So the UK gov have bought forward the date where all new cars must be electric or hybrid.
Now forgive my ignorance but I get the damage that oil/petroleum does to the environment but surely there’s a negative impact to this ‘green’ tech too? Am I overlooking how much lithium or cobalt will be needed for this mass change? Surely having a huge need for these resources will mean just as much mining or seabed trawling to the degree that it’s not really ‘green’ any more…
In: Earth Science
Yes, everything we do have an environmental impact the question is to what degree. Green in this context means less bad for the environment than the alternative, not that there is no impact all
If we like to have cars it is better with electric cars. No cars would be even better from an environmental perspective, it would be problematic from an economical perspective and very unpopular. I suspect that a government that suggested that cars should no longer be allowed would be out of power after the next election.
So a requirement that cars should be electric or hybrids result in less environmental impact that if you do not change the rules
The main problem with fossil fuel global is the emission of CO2 that is a greenhouse gas.
Locally the emission of NO2 and particle release is a problem for humans.
Mining for stuff you need in electric cars is a problem. The manufacturing is another problem.
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