Opinion | The Electric Car Fallacy
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Humanity has been dealing with the consequences of their actions for as long as humans have existed. However, they have reached a point where the consequences are beginning to overthrow them. Climate change is the consequence of humanity’s progress one that has only become more severe in recent decades. Combustion-powered vehicles are a significant factor contributing to the climate crisis, and because of this, society has searched for a replacement for them. Electric vehicles (EVs) have been one of the favoured replacements, but only recently have they picked up mainstream appeal. To the general public, electric cars seem like the perfect solution as they produce far fewer emissions than a traditional car. However, they are far from perfect, and their current appeal showcases a major problem with how humanity tackles the issues they are presented with.
It is important to remember that electric cars are not fundamentally bad, however it is how they are sold that has the greatest harm to society. Electric cars are sold as almost a solution to climate change – the best change an ordinary person can make. This idea is not only incorrect, but damaging to the fight against the climate crisis. Electric cars are a product of complacency, and their downsides are rarely discussed.
One of the major issues that electric cars face is energy infrastructure. While Canada has access to many renewable energy sources, which can be used to power electric cars, the rest of the world is far from the same. In the United States—the country with the second-most cars per capita – car emissions only make up approximately 15 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. However, the production of energy makes up over 25 per cent. These emissions are produced by the burning of fossil fuels, meaning that just because a car is electric, it does not mean it does not run on fossil fuels.
Additionally, electric cars have diverted the public’s attention to a specific sector’s CO2 emissions. There are many other sectors of the economy that could reduce emissions at the same rate as electric vehicles, however much of the public’s efforts have been put towards transportation. The agriculture industry is a good example of this, as in the United States, it produces 11 per cent of all CO2 emissions, over 50 per cent of which is due to the methane released from cows and other farmstock. A far smaller change such as lowering the amount of meat in the average person’s diet could impact climate change just as much as buying an EV, at a far lower cost. However, it is important to remember that these ideas are not mutually exclusive. They work best when implemented together.
Another often-overlooked issue with EVs is their lithium-ion batteries. Lithium is a critical component of the batteries, and its mining takes a large toll on the environment. This is usually due to the large amount of water needed to operate the mines, which often pollutes the local water table. As the demand for lithium increases due to higher EV usage, more mines must be created, forcing the destruction of ecosystems and people’s livelihoods.
Finally, electric cars disproportionately favour the financially well-off. Generally, those who can afford an electric car have a good amount of disposable income, meaning they often produce the most CO2 due to their expenditures. Electric cars in these cases are often used as a form of moral licensing, justifying a morally-questionable action by making a moral decision. If governments are to make all cars electric, it could strain those who cannot afford a new car, making life even more difficult for them.
This is not to say that electric vehicles are bad. Afterall, anything is better than the current vehicles in the transportation industry. However, the western world’s infatuation with cars has prevented them from making the most beneficial, eco-friendly changes to their lifestyle. A good example of modern transportation done right is showcased in Europe. In most major European cities, having a car is not necessary at all. Instead, public transit is used as a main method of transportation. Public transportation is the solution to many of electric cars’ faults; it is just as energy-efficient as EVs, but allows for mass transport that is far more affordable to the average person.
Many major cities in the United States struggle with traffic jams, but with good public transit, those could be avoided. However, public transit requires infrastructure to be built, and a commitment to be made by the public. But despite society’s desire for improvement, humanity is not willing to change. Public transit is the change needed, but electric cars were what they wanted. This is the electric car fallacy; humanity’s unwillingness to change, instead opting for the easiest fix.
This isn’t a problem exclusive to electric cars, but simply a recurring issue with how humans think. The simplest way to work around this issue is just to remember that the easiest solution isn’t always the best one.