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Although electricity is a clean and relatively safe form of energy when it is used, the generation and transmission of electricity affects the environment. Nearly all types of electric power plants have an effect on the environment, but some power plants have larger effects than others.

The United States has laws that govern the effects that electricity generation and transmission have on the environment. The Clean Air Act regulates air pollutant emissions from most power plants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the Clean Air Act and sets emissions standards for power plants through various programs such as the Acid Rain Program. The Clean Air Act has helped to substantially reduce emissions of some major air pollutants in the United States.

The effect of power plants on the landscape

All power plants have a physical footprint (the location of the power plant). Some power plants are located inside, on, or next to an existing building, so the footprint is fairly small. Most large power plants require land clearing to build the power plant. Some power plants may also require access roads, railroads, and pipelines for fuel delivery, electricity transmission lines, and cooling water supplies. Power plants that burn solid fuels may have areas to store the combustion ash.

Many power plants are large structures that alter the visual landscape. In general, the larger the structure, the more likely it is that the power plant will affect the visual landscape.

Fossil fuel, biomass, and waste burning power plants

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Particulate matter (PM)

Heavy metals such as mercury

CO2 is a greenhouse gas, which contributes to the greenhouse effect.

SO2 causes acid rain, which is harmful to plants and to animals that live in water. SO2 also worsens respiratory illnesses and heart diseases, particularly in children and the elderly.

NOx contribute to ground-level ozone, which irritates and damages the lungs.

PM results in hazy conditions in cites and scenic areas and coupled with ozone, contributes to asthma and chronic bronchitis, especially in children and the elderly. Very small, or fine PM, is also believed to cause emphysema and lung cancer.

Heavy metals such as mercury are hazardous to human and animal health.

Power plants reduce air pollution emissions in various ways

Burning low-sulfur-content coal to reduce SO2 emissions. Some coal-fired power plants cofire wood chips with coal to reduce SO2 emissions. Pretreating and processing coal can also reduce the level of undesirable compounds in combustion gases.

Different kinds of particulate emission control devices treat combustion gases before they exit the power plant:

Bag-houses are large filters that trap particulates.

Electrostatic precipitators use electrically charged plates that attract and pull particulates out of the combustion gas.

Wet scrubbers use a liquid solution to remove PM from combustion gas.

Wet and dry scrubbers mix lime in the fuel (coal) or spray a lime solution into combustion gases to reduce SO2 emissions. Fluidized bed combustion also results in lower SO2 emissions.

NOx emissions controls include low NOx burners during the combustion phase or selective catalytic and non-catalytic converters during the post combustion phase.

Many U.S. power plants produce CO2 emissions

The electric power sector is a large source of U.S. CO2 emissions. Electric power sector power plants that burned fossil fuels or materials made from fossil fuels, and some geothermal power plants, were the source of about 33% of total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions in 2018.

Some power plants also produce liquid and solid wastes

Ash is the solid residue that results from burning solid fuels such as coal, biomass, and municipal solid waste. Bottom ash includes the largest particles that collect at the bottom of the combustion chamber of power plant boilers. Fly ash is the smaller and lighter particulates that collect in air emission control devices. Fly ash is usually mixed with bottom ash. The ash contains all the hazardous materials that pollution control devices capture. Many coal-fired power plants store ash sludge (ash mixed with water) in retention ponds. Several of these ponds have burst and caused extensive damage and pollution downstream. Some coal-fired power plants send ash to landfills or sell ash for use in making concrete blocks or asphalt.

Nuclear power plants produce different kinds of waste

Low-level waste, such as contaminated protective shoe covers, clothing, wiping rags, mops, filters, reactor water treatment residues, equipment, and tools, is stored at nuclear power plants until the radioactivity in the waste decays to a level safe for disposal as ordinary trash, or it is sent to a low-level radioactive waste disposal site.

High-level waste, which includes the highly radioactive spent (used) nuclear fuel assemblies, must be stored in specially designed storage containers and facilities (see Interim storage and final disposal in the United States).

Electric power lines and other distribution infrastructure also have a footprint

Electricity transmission lines and the distribution infrastructure that carries electricity from power plants to customers also have environmental effects. Most transmission lines are above ground on large towers. The towers and power lines alter the visual landscape, especially when they pass through undeveloped areas. Vegetation near power lines may be disturbed and may have to be continually managed to keep it away from the power lines. These activities can affect native plant populations and wildlife. Power lines can be placed underground, but it is a more expensive option and usually not done outside of urban areas.
Last reviewed: December 9, 2020

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environmental impacts of electricity generation

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Electricity and the environment - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

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Although electricity is a clean and relatively safe form of energy when it is used, the generation and transmission of electricity affects the environment. Nearly all types of electric power plants have an effect on the environment, but some power plants have larger effects than others.

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Start studying Electric cars 2040. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.

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One argument often brought up against the transition to electric cars is the assertion that, all things considered, electric vehicles aren’t that much cleaner than internal combustion engines. Once you take into account battery production and electricity generation, the emissions savings of electric vehicles are minimal at best, so the popular argument goes.

