Electric Vehicles have been of interest since the 1960s as combustion fuel prices have soared, and even more so recently as a means to aiding the climate crisis occurring across the globe. Electric vehicles come in numerous contexts, with cars most often being battery powered, and electric locomotive trains operating off overhead power rails. Electric vehicles typically produce zero exhaust emissions, meaning they are highly beneficial in the pursuit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, their relationship with the environment is often more complex.

Battery Minerals – Ecological Killers?

Beyond the issues presented by the carbon intensity of EV manufacture, there also exists a huge problem in the human toxicity of battery minerals. Lithium, which is the primary mineral used presents a huge toxicity risk, with China’s Yichun city having to close its manufacturing plant after its main residential water source was shown to be extremely contaminated [4].

Furthermore, the production of lithium is also extremely water intensive. The San Cristobal lithium mine in Bolivia has been described as “an environmental and social disaster” due to its consumption of 50,000 litres of water each day [5].

Green Future of Railways

While cars remain the most talked about in the realm of electrification of vehicles, many other forms of transport are undergoing electrification. Railways have used electric power since the early 19th century, using overhead cables or pickup rails to supply power along a line. In the UK, 38% of railways are electrified [9], with this figure set to increase following the Autumn 2024 budget where it was announced services in the north of England would be full electrified [10]. In 2018, plans were put in place to rule out diesel trains entirely by 2040 [11], a target that today seems far less likely.

Most new recent rail developments in the UK have been electric, notably HS2 which promised zero-carbon energy according to its website [12], with ambitions for all operations to be net-zero by 2035. However, the project’s claims of carbon neutrality have been scrutinised, with 5.8-6.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions estimated to be released by construction of Phase 1, and only 3 million tonnes saved by decarbonisation of the rail and other factors [13].