The only EVs that are better for the environment than ICE are shared EVs (like Trains, Trams and Electric Buses) and ultralight EVs (like e-bikes and cargo e-bikes).
Driving a Lithium battery EV full-sized car is just shifting the environmental damage to different locations and cost centres.
Nah. Any EV is definitely better than ICE. It’s just a very small improvement over ICE compared to public and active transport. It’s like…if ICE is a 10, EV is a 9, a train is a 4, and a bike is a 2.
It depends a lot on vehicle longevity.
An EV, PHEV or even a hybrid all have batteries that degrade within (or more likely just after the expiration of) the warranty period. They batteries are often more than the car is worth.
A pure ICE vehicle should keep running for decades after the warranty period has expired, as long as it is maintained to the minimum standard.
Both Toyota and Porsche claim that EVs are a WOFTAM because their vehicles typically have “infinite” lifespans, (For very small values of “infinite” 😉)
Lately, manufacturers are heading away from this mindset because it is much more profitable to sell EVs with engineered obsolescence, forcing punters to buy a new car as soon as the warranty expires.
@Salvo@Zagorath EV batteries so far are generally outlasting the expected/rated lifespans significantly. Yes, the range reduces and first gen EVs have more marked range reduction, but batteries can be replaced and the old battery repurposed as a stationary home battery or similar for a significant period before ultimately being recycled.
Yep those OG passively/air cooled batteries really have done a dent in the reputation for battery lifespan, hopefully over the next 10 years as more people understand that we’ve been on actively/water cooled batteries for like 10 years now that the lifespan degradation is much slower
SAIC-owned IM Motors currently offers its L6 saloon with a semi-solid-state battery – a halfway house to a full-solid-state battery that uses a more viscous, gel-like electrolyte than the liquid in a lithium ion cell.
This pack allows an extra 33kWh of battery capacity to be crammed into the same space as an equivalent lithium ion pack. That equates to a 28% improvement in the car’s range to a total of 621 miles (1000KM), according to Chinese homologation testing.
At 1000KM of range we are already within the space of 10 years of EV’s hitting the mainstream reaching beyond what petrol cars can do which will allow for smaller batteries that are lighter for cars, and that’s with a semi-solid state battery, not a full one!
In addition to the weight reduction they’re also working on reducing the amount of critical minerals in batteries and reducing the chance of fire and increasing the range and improving the charge times.
Different models of EV wear tyres at different rates, but you are correct that on average, EVs chew through tyres at a much higher rate than comparative ICE vehicles.
Also, while low profile tyres reduce the unsprung weight of a vehicle, they are much more prone to damage than vehicles with relatively smaller rims. While you may save fuel/energy on paper, all it takes is one irreparable puncture to have a much higher environmental impact.
The only EVs that are better for the environment than ICE are shared EVs (like Trains, Trams and Electric Buses) and ultralight EVs (like e-bikes and cargo e-bikes).
Driving a Lithium battery EV full-sized car is just shifting the environmental damage to different locations and cost centres.
Nah. Any EV is definitely better than ICE. It’s just a very small improvement over ICE compared to public and active transport. It’s like…if ICE is a 10, EV is a 9, a train is a 4, and a bike is a 2.
It depends a lot on vehicle longevity. An EV, PHEV or even a hybrid all have batteries that degrade within (or more likely just after the expiration of) the warranty period. They batteries are often more than the car is worth. A pure ICE vehicle should keep running for decades after the warranty period has expired, as long as it is maintained to the minimum standard.
Both Toyota and Porsche claim that EVs are a WOFTAM because their vehicles typically have “infinite” lifespans, (For very small values of “infinite” 😉)
Lately, manufacturers are heading away from this mindset because it is much more profitable to sell EVs with engineered obsolescence, forcing punters to buy a new car as soon as the warranty expires.
Not sure about Porsche, but Toyota made a business decision to invest in hydrogen, and so has a financial interest in downplaying batteries.
@Salvo @Zagorath EV batteries so far are generally outlasting the expected/rated lifespans significantly. Yes, the range reduces and first gen EVs have more marked range reduction, but batteries can be replaced and the old battery repurposed as a stationary home battery or similar for a significant period before ultimately being recycled.
Yep those OG passively/air cooled batteries really have done a dent in the reputation for battery lifespan, hopefully over the next 10 years as more people understand that we’ve been on actively/water cooled batteries for like 10 years now that the lifespan degradation is much slower
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2018-hyundai-ioniq-electric-elite-auto-my19/SSE-AD-18401866/
7 year old EV with just 24KM range loss
EV’s have come a long way in a very short time, just like how big of an impact solar is having some people haven’t kept up
EVs powered entirely by black coal are still more efficient than ICE cars
It reduces co2 output and for me that’s the most important thing at the moment especially here in Australia where everything is built around cars
And it adds to microplastics by putting even more wear on tyres due to the extra weight of the battery.
They’re working on it:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/technology/solid-state-battery-round-2025-be-decisive-year
At 1000KM of range we are already within the space of 10 years of EV’s hitting the mainstream reaching beyond what petrol cars can do which will allow for smaller batteries that are lighter for cars, and that’s with a semi-solid state battery, not a full one!
In addition to the weight reduction they’re also working on reducing the amount of critical minerals in batteries and reducing the chance of fire and increasing the range and improving the charge times.
Different models of EV wear tyres at different rates, but you are correct that on average, EVs chew through tyres at a much higher rate than comparative ICE vehicles.
Also, while low profile tyres reduce the unsprung weight of a vehicle, they are much more prone to damage than vehicles with relatively smaller rims. While you may save fuel/energy on paper, all it takes is one irreparable puncture to have a much higher environmental impact.
@Salvo @Deceptichum my #minicabMiEV weighs about half the average ICE ute, it also has tiny light commercial tyres. So choice of EV matters.