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One argument often brought up against the transition to electric cars is the assertion that, all things considered, electric vehicles aren’t that much cleaner than internal combustion engines. Once you take into account battery production and electricity generation, the emissions savings of electric vehicles are minimal at best, so the popular argument goes.

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https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/08/electric-cars-emissions-climate-change-green-environment/

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Are electric cars all that green? Yes, this chart shows you how

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A common misconception is that electric vehicles aren't cleaner than normal engines, once you consider the battery, but the ICCT says this isn't true.

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An electric car with a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a lithium-ion battery offers a compelling prospect: emissions-free driving (the hydrogen combines with oxygen from the air, and the exhaust is water), coupled with fast refuelling. It takes five minutes to replenish tanks of compressed gas, versus at least 40 minutes to top up a modern electric car. 

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An electric car with a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a lithium-ion battery offers a compelling prospect: emissions-free driving (the hydrogen combines with oxygen from the air, and the exhaust is water), coupled with fast refuelling. It takes five minutes to replenish tanks of compressed gas, versus at least 40 minutes to top up a modern electric car. 

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https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/how-environmentally-friendly-are-electric-cars/

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We teamed up with the folks behind BBC World Service's to answer your questions on one topic. You can tune in to CrowdScience every Friday evening on BBC World Service, or catch up online at bbcworldservice.com/crowdscience

Manufacturers are now convinced that they can build electric cars with a comparable range and speed to their petrol counterparts. The key is developing cheaper and lighter lithium-ion batteries that can store ever more energy. The technology still isn't mainstream: in the UK, just 1.5 per cent of cars come with plugs. However, in Norway, where there are huge tax breaks and perks like being able to use bus lanes, it's up to 29 per cent. This shows that, with government incentives, people are willing to start driving electrics, and sales are predicted to spike when the price falls to the level of a petrol equivalent - forecast to happen in the early 2020s.

How do electric cars compare with petrol cars?

The green credentials of your electric car depend on how power is generated where you live. If you have solar panels, then your driving will be free of emissions. If your electricity comes from a local plant that's powered by fossil fuels, then you're just shifting your greenhouse gas emissions from your exhaust to its chimneys. But even in areas with the dirtiest coal-fired plants, electric cars still have lower CO2 emissions overall. This is because large power stations turn fuel into energy more efficiently than multiple, small engines, and it's easier to clean up the exhaust in their towering chimney stacks. And unlike petrol cars, electric cars will get cleaner if a wind farm or other renewable energy source opens up nearby.

Are hydrogen cars greener than electric cars?

An electric car with a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a lithium-ion battery offers a compelling prospect: emissions-free driving (the hydrogen combines with oxygen from the air, and the exhaust is water), coupled with fast refuelling. It takes five minutes to replenish tanks of compressed gas, versus at least 40 minutes to top up a modern electric car. Currently, most hydrogen is made from natural gas, which is an energy-intensive process that needs high temperatures. One day, hydrogen could be made via electrolysis (splitting water) using solar-supplied electricity, making it as green as any renewables-powered electric car.
Read more: Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun facts.

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How environmentally friendly are electric cars?

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We teamed up with the folks behind BBC World Service's to answer your questions on one topic. You can tune in to CrowdScience every Friday evening on BBC World Service, or catch up online at bbcworldservice.com/crowdscience Manufacturers are now convinced that they can build electric cars with a comparable range and speed to their petrol counterparts.

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"While experts broadly agree that plug-in vehicles are a more climate-friendly option than traditional vehicles, they can still have their own environmental impacts, depending on how they’re charged up and manufactured"

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"While experts broadly agree that plug-in vehicles are a more climate-friendly option than traditional vehicles, they can still have their own environmental impacts, depending on how they’re charged up and manufactured"

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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/climate/electric-vehicles-environment.html

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How Green Are Electric Vehicles? (Published 2021)

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In short: Very green. But plug-in cars still have environmental effects. Here’s a guide to the main issues and how they might be addressed.

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"The major benefit of electric cars is the contribution that they can make towards improving air quality in towns and cities. With no tailpipe, pure electric cars produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving. This reduces air pollution considerably."

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"The major benefit of electric cars is the contribution that they can make towards improving air quality in towns and cities. With no tailpipe, pure electric cars produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving. This reduces air pollution considerably."

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https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/electric-cars-and-environment

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Are electric cars better for the environment?

The major benefit of electric cars is the contribution that they can make towards improving air quality in towns and cities. With no tailpipe, pure electric cars produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving. This reduces air pollution considerably.

Put simply, electric cars give us cleaner streets making our towns and cities a better place to be for pedestrians and cyclists. In over a year, just one electric car on the roads can save an average 1.5 million grams of CO2. That's the equivalent of four return flights from London to Barcelona.

Electric cars and UK's Net Zero target

According to the Mayor of London, road transport accounts for around half of the capital's air pollution. It's no wonder that the UK government and local councils want to accelerate the number of electric cars on the roads. The UK government has set a target that the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be banned by 2040. The government is also looking to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050, and electric cars will play a big role in that.

What's more, EVs can also help with noise pollution, especially in cities where speeds are generally low. As electric cars are far quieter than conventional vehicles, driving electric creates a more peaceful environment for us all.

