ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a technological shift with higher efficiency compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. They have the potential to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on crude oil in transportation (Perujo et al., 2011). Compared to conventional combustion engines, the electromotor, which is driven by an electric motor, provides several benefits. It is a structure that doesn't require gearboxes, differentials, or drive shafts (Goel et al., 2021). Because there are no process fluids, lubricants, or filters to replace, the operation is also simplified. The electric car is lighter, and the motor can be placed on the wheels due to its simpler construction. EVs can move more dynamically. As a result, EVs are widely regarded as an environmentally friendly technology. In India, the registration of electric vehicles in 2021 accounted for only 1.7% of the total number of gasoline and diesel vehicles registered and represented 8.5% of the global market share (NITI Aayog & Rocky Mountain Institute, 2017; Goel et al., 2021). If initiatives like the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) II and other measures are successful, India could achieve a noteworthy sales penetration of 30% for electric passenger cars by 2030. This indicates a promising future demand for EVs and their components. The production of battery electric vehicles necessitates a variety of raw materials, which differ significantly from those needed for internal combustion engine vehicles. The primary distinctions arise from the inclusion of a battery, power electronics, and electric motor in EVs. In EVs, battery demand is more as it runs based on the specifications of that battery. Due to this production of batteries increase in the future and India also wants to be among the top countries in the world in manufacturing batteries. But this also can lead to a huge impact on the Environment due to the various metals and energy used in this process (NITI Aayog & Rocky Mountain Institute, 2017).