Zero-Emissions? Not Really

By Emily Schutte

When an Electric Vehicle is marketed as “zero-emission,” consumers expect their car does not cause pollution, right? Well, in the case of zero-emission vehicles, the phrase only refers to “tailpipe exhaust emissions of certain pollutants or greenhouse gases,” according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Many miss this fine print and buy EVs, believing they are helping the environment.

In reality, while removing the element of exhaust, EVs emit 20-26% more tire dust annually than gas cars due to their added battery weight.

That battery is lithium ion, which is both volatile and susceptible to catching fire. These fires emit toxic gas and burn so hot that they are difficult and dangerous to extinguish.

Building the components of an EV requires 84% more minerals than a gas car. This adds significantly to the outsourced emissions via mining. One such lithium mining operation in Chile used 65% of the region’s water, leaving the inhabitants to find other water sources while causing contamination that killed animals and ruined farmland.

Consumers should be aware EVs are not “zero-emission” and do cause significant harm to the environment. I fear consumers are being misled by this term, so environmental regulators should stop requiring manufacturers to market EVs as “zero-emission” vehicles.

Emily Schutte is a Research Associate at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregon’s free market public policy research organization.

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