Sales of electric cars are growing all over the world; according to the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers, sales of electric vehicles in the European Union at the end of 2021 increased by 130% and reached 356,469 units.
The first argument of opponents of the use of electric cars is environmental pollution due to production. Experts at the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago have found that, in terms of their total carbon footprint, battery-powered cars are much more harmful to the environment than models with a traditional internal combustion engine. The Guardian reports that a mining plant on Obi Island in Indonesia, which extracts nickel, an important component of batteries for electric cars, has contaminated local fresh water sources with dangerous toxic substances.
The second argument for refusal is that electricity generation requires coal and oil. However, in states developing alternative, nuclear and hydropower, carbon savings are much higher and environmental pollution is lower. For example, the lowest amount of emissions from the use of electric cars was shown by Switzerland, which is fully provided by nuclear and hydropower – 100 percent, Norway – 98 percent, France – 96 percent, Sweden – 95 percent and Austria – 93 percent.
The next position concerns the recycling of batteries, but foreign and Russian companies are already engaged in recycling. For example, in Russia, the Chelyabinsk group of companies Megapolisresurs is engaged in the processing of lithium-ion batteries and batteries. And scientists from Britain’s University of Birmingham noted in a 2019 scientific paper that recycled lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries could become a valuable secondary source of materials.
Recently, technologies for wireless charging of electrical devices have been developed, and electric cars are no exception. Volvo has announced that it will test wireless charging technology on the XC40 Recharge in Gothenburg over the next three years. Cars will be able to recharge by parking above charging blocks built into the street. This will allow vehicles to be charged approximately four times faster than directly from a 110- or 120-volt electrical outlet or charging station.