Compare an electric vs petrol car

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology has put a fabulous tool together to help you compare the overall environmental impact of electric cars vs internal combustion engine (petrol) cars. The main aim is to let users understand why, how, and in which cases electro-mobility is actually performing according to its green image, by cutting per-km emissions from its fossil fuel-based counterpart. A second objective is to show in which conditions electric vehicles may "counter-perform": what happens when the battery size changes; or the background electricity mix; the battery lifetime; what about winter conditions affecting battery performances?

How does electric car production affect the environment?

Making electric cars does use a lot of energy. Even after taking battery manufacture into account, electric cars are still a greener option. This is because of the reduction in emissions created over the car's lifetime

The emissions created during the production of an electric car tend to be higher than a conventional car. This is due to the manufacture of lithium ion batteries which are an essential part of an electric car. More than a third of the lifetime CO2 emissions from an electric car come from the energy used to make the car itself. As technology advances, this is changing for the better.

Reusing and recycling batteries is also a growing market. Research into the use of second-hand batteries is looking at ways to reuse batteries in new technologies such as electricity storage. One day we could all have batteries in our homes being used to store our own energy. Opportunities like this will reduce the lifetime environmental impact of battery manufacture.

What about the electricity required to fuel an electric car?

Research by the European Energy Agency found that, even with electricity generation, the carbon emissions of an electric car are around 17 - 30% lower than driving a petrol or diesel car. The emissions from electricity generation are also dramatically improved when low carbon electricity is used.

That's good news for our customers. Here at EDF we produce more low-carbon electricity than any other supplier in the UK(1). The GoElectric tariff is also generated from 100% renewable sources, helping electric car drivers to make more informed choices about how they charge up, maximising their environmental impact whilst driving.

Are hybrid cars just as good for the environment?

Plug-in hybrids combine an electric motor with a traditional fuel engine and produce some emissions during a drive.

The green credentials of a hybrid depend on how much of the journey is driven on electric miles as well as the way in which the vehicle is charged. This is why it's important for hybrid drivers to consider how their electricity is generated. Choose a form of renewable energy, like the GoElectric tariff, and you're making your contribution to reducing emissions.

All this shows that electric vehicles have a big role to play in reducing transport emissions and being a major factor in cleaning up the air we breathe.

Are you ready to help our planet in your own electric car?

Have a look at our electric car leasing deals - best EVs at great prices. And if you're unsure what to go for, why not hire an EV from its owner through a Turo car sharing platform?

Is your business looking to help the planet?

Have a look at our electric vehicle solutions for business and see how you could help reduce your business's emissions.

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Benefits of electric cars on the environment

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The major benefit of electric cars is the contribution that they can make towards improving air quality in towns and cities. With no tailpipe, pure electric cars produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving. This reduces air pollution considerably. Put simply, electric cars give us cleaner streets making our towns and cities a better place to be for pedestrians and cyclists.

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Many people say electric cars are not going to save the environment in the future. But electric cars have fewer emissions.

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Many people say electric cars are not going to save the environment in the future. But electric cars have fewer emissions.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/10/17/fact-check-electric-cars-emit-less-better-environment/3671468001/

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The claim: Driving an electric vehicle won't save the planet

A Facebook post claims that electric car batteries weigh approximately 1,000 pounds and require more than 500,000 pounds in raw materials to make.

"Driving an electric-car won't save the planet," the meme states.

Although it's true that electric car batteries weigh about 1,000 pounds and creating one requires digging up, moving and processing tons of raw materials, evaluating the batteries' impact on the environment is more complex than the Facebook post suggests.
More: Fact check: Paper bags and other decoy nests do not deter wasps
Electric cars have fewer emissions

The positive effects electric cars have on the environment, researchers and advocates argue, outweigh any negative impacts from sourcing lithium, which is used in electric car batteries.

When talking about vehicle emissions, there are two types: direct and life cycle. Direct emissions are emitted through a car's tailpipe and contribute to smog - fog combined with smoke or a pollutant.

Life cycle emissions are related to fuel and vehicle production, distribution, use and recycling or disposal. The U.S. Department of Energy says calculating this type of emission is complex but that electric cars produce fewer life cycle emissions than traditional vehicles because they don't rely on gas.

Getting gas to the fuel tank of a traditional car requires extracting petroleum from the Earth, refining it to gas and transporting it to gas stations for consumers to purchase.

Calculating emissions for electric cars depends on a region's energy sources, according to Zhenhong Lin, a researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. In northern China, where coal dominates electricity generation, electric cars were found to emit slightly more greenhouse gases than traditional cars. But in other parts of China, they emit less.

This is common in other areas across the world, too. The DOE has an interactive map users can explore to find information on emissions in their area.

"It is expected that China will significantly improve efficiency of their coal plants and increase the share of non-fossil power capacity (such as solar or wind power) in the future, as part of their actions to meet their climate change goal," Lin said.
More: Fact check: Origin stories for popular phrases are nothing more than urban legends
Daniel B. Work, a professor at Vanderbilt University, said the source of electricity for electric vehicles remains a concern but emissions "continue to drop as the electricity generation mix shifts towards sources with lower emissions."

