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How ethical are electric cars?
When doing research for EVs all I’ve heard is that they help with reducing fuel costs for drivers. But does the manufacturing of EVs help the environment as well? How ethical are electric cars?
Marlee John · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question. While electric cars do help to reduce the costs of fuel for drivers there are definitely some ethical concerns when it comes to the electric vehicle industry.
All cars whether gas-powered or electric are manufactured in plants that are usually not all-electric powered. Despite being praised for their lack of emissions, many companies fail to report the fact that mining for the materials used in EVs is if not more damaging to the environment than driving a gas car.
Big drilling companies, extract and produce tonnes of rare earth metals like lithium and cobalt every year which causes damage to the ecosystem in those areas.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has the world’s highest concentration of cobalt—used to help prevent batteries from overheating—but the locals who mine for it get little to nothing for their labor. An article from The New Yorker reports that “children as young as three” and pregnant women were being used to sift through the ore. Cobalt is a heavy metal with radioactive properties that may cause mutations and miscarriages.
While EVs may have some positives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the cost can be deadly for some who may never even get to see an electric car. Always makes sure to do research on the type of vehicle before purchasing.
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