Unplugged Truths: Exploring the reality of Electric Cars
The popularity of electric vehicles (EV’s) has boomed in recent years, demonstrated by the increasing number of EV’s being sold each year. To meet this rising demand and capitalise on this emerging sector, more and more car manufacturers are rolling out EV models. Whilst this includes EV-specialists like Tesla, other traditionally fuel-based manufacturers are also making the shift to electric. This includes Porsche, who’s ‘Taycan’ model has been billed as a “Tesla-killer”. Even the prestigious supercar manufacturer, Lamborghini, is acknowledging this electrification-trend, with their newly-released hybrid — ‘Revuelto’. But whilst the imminent future of EV’s looks bright from a business viewpoint, it’s marred by controversies and misleading information…
One such controversy relates to the raw materials that make up EV batteries, including Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese and Palladium. These minerals are extracted via unsustainable mining practices, resulting in environmental degradation including water pollution, and the destruction of animal habitats. Additionally, mining for such minerals has led to human right abuses such as child labour and dangerous working conditions. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains the worlds largest Cobalt reserves; the Cobalt mined here is used to produce Lithium Ion batteries, found in the newest EV’s. The effects of mining are severe for local communities, with injury and death of miners — including children, being commonplace.
However, digital media can be used to combat these issues, by raising awareness and educating people on the conditions faced by miners in such settings. This could be done informally, via social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. It can also be done formally through articles and documentaries. Fortunately, more awareness is being raised on this issue, thanks to increasing coverage by news-sites like Al Jazeera. Let’s hope that this increased public scrutiny can