Electric vehicles also contribute less to climate change and smog than traditional cars because they produce fewer direct emissions, according to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Pollutants from cars that use gas "directly or indirectly harm human health and the environment," Lin said.

"This benefit (of electric vehicles) is important because vehicles move around with the population, including vulnerable ones such as elderly, children and pregnant women," Lin said.

Shifting pollutants away from tailpipe emissions to a central location, like a power plant, makes the pollution easier to manage, Lin said.

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory report in 2016 found that the U.S. transportation sector consumed more than 13 million barrels of petroleum a day in 2014.

"Widespread use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, including plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), can reduce our national dependence on petroleum and decrease the emissions that impact our air quality and public health," the report says.

It starts with lithium

The Facebook posts mentions a mammoth amount of resources needed for electric car batteries. It's referring to the sourcing of lithium.

Lithium-ion batteries are used every day by millions of people across the globe in most portable electronics, like phones and laptops.

The U.S. Geological Survey found in 2017 that electric cars accounted for 60% of the global lithium-ion battery market. An electric car battery isn't just one giant battery. It consists of a heap of smaller batteries that make up the whole thing.

Lithium can be highly reactive and is most frequently found in salts and other compounds. It is typically mined and can be sourced from brine in salt flats.

During extraction, lithium can create deadly pollution, as seen in 2016 when it leaked into a river, killing fish and poisoning yaks in China. The dead animals sparked protests by locals.

According to the United States Geological Survey, Australia produces the most lithium. The country in 2019 mined 42,000 tons, followed by Chile, which produced 18,000 tons. The agency estimates that nearly 80 million tons of lithium exist on the planet.

Since most electronics rely on it for batteries, the need for lithium will only expand as the world demand rises nearly 9% annually.
Rel: Scads of new electric, hybrid vehicles on way
The DOE acknowledges that the industry still has steps to take to reduce the cost of the batteries and extend the life of them, including through recycling. Forbes reported that lithium-ion batteries are recycle-friendly and can be made into even more batteries.

A scientific report published in the journal Nature found that given the significant impact lithium-ion batteries have on the environment and their growing popularity, "recycling is not only necessary, but also urgent."

The researchers stated if the batteries aren't recycled correctly or reused, their good for the environment is wasted.

They said they successfully tested closed-loop recycling with electric car batteries, a type of recycling in which the item is turned into more of the same thing, like recycling paper that eventually is produced into more paper. Researchers found that recycling car batteries on a large scale was "very promising."

As electric vehicles become more popular, the battery-recycling market could expand. Research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that lithium-ion car batteries may last up to 15 years in moderate climates.

The user who posted the claim did not reply to a USA TODAY request for comment.

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, "Reducing Pollution with Electric Vehicles"

Daniel B. Work, a professor at Vanderbilt University

Zhenhong Lin, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

"Environmental Implication of Electric Vehicles in China"

U.S Department of Energy, "Emissions from Hybrid and Plug-In Electric Vehicles"

U.S Department of Energy, October 2016, "Protecting Public Health: Plug-In Electric Vehicle Charging and the Healthcare Industry"

United States Geological Survey, September 2020, "2017 Minerals Yearbook"

The Washington Post, Dec. 26, 2016, "Tibetans in anguish as Chinese mines pollute their sacred grasslands"

United States Geological Survey, January 2020, "Lithium Data Sheet - Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020"

Freedonia Group, "World Lithium"

Nature, Feb. 7, 2019, "Closed Loop Recycling of Electric Vehicle Batteries to Enable Ultra-high Quality Cathode Powder"

U.S Department of Energy, "Batteries for Hybrid and Plug-In Electric Vehicles"

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, "Predictive Models of Li-ion Battery Lifetime"

Edison Electric Institute, Nov. 30, 2018, "EEI Celebrates 1 Million Electric Vehicles On U.S. Roads"

CarbonBrief, May 13, 2019, "Factcheck: How electric vehicles help to tackle climate change"

Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@tennessean.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman. Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
Our ruling: Missing context

The post is misleading and leaves out important context about how electric cars are built. It fails to consider that life cycle emissions for an electric vehicle are typically lower than those of traditional cars. As electric cars become more popular, experts believe they'll become greener, as will energy sources. Based on our research, we rate it as MISSING CONTEXT.

Our fact-check sources

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Fact check: Electric vehicles emit fewer emissions and are better for the environment

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A Facebook post claims that electric car batteries weigh approximately 1,000 pounds and require more than 500,000 pounds in raw materials to make. "Driving an electric-car won't save the planet," the meme states.

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"Electric vehicles typically have a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline cars, even when accounting for the electricity used for charging."

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"Electric vehicles typically have a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline cars, even when accounting for the electricity used for charging."

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Facts and myths about electric vehicles.

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Countries and automakers agree to go all-electric by 2040 in weak new goal set at COP26

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Countries and automakers agree to go all-electric by 2040 in weak new goal set at COP26

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https://electrek.co/2021/11/10/countries-automakers-agree-go-all-electric-by-2040-weak-new-goal-cop26/

Not a great amount of countries signed the declaration, most important are the absences of China and India, the biggest polluting countries.

