Climate writer reveals: ‘Why I No Longer Support Electric Cars-And Why You May Feel the Same Soon’ – ‘Total EV emissions can rival or even surpass those of traditional cars’ – Battery ‘mining process intensifies air & water pollution, with slurry ponds & toxic runoff’
By Admin
July 21, 2025
12:39 pm
By Marco Kopinke (Marco Kopinke is a seasoned author and digital content writer with a strong focus on travel, climate, and home design)
1. The Environmental Cost of Battery Production
Electric car batteries might seem like the green choice, but their environmental costs are stacking up fast. In 2024, the International Energy Agency reported that extracting lithium, cobalt, and nickel—the lifeblood of EV batteries—has devastated ecosystems from Bolivia’s salt flats to Congolese mines. Water tables in Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni have dropped sharply, threatening local farmers and wildlife. A University of California, Berkeley study in late 2024 revealed that producing one EV battery can emit up to 150 kilograms of CO2, a footprint that often surprises even eco-conscious drivers. The actual mining process intensifies air and water pollution, with slurry ponds and toxic runoff impacting communities. In Chile, for example, lithium brine extraction has led to the drying up of wetlands, which once supported rare flamingo populations. Critics argue these hidden environmental costs challenge the image of EVs as universally “clean.”
2. Charging Infrastructure Challenges
Charging an electric car can still feel like a roll of the dice, especially outside major cities. According to a 2025 U.S. Department of Energy survey, 40% of EV owners struggled to consistently find charging stations, with rural areas especially underserved. This lack of convenient infrastructure fuels range anxiety—the fear that their battery will run dry miles from a charger. Unlike gas stations, which can refuel a car in about five minutes, most public fast chargers take 30 minutes or more, while home chargers can need overnight sessions. In fast-growing suburbs, demand for charging sometimes outstrips supply, leading to long waits. A 2024 J.D. Power study found that 22% of public chargers in the U.S. were out of service at any given time, compounding frustration. These realities make EV ownership less practical for many Americans, especially those who don’t have garages or reliable home charging options.
https://www.climatedepot.com/2025/07/21/climate-writer-reveals-why-i-no-longer-support-electric-cars-and-why-you-may-feel-the-same-soon-total-ev-emissions-can-rival-or-even-surpass-those-of-traditional-cars-battery-mining-pro/
