Today (Sept 1,2020) I read an Editorial in the Los Angeles Times in which the editorial board bragged about how the progressive state of California has recently adopted the “zero emission truck mandate” and will soon achieve the “cleanest air in the nation” because this initiative will force all trucks and other vehicles which now belch greenhouse gases (ghg) will be outlawed to be replaced with electric vehicles storing energy with lithium ion (L-ion) batteries.
But, as I read I thought: “wait, these batteries must be produced with energy (mostly oil gas and coal) —the raw materials must be sourced from all over the world (oil-driven ships trains), the product had long and complex manufacturing processes which generated ghg. Greenhouse gases are produced as a result of the mining of Lithium, its transport, processing as well as the manufacture and distribution of the batteries. Most estimates indicate that for every kilowatt-hour produced by L-ion batteries about 100 kilograms of ghg carbon is released into the atmosphere as a result of the production of the battery. It is claimed that every “clean” electric car has already generated six tons of carbon dioxide emissions before it rolls off the assembly line.
The LA Times article reminded me of an event during the October 1973 Arab oil embargo ( ‘73 oil shock) when the nation reeled from scarce oil, gasoline and other fuels. At that time I read a “letter to the NYT editor” in which a reader offered a partial “solution” to fuel scarcity. The letter writer proposed that as a means of conserving oil and gas City residents should prepare their morning tea or coffee using the hot water tap rather than the cold water one and in that way decrease use of gas at the hob to boil coffee (tea) water and thus conserve fuel. The idea was silly...this person was suggesting, to save scarce oil —use “hot. tap water”—but was just substituting one source of oil or gas —the one at the home or apartment gas range, for another—the home or apartment oil-fired hot water heater in the basement. Just as the “California” solution to decreasing use of Ghg generating fossil fuels is to cut their use in trucks and cars-by converting to electric—battery operated vehicles using batteries which in their production consume vast volumes of water and also generate great quantities of greenhouse gases.
Other similar uses of Li ion batteries such as large-scale storage of electricity derived from wind and solar power raise similar but larger problems. Because renewables are often unavailable when needed at peak electric demand, so storage is required. Often the storage choice is LI-ion batteries.
So perhaps more creative even simpler engineering solutions could be made. Some utilities pump water up into storage tanks and then release it to run turbines to generate electricity at peak demand. That strategy avoids the problem.
This and similar “no battery solutions” may be a better way to go. But even more creative ideas are required for the electric car and truck transport problem.
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