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At COP26, several major countries and automakers have agreed to set a new goal to go all-electric by 2040.

The goal is uninspired and likely useless.

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is currently being held in Glasgow, where world leaders have gathered to update their goals and plans to address climate change.

Amid the conference today, several participating nations issued a new declaration regarding the transition to electric vehicles.

They have agreed to move to "all new sales of zero-emission cars and vans globally by 2040":

As representatives of governments, businesses, and other organisations with an influence over the future of the automotive industry and road transport, we commit to rapidly accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Together, we will work towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission globally by 2040, and by no later than 2035 in leading markets.

Here's a list of the nations that have joined the declaration:

While the US hasn't joined the declaration, several states have, including California, New York, and Washington.

Several automakers and companies have also joined the declaration, including Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volvo.

Electrek's take

In my opinion, this is a weak and unambitious goal.

There are several nations in that pledge that have already individually announced more aggressive timelines to phase out fossil fuel-powered cars.

Norway is aiming for 2025, and it is on a path to achieving it even sooner.

The Netherlands, a country that has also signed the declaration, has previously announced a ban on gas and diesel cars by 2030.

These goals are more ambitious and actually reflect a more realistic timeline of the shift in consumer demand for electric vehicles.

As I have often stated before, I believe that there will be a major shift in consumer demand around 2024-25 that will result in virtually all new car buyers realizing that their next car is going to have to be electric.

Many automakers won't be ready for this, but it's going to happen as buyers realize that electric vehicles are not only a better proposition out of the box with all the compelling models that are going to be available by then, but it will also make no financial sense when accounting for resale value and gas savings.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Countries and automakers agree to go all-electric by 2040 in weak new goal set at COP26

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At COP26, several major countries and automakers have agreed to set a new goal to go all-electric by 2040. The goal is uninspired and likely useless. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is currently being held in Glasgow, where world leaders have gathered to update their goals and plans to [...]

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EV Lifespan: Do They Last as Long as Gasoline Cars?

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EV Lifespan: Do They Last as Long as Gasoline Cars?

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https://www.lifewire.com/do-evs-last-as-long-as-gasoline-cars-5202392

Electric cars do not last nearly as long as some gas cars.

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Just as gasoline and diesel engines were once new technology and poo-pooed by the horse-driven public, modern battery electric vehicles (EV) are facing the same criticisms. Will electric vehicles be on the road as long as gasoline cars and diesel vehicles? Absolutely, and automakers are already delivering.

Myth Busted: Neither EVs nor Gasoline Cars Are Infallible

Since the first automobile went from production to daily driver to a cube at the junkyard, car and truck lifespan has been increasing. Notwithstanding a few outliers, such as Irv Gordon's 3.2-million-mile 1966 Volvo P1800S and Matt Farah's million-mile 1996 Lexus LS400, the increasing life of the typical car is encouraging. In 1977, the average American car was just 5.5 years old. By 1995, it was 8.4 years, and in 2020, the average reached 11.9 years.

That says a lot about today's typical driver expectations and the technical advances implemented to meet them: People want cars that last. EV or gasoline-powered, they expect any car they buy today to be safe, efficient, and reliable years down the road.

Still, where and how any vehicle is driven and maintained has a significant impact on lifespan, regardless of how well an auto might be built. Harsh driving, overloading, corrosion, and neglect will destroy any vehicle before its prime, but well-maintained vehicles are no longer considered worn-out until they've reached at least 150,000 miles.

No vehicle is infallible but there are some things that tend to give EVs a better shot at a longer lifespan.

EV Key Component Life Expectancy

When you're trying to decide between buying an electric vehicle or a conventional vehicle, there are several shared components to take out of the lifespan comparison. Both types include the following similarities:

Modern vehicle frame and body construction last the life of the vehicle, depending on environmental factors.

Electrical systems, such as the radio, navigation system, headlights, taillights, and power windows, generally last upwards of 10 years.

Steering and suspension components typically last 6 to 10 years.

Tires generally last 4 or 5 years, depending on driving habits and alignment maintenance.

Wipers and cabin filters are typically replaced every 6 to 12 months, depending on environmental factors.

The 12-V battery is also the same, lasting typically 5 to 7 years in typical driving.

Brake hydraulics and calipers are the same, typically requiring service every other year.

On the other hand, major differences do exist between conventional vehicles and electric vehicles. While modern conventional powertrains, with proper maintenance, are proven to last, electric vehicle batteries and motors aren't often given a fair look, mostly because of the expense of critical components like batteries.

Even so, major electric vehicle components are at least as good as their gasoline-chugging counterparts.

Electric motors typically have a single moving part, in comparison to several hundred parts in an engine. Electric motor maintenance is limited to coolant changes every 100,000 miles. Engines, in addition to coolant, require regular oil changes, air filters, and likely spark plugs in that time. Both motors and engines are proven to last upwards of 20 years.

Transmission

Since electric vehicles usually aren't equipped with a transmission, just a single gear reduction, they're the clear winner in the transmission lifespan comparison. For modern conventional vehicles, manual and automatic transmissions typically last upwards of 15 years, requiring fluid services at least every 100,000 miles.

