The main reason why electric vehicles have received so much public attention is that transitioning from smoky internal combustion engines to electric vehicles may have many environmental benefits, accelerating the restoration of the ozone layer and reducing human overall dependence on limited fossil fuels. These are all good reasons to drive electric vehicles, but this concept has a bit of a problem and may pose a threat to the environment. Obviously, electric vehicles are powered by electricity rather than gasoline. This electrical energy is stored in an internal lithium-ion battery. One thing many of us often forget is that batteries don’t grow on trees. Although rechargeable batteries waste much less than the disposable batteries you find in toys, they still need to come from somewhere, which is an energy intensive mining operation. Batteries may be more environmentally friendly than gasoline after completing tasks, but their invention requires careful study.
Components of the battery
The battery of electric vehicles is composed of various conductive rare earth elements, including neodymium, dysprosium, and of course, lithium. These elements are extensively mined around the world, on the same scale as precious metals such as gold and silver. In fact, these rare earth minerals are even more valuable than gold or silver, as they form the backbone of our battery powered society.
The problem here has three aspects: firstly, like the oil used to produce gasoline, rare earth elements are a limited resource. There are only so many veins of this kind of thing worldwide, and as it becomes increasingly scarce, its price will rise. Secondly, mining these ores is a very energy consuming process. You need electricity to provide fuel for all mining equipment, lighting equipment, and processing machines. Thirdly, processing ore into usable forms will generate a large amount of excess waste, and at least for now, we cannot truly do anything. Some waste may even have radioactivity, which is dangerous for both humans and the surrounding environment.
What can we do?
Batteries have become an indispensable part of modern society. We may be able to gradually get rid of our dependence on oil, but we cannot stop mining for batteries until someone develops clean hydrogen energy or cold fusion. So, what can we do to alleviate the negative impact of rare earth harvesting?
The first and most positive aspect is recycling. As long as the batteries of electric vehicles are intact, the elements that make up them can be used to produce new batteries. In addition to batteries, some car companies have been researching methods for recycling motor magnets, which are also made of rare earth elements.
Secondly, we need to replace battery components. Car companies have been researching how to remove or replace some rarer elements in batteries, such as cobalt, with more environmentally friendly and easily available materials. This will reduce the required mining volume and make recycling easier.
Finally, we need a new engine design. For example, switched reluctance motors can be powered without the use of rare earth magnets, which will reduce our demand for rare earths. They are not yet reliable enough for commercial use, but science has proven this.
Starting from the best interests of the environment is why electric vehicles have become so popular, but this is an endless battle. In order to truly achieve our best, we always need to research the next best technology to optimize our society and eliminate waste.
Source: Industry Frontiers