On the Sustainability of Electrical Vehicles

Abstract

Many perceive electric vehicles (EVs) to be eco-environmentally sustainable because they are free of emissions of toxic and greenhouse gases to the environment. However, few have questioned the sustainability of the electric power required to drive these vehicles. This paper presents an in-depth study that indicates that massive infusion of EVs to our society in a short time span will likely create a colossal demand for additional electric power generation much beyond what the US electric power generating industry can provide with its current generating capacity. Additionally, such demand would result in much adverse environmental consequences if the current technology of electric power generation by predominant fossil fuels continues. Other rarely accounted facts on environmental impacts by EVs are the substantial electric energy required to produce batteries that drive EVs, and the negative consequences relating to the recycling of spent batteries.