Lithium-ion battery packs are expensive, but they last a long time. So far, the typical EV battery has been proven to last about 200,000 miles, nearly 20 years. Tesla is rumored to be developing an EV battery that will last 1,000,000 miles, much longer than the average vehicle, currently 11.9 years. Major EV makers report few battery replacements in the last decade.

Brake services offer an interesting comparison. Because electric vehicles use regenerative braking to slow the vehicle, the hydraulic brake system isn't used as much. While conventional vehicle brakes last 25,000 to 65,000 miles, depending on vehicle type and driver habits, hybrid and EV pads and rotors are known to last much longer. Some hybrid and EV owners report their brakes lasting over 100,000 miles.

EV Maintenance Matters!

Electric vehicles' simpler powertrains require less service, which actually makes required services more critical. How you drive, charge, and maintain your electric vehicle will play a big part in how long it lasts, just like it does with a gasoline-powered vehicle. There are two key areas to pay attention to.

Cooling System Checks

Cooling system maintenance is important. A combination of active and passive heating and cooling keep the battery pack around 70 °F for best lifespan. Pay close attention to cooling system maintenance, such as coolant or air filter replacement.

Battery Charging Practices

Charging practices are critical. While the battery management system (BMS) manages charge rates to protect the battery, you can do your part by charging mainly on Level 2 chargers. You can use Level 3 charging stations on trips, but regular consistent usage of these high-power chargers will impact battery life.

EV Life Expectancy Is at Least Equal to Gas Cars

Given technological advances in both conventional and electric vehicles in the last decade, neither seems to have longevity issues. With responsible driving and maintenance habits, both should last at least a decade, if not much longer.

Government and automaker confidence seems to reflect the desire, if not the reality, of EV longevity. To help encourage confidence in EVs, federal rules now require automakers to cover major components, like the battery and electric motor, for eight years or 100,000 miles, while California extends that to 10 years or 150,000 miles. Some EV automakers even offer a lifetime guarantee, something practically unheard of in conventional vehicle warranties.

If you're shopping for a new vehicle, it's good to know you can choose any car that suits you best. Eventually, as pricing and availability become more competitive, it's likely that not choosing an electric vehicle will seem like a risky bet.

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EV Lifespan: Do They Last as Long as Gasoline Cars?

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Just as gasoline and diesel engines were once new technology and poo-pooed by the horse-driven public, modern battery electric vehicles (EV) are facing the same criticisms. Will electric vehicles be on the road as long as gasoline cars and diesel vehicles? Absolutely, and automakers are already delivering.

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Why electric cars will take over sooner than you think

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Why electric cars will take over sooner than you think

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https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57253947

Electric cars are growing very fast as it is, the goal could be passively reached before 2040.

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I know, you probably haven't even driven one yet, let alone seriously contemplated buying one, so the prediction may sound a bit bold, but bear with me.

We are in the middle of the biggest revolution in motoring since Henry Ford's first production line started turning back in 1913.

And it is likely to happen much more quickly than you imagine.

Many industry observers believe we have already passed the tipping point where sales of electric vehicles (EVs) will very rapidly overwhelm petrol and diesel cars.

It is certainly what the world's big car makers think.

Jaguar plans to sell only electric cars from 2025, Volvo from 2030 and last week the British sportscar company Lotus said it would follow suit, selling only electric models from 2028.

And it isn't just premium brands.

General Motors says it will make only electric vehicles by 2035, Ford says all vehicles sold in Europe will be electric by 2030 and VW says 70% of its sales will be electric by 2030.

This isn't a fad, this isn't greenwashing.

Yes, the fact many governments around the world are setting targets to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles gives impetus to the process.

But what makes the end of the internal combustion engine inevitable is a technological revolution. And technological revolutions tend to happen very quickly.

This revolution will be electric

Look at the internet.

By my reckoning, the EV market is about where the internet was around the late 1990s or early 2000s.

Back then, there was a big buzz about this new thing with computers talking to each other.

Jeff Bezos had set up Amazon, and Google was beginning to take over from the likes of Altavista, Ask Jeeves and Yahoo. Some of the companies involved had racked up eye-popping valuations.

For those who hadn't yet logged on it all seemed exciting and interesting but irrelevant - how useful could communicating by computer be? After all, we've got phones!

But the internet, like all successful new technologies, did not follow a linear path to world domination. It didn't gradually evolve, giving us all time to plan ahead.

Its growth was explosive and disruptive, crushing existing businesses and changing the way we do almost everything. And it followed a familiar pattern, known to technologists as an S-curve.

Riding the internet S-curve

It's actually an elongated S.

The idea is that innovations start slowly, of interest only to the very nerdiest of nerds. EVs are on the shallow sloping bottom end of the S here.

For the internet, the graph begins at 22:30 on 29 October 1969. That's when a computer at the University of California in LA made contact with another in Stanford University a few hundred miles away.

The researchers typed an L, then an O, then a G. The system crashed before they could complete the word "login".

Like I said, nerds only.

A decade later there were still only a few hundred computers on the network but the pace of change was accelerating.

In the 1990s the more tech-savvy started buying personal computers.

As the market grew, prices fell rapidly and performance improved in leaps and bounds - encouraging more and more people to log on to the internet.

