesel we will need 833.34 × 1.06 = 883.34kw power and this amount of power emits around 833.34 × 1.06 × 0.57 = 503.6 Kg of CO2.
Not only production but also when the diesel will burn to run the car the CO2 will emit. After burning 833.34 litters of diesel, 833.34 × 2.63 =2233.35 Kg CO2 will be emitted.
Total amount of CO2 emission per year = 503.6+2233.35 = 2736.95 Kg.
EV:
Considering the EV has a 30.2 kwh battery and gives a range of 312KM. To run 15000KM the EV will need to charge 15000 ÷ 312 ≈ 48 times.
To charge 30.2 kwh battery 48 times it will need around 1449.6 kwh power. For this much power the CO2 emission will be 1449.6 × 0.57 ×1.3 = 1074.15 Kg
During the production of 30.2 kwh battery, it emits around 30.2 × 177 = 5345.4 kg CO2.
Total CO2 emission = 5345.4(One time) + 1074.15 = 6419.55 Kg.
In the above calculation the amount shown is for 1 year. In the 1st year the CO2 emission is higher for the EV because of production of the battery. But after 3 year onwards the EV will emit less CO2 compare to ICEV.
If we observe the graph carefully, we can say after 4 years of using both vehicles the EV starts to move as a Green Vehicle (GV). But this numbers are for 30.2kwh battery, if the size of the battery goes up the number of years it takes to move as a GV will also go up. In that case we also have to take a note that an average life of a car is not more than 8 years in India.
Final thoughts on EV emission:
Now you guys can understand why I said that line blog “There is nothing called zero emission…….” in very starting of the blog. Although an EV will also be a green vehicle eventually but it totally depends on the use of it. If we can switch to renewable energy then the CO2 will also be reduced. Then a EV will also become a green vehicle much faster than now. In other hand we can expect to upgrade the technology that can provide better range and fast charging for the EVs.
— by Shubhradwip Paul
