Many drivers still believe that the most environmentally conscious choice is to keep an old liquid-fuelled car running until it falls apart. Think of the resources needed to make a whole new vehicle, the argument goes. New research casts doubt on this line of thinking.
This is only looking at emissions. It’s absolutely not considering the consequences of the heavy metal mining that is required to produce those massive batteries. It also totally ignores the problem of how to dispose of, reuse, or recycle those old batteries once they can no longer be effective in your vehicle.
Obviously we ultimately need to dump internal combustion engines, but focusing solely on emissions is a kind of green washing meant to convince you to consume. The 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) continue to be the most effective way for an individual to limit their environmental impact. Those first 2 R’s are all about reducing by taking public transport and re-using that older car (and keeping it well maintained to reduce consumption), not going out to buy the newest electric swastika.
I agree that we first need to reduce and reuse, but claiming that mining for lithium in and of itself upsets the benefits isn’t fair either. It’s not like oil extraction and transportation is somehow without environmental consequences, for animals and for humans. Those should not be ignored either!
Yes, we need strong protection for vital habitats, but that mean we need to use the last intrusive first, not that we shouldn’t. Because continuing using diesel in our cities will poison everyone that lives there as well as the rest of the planet!
At the end of the day the environment which was saved due to not going for the lithium might die anyway because of the extra heat in the slightly longer perspective…
It’s absolutely not considering the consequences of the heavy metal mining that is required to produce those massive batteries. It also totally ignores the problem of how to dispose of, reuse, or recycle those old batteries once they can no longer be effective in your vehicle.
You’ve answered your own question while it’s still relevant. But wow, is it tiresome to repeat the same things.
Heavy metal mining is a short-term thing, and you already know about the carbon batteries that’s replacing them.
Need more lithium and also have a growing junk stash of tons of lithium batteries full of … lithium? Take a minute … see if you can get there.
This is only looking at emissions. It’s absolutely not considering the consequences of the heavy metal mining that is required to produce those massive batteries. It also totally ignores the problem of how to dispose of, reuse, or recycle those old batteries once they can no longer be effective in your vehicle.
Obviously we ultimately need to dump internal combustion engines, but focusing solely on emissions is a kind of green washing meant to convince you to consume. The 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) continue to be the most effective way for an individual to limit their environmental impact. Those first 2 R’s are all about reducing by taking public transport and re-using that older car (and keeping it well maintained to reduce consumption), not going out to buy the newest electric swastika.
I agree that we first need to reduce and reuse, but claiming that mining for lithium in and of itself upsets the benefits isn’t fair either. It’s not like oil extraction and transportation is somehow without environmental consequences, for animals and for humans. Those should not be ignored either!
Yes, we need strong protection for vital habitats, but that mean we need to use the last intrusive first, not that we shouldn’t. Because continuing using diesel in our cities will poison everyone that lives there as well as the rest of the planet!
At the end of the day the environment which was saved due to not going for the lithium might die anyway because of the extra heat in the slightly longer perspective…
You’ve answered your own question while it’s still relevant. But wow, is it tiresome to repeat the same things.
Heavy metal mining is a short-term thing, and you already know about the carbon batteries that’s replacing them.
Need more lithium and also have a growing junk stash of tons of lithium batteries full of … lithium? Take a minute … see if you can get there.
Why do you complain about needing food? There’s a pile of excrement right there. It’s the same elemental composition as what you normally eat.