The S is beginning to sweep upwards here, growth is becoming exponential. By 1995 there were some 16 million people online. By 2001, there were 513 million people.

Now there are more than three billion. What happens next is our S begins to slope back towards the horizontal.

The rate of growth slows as virtually everybody who wants to be is now online.

Jeremy Clarkson's disdain

We saw the same pattern of a slow start, exponential growth and then a slowdown to a mature market with smartphones, photography, even antibiotics.

The internal combustion engine at the turn of the last century followed the same trajectory.

So did steam engines and printing presses. And electric vehicles will do the same.

In fact they have a more venerable lineage than the internet.

The first crude electric car was developed by the Scottish inventor Robert Anderson in the 1830s.

But it is only in the last few years that the technology has been available at the kind of prices that make it competitive.

The former Top Gear presenter and used car dealer Quentin Willson should know. He's been driving electric vehicles for well over a decade.

He test-drove General Motors' now infamous EV1 20 years ago. It cost a billion dollars to develop but was considered a dud by GM, which crushed all but a handful of the 1,000 or so vehicles it produced.

The EV1's range was dreadful - about 50 miles for a normal driver - but Mr Willson was won over. "I remember thinking this is the future," he told me.

He says he will never forget the disdain that radiated from fellow Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson when he showed him his first electric car, a Citroen C-Zero, a decade later.

"It was just completely: 'You have done the most unspeakable thing and you have disgraced us all. Leave!'," he says. Though he now concedes that you couldn't have the heater on in the car because it decimated the range.

How things have changed. Mr Willson says he has no range anxiety with his latest electric car, a Tesla Model 3.

He says it will do almost 300 miles on a single charge and accelerates from 0-60 in 3.1 seconds.

"It is supremely comfortable, it's airy, it's bright. It's just a complete joy. And I would unequivocally say to you now that I would never ever go back."

We've seen massive improvements in the motors that drive electric vehicles, the computers that control them, charging systems and car design.

But the sea-change in performance Mr Willson has experienced is largely possible because of the improvements in the non-beating heart of the vehicles, the battery.

The most striking change is in prices.

Just a decade ago, it cost $1,000 per kilowatt hour of battery power, says Madeline Tyson, of the US-based clean energy research group, RMI. Now it is nudging $100 (£71).

That is reckoned to be the point at which they start to become cheaper to buy than equivalent internal combustion vehicles.

But, says Ms Tyson, when you factor in the cost of fuel and servicing - EVs need much less of that - many EVs are already cheaper than the petrol or diesel alternative.

At the same time energy density - how much power you can pack into each battery - continues to rise.

They are lasting longer too.

Last year the world's first battery capable of powering a car for a million miles was unveiled by the Chinese battery maker, CATL.

Companies that run big fleets of cars like Uber and Lyft are leading the switchover, because the savings are greatest for cars with high mileage.

But, says Ms Tyson, as prices continue to tumble, retail customers will follow soon.

How fast will it happen?

Like the internet in the 90s, the electric car market is already growing exponentially.

Global sales of electric cars raced forward in 2020, rising by 43% to a total of 3.2m, despite overall car sales slumping by a fifth during the coronavirus pandemic.

That is just 5% of total car sales, but it shows we're already entering the steep part of the S.

By 2025 20% of all new cars sold globally will be electric, according to the latest forecast by the investment bank UBS.

That will leap to 40% by 2030, and by 2040 virtually every new car sold globally will be electric, says UBS.

The reason is thanks to another curve - what manufacturers call the "learning curve".

The more we make something, the better we get at making it and the cheaper it gets to make. That's why PCs, kitchen appliances and - yes - petrol and diesel cars, became so affordable.

The same thing is what has been driving down the price of batteries, and hence electric cars.

We're on the verge of a tipping point, says Ramez Naam, the co-chair for energy and environment at the Singularity University in California.

He believes as soon as electric vehicles become cost-competitive with fossil fuel vehicles, the game will be up.

That's certainly what Tesla's self-styled techno-king, Elon Musk, believes.

Last month he was telling investors that the Model 3 has become the best-selling premium sedan in the world, and predicting that the newer, cheaper Model Y would become the best-selling car of any kind.

"We've seen a real shift in customer perception of electric vehicles, and our demand is the best we've ever seen," Mr Musk told the meeting.

There is work to be done before electric vehicles drive their petrol and diesel rivals off the road.

Most importantly, everyone needs to be able charge their cars easily and cheaply whether or not they have a driveway at their home.

That will take work and investment, but will happen, just as a vast network of petrol stations rapidly sprang up to fuel cars a century ago.

And, if you are still sceptical, I suggest you try an electric car out for yourself.

Most of the big car manufacturers now have a range of models on offer. So take one for a test drive and see if, like Quentin Willson, you find you want to be part of motoring's future.

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Why electric cars will take over sooner than you think

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I know, you probably haven't even driven one yet, let alone seriously contemplated buying one, so the prediction may sound a bit bold, but bear with me. We are in the middle of the biggest revolution in motoring since Henry Ford's first production line started turning back in 1913.

