The raw materials required to manufacture EV batteries include nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium. In the past, obtaining these materials has caused environmental concern (for example, mining lithium used large quantities of water).

However, more recently, there have been significant developments in sustainable methods of resource extraction. In 2022, for example, a British company became the first to mine and refine lithium in one location, reducing the environmental impact.

EV battery production requires ‘dry rooms’, which keep humidity below 1%. The dehumidifiers needed for these dry rooms require a significant amount of energy to run, contributing to electric vehicles’ environmental impact.

As EV popularity and adoption increase, researchers are continually developing more energy efficient production processes, such as more energy efficient dry room set-ups, which are helping to lower the carbon footprint of EV production.

Data shows that the lifetime emissions (EV vs ICE ) is estimated to be 73% lower for EVs compared to their petrol and diesel counterparts, with hybrid and plug-in hybrids also producing 20% to 30% lower emissions.

While an EV’s battery production has been estimated to produce around 40% more emissions than ICE vehicles3 , these emissions are more than offset after the first one to two years of use (due largely to the lack of tailpipe emissions and opportunities for renewable energy charging); a big positive when it comes to carbon neutrality.  

Comparing the carbon footprint of EV vs ICE vehicles shows that electric vehicles’ environmental impact is lower overall.

Currently, the average CO2 emissions of diesel cars is around 170g CO2/km, with petrol cars sitting at around 165g CO2/km.

In contrast, electric vehicles produce around 50g CO2/km, including the electricity generated to run the car. Over the course of a year, an electric vehicle could be saving an average of 1.5million g of CO2.

However, the exact footprint will be determined on the energy mix used to charge an EV. For example, smart charging tariffs  allow drivers to make the most of renewable energy charging to reduce environmental impact.

With ambitious clean transport and net-zero targets in the UK and Europe, it’s hoped that electricity will be generated on a grid that’s completely net-zero by 2050  , meaning more EVs will be powered by renewable energy.

EV sustainability goes beyond tailpipe emissions to include factors such as reduced noise pollution and renewable grid integration.

The lack of pollutant exhaust emissions from EVs makes them the primary method of clean transport. As well as being cleaner to run, EVs are also much quieter. The lack of internal combustion engine significantly reduces noise pollution, improving quality of life for people and wildlife.

With specialist repair and remanufacturing services, EV battery reuse is becoming a more accessible option. This allows EV batteries to have a second ‘lease of life’ in applications such as home energy storage.

EV recycling is currently seen as a last resort where repair and reuse is no longer possible. This is because the process can be both dangerous and expensive. However, as more stringent regulations come into place, researchers estimate that half the demand for lithium and nickel could be met by recycling by 2040.

There are an increasing number of smart EV charging options that have greater energy efficiency. For example, depending on your charger and tariff, you may be able to set your preferences to only charge your EV using renewable energy from the grid.

If you’ve installed solar panels to your home, there could be an opportunity to connect your EV charging port  directly to your solar panels  for seamless, greener charging that reduces reliance on the grid. 

A lifecycle analysis of EV vs ICE sustainability shows vastly different carbon footprints of EV vs ICE vehicles at various stages from resource extraction to everyday use.

While EVs emit drastically lower emissions due to their lack of exhaust pipe, battery production emissions are still high. Therefore, while EVs are a cleaner transport option than ICE vehicles overall, there are still further opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint.

From investing in EV recycling and reuse to create a circular economy to designing more energy efficient processes for battery production, researchers are continuing to innovate in this area.

This is coinciding with developments in the social aspect of EV manufacturing. For example, the EU’s Batteries Regulation makes companies responsible for safe and responsible practices and greater workers’ rights.