Are Green Cars Actually Better for the Environment?

There are many arguments on both sides of whether or not green cars are better or worse for the environment than gas-powered cars. Let’s explore.

There’s no denying the immediate positive impact an electric vehicle has over gas and diesel vehicles wen considering air pollution. The arguments against electric often point to mining materials, burning coal for electricity, and renewable battery components. Strangely, when these arguments arise, some forget that gas cars require drilling for oil, refining the materials, and many more parts than electric vehicles. With this in mind, let’s look at how green cars are better for the environment.

Green cars can help slow climate change

The gasses sent into the atmosphere from factories, burning coal, and driving gas and diesel-powered vehicles increases the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. This increases the rate of climate change because there isn’t a viable way to reduce this carbon other than to cut back on how much is expelled into the atmosphere. Automakers are not only making electric vehicles but using green processes in many factories to ensure fewer greenhouse gases are sent into the atmosphere. When you hear about reducing your carbon footprint, this is what we’re talking about.

Zero tailpipe emissions is an immediate benefit

Green cars are actually better for the environment with the exhaust that comes out of other cars. EVs produce no emissions because they run on electricity and do not burn fuel in an internal combustion engine which creates gasses that must be sent out of the tailpipe. Changing consumer vehicles to green models can make a huge difference in the air quality of an area. This benefit is part of why California has embraced green cars so vehemently.

Do hybrid cars offer similar benefits?

There are two types of hybrid cars, regular and PHEVs. The PHEVs are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles which means a portion of the drive is completed using only electricity. The benefit to the environment is much greater in PHEVs than in regular hybrid cars. A regular hybrid is much more eco-friendly than a traditional gas or diesel-powered vehicle so far. Most hybrids are small, use smaller engines, and enjoy incredible fuel economy numbers. These two types of cars offer atmospheric benefits compared to regular gas-powered vehicles.

EVs help reduce local air pollution

If you were to take photos of the air over Los Angeles from the 1980s and compared them to some taken today, the air quality improvement would be immediately evident. Although we’ve talked a lot about air quality and the atmosphere, this is one of the most important aspects of moving away from oil-burning vehicles to electric models. The local air quality is an important part of driving EVs. Large cities, like Los Angeles, have recently adopted regulations to embrace more EVs than ever before with the goal of improving air quality in that city.

EVs produce less brake dust than traditional vehicles

Tailpipe emissions aren’t all that enter the air when driving a traditional gas-powered vehicle. All vehicles also produce brake dust. Traditional models only brake using the systems at the wheels, which expels this brake dust into the air. Hybrid and EV models use a regenerative braking system which captures energy during braking to slow the vehicle using the engine rather than the regular brakes. This system reduces the amount of brake dust expelled and is another way green cars are actually better for the environment.

EVs are better for the environment even when electricity is produced using coal

Currently, the most effective and safest way to create electricity is by burning coal. We can’t get enough electricity from wind, water, or solar to replace coal just yet. Nuclear electricity production is clean and much better than coal, but its still unstable and not supported. That’s ok though, even when using coal to produce electricity, countries are enjoying reduced greenhouse gas emissions from electric cars.

The other fluids are harmful

Gasoline and diesel aren’t the only harmful fluids in a traditional vehicle. These fluids are burned off and used as fuel that’s eventually expelled out of the tailpipe in the form of harmful emissions. These vehicles also use motor oil, radiator coolant, and transmission fluid. The more harmful fluids are used, the more toxic a car can be. Motor oil is difficult to dispose of and can harm water treatment plants and septic systems when poured down a drain. It doesn’t take much for motor oil to turn water unsafe for drinking.

EV pollution is nearly done when the car is made

The most environmentally friendly way to produce vehicles is not to, but aside from that, once an EV is built, the pollution and harm to the environment is done. From the time an electric vehicle hits the road, its much more eco-friendly than a vehicle that burns fossil fuels. This pollution difference means EVs are much cleaner form the time they are purchased and begin to drive.

What about the batteries?

Some argue that EV batteries don’t have the staying power that a gasoline vehicle offers. Its true that the EV batteries have a limited life span and will need to be replaced after several years of driving. That said, many companies are working on ways to recycle the materials in EV batteries by reusing the materials. Other companies are learning how to reuse these batteries which still offer enough power to keep household appliances running for years.

Green cars use eco-friendly materials

Another way that green cars are better for the environment is in the materials used in other areas of these vehicles. Many automakers are committed to building their green models with this approach to the entire vehicle. This means using recycled materials for the seats, carpets, metals, and other areas of the car. Automakers are pushing the sustainability envelop to create cars that offer less waste and reduce the amount of waste already produced each year. These recycled materials are making their way into some of the most impressive new green cars.

These are some of the ways that green cars are actually better for the environment. Still, we know there are logical arguments on both sides of this conversation.