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Electric Cars May Rule the World’s Roads by 2040

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Electric Cars May Rule the World’s Roads by 2040

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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/electric-cars-replace-gasoline-engines-2040

Some countries plan to ban gas cars by 2025

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Electric Cars May Rule the World’s Roads by 2040

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New analysis suggests the gasoline engine may be like the horse-and-buggy a century ago: doomed to a rapid demise.

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US Not among States That Will Go EV-Only by 2040

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US Not among States That Will Go EV-Only by 2040

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https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a38212500/cop26-electric-car-declaration-climate-target/

The United States held out on this declaration, though a few states signed it.

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33 governments signed a declaration at the COP26 summit pledging to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles by the year 2040.

A number of automakers with sales in the US have signed the declaration, including Ford, GM, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar Land Rover.

Several automakers which currently offer EVs-including Nissan, Volkswagen, and Hyundai-have not signed the declaration, nor have several major countries including the US.

A new pledge to accelerate the turn to zero emission vehicles by 2040 was signed by a number of countries and automakers at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, this week, with a number of notable holdouts in both categories, including the United States. The pledge calls for transitioning to sales of ZEV-only new cars and vans by 2040 or earlier-by 2035 in several leading markets.

Just a handful of automakers have signed the non-binding declaration including GM, Ford, Volvo, BYD Auto, Jaguar Land Rover, and Mercedes-Benz, in addition to a few smaller ones, with a total of 33 governments or entities also signing the document. Some notable holdouts included Volkswagen, in the midst of its own transition to electric vehicles, as well as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, and Stellantis.

"As automotive manufacturers, we will work towards reaching 100% zero emission new car and van sales in leading markets by 2035 or earlier, supported by a business strategy that is in line with achieving this ambition, as we help build customer demand," the declaration states in part.

The United States did not sign the declaration, even though Canada and Mexico did, as did several individual US states including California, Washington, and New York, some of which have already adopted more aggressive timetables (albeit only backed by executive orders). A number of notable holdouts in Europe included Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, and a few others, while the list of signatories from Eastern Europe, Central and Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, and Oceania was even sparser.

Some individual American cities, however, have signed the declaration, including Atlanta, Ann Arbor, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle, among others. City-specific measures have proven to be a vital EV promotion mechanism in Europe, with the creation of ZEV zones in city centers. A number of major corporations have also signed the declaration, when it comes to making fleet purchases, with companies like Uber, Siemens, GlaxoSmithKline, and Astra Zeneca signing the document.

"As cities, states, and regional governments, we will work towards converting our owned or leased car and van fleets to zero emission vehicles by 2035 at the latest, as well as putting in place policies that will enable, accelerate, or otherwise incentivize the transition to zero emission vehicles as soon as possible, to the extent possible given our jurisdictional powers," the declaration states.

Overall, the declaration itself is seen as a relatively tame gesture, committing to "rapidly accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement." And the signatories are only committing to working toward sales of new cars and vans being zero-emission by the year 2040, with no firmer provisions, verifiable incremental steps, or enforcement mechanisms contemplated.

It's also notable that among the major absences, Volkswagen itself has committed to offering only electric vehicles in Europe by 2035, with an aim to reach 70% of sales by 2030. But the automaker has not made a similar pledge for other regional markets, which are expected to be EV-averse for quite some time. Toyota's absence is understandable for other reasons: the automaker has long been an EV skeptic, and has lobbied against EV adoption measures even as it is in the process of introducing its first mass-market electric models in the coming months.

Of course, a number of these major automakers sell vehicles in over a hundred countries each, so they have to take EV-averse markets into account when making sales projections for the year 2040.

The absence of China, Russia, and Australia from the list of signatories is understandable as well, each for its own reasons, even as China races ahead in the region when it comes to EV adoption, outpacing Japan. By comparison, EVs in Russia are barely a blip on the radar, and are not expected to be a factor in annual vehicles sales until well past 2050.

On the other hand, one country that did sign the declaration despite a fairly low EV adoption rate and policy measures is India.

Germany's absence from the list is perhaps the major surprise, despite some recent moves by the country to promote EVs on an individual city level, amid a surge in EV adoption over the past two years.

If anything, it's clear that analogous forward-looking commitments will continue to be adopted at the level of smaller regions and municipalities, rather than individual countries and automakers, which has been a recurring theme for the past five years and will continue to be backed up by more local rather than national enforcement mechanisms.

Should the US have signed the declaration, or are there good reasons not to adopt it? Let us know in the comments below.

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US Is Not among Countries That Will Go EV-Only by 2040

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33 governments signed a declaration at the COP26 summit pledging to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles by the year 2040. A number of automakers with sales in the US have signed the declaration, including Ford, GM, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar Land Rover.

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At Least Two-Thirds of Global Car Sales Will Be Electric by 2040

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At Least Two-Thirds of Global Car Sales Will Be Electric by 2040

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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-09/at-least-two-thirds-of-global-car-sales-will-be-electric-by-2040#:~:text=Passenger%20EV%20sales%20are%20projected,China%20are%20leading%20the%20transition.&text=U.S.

Only 2/3 of car sales will be electric by 2040, a rather lousy (Predicted) result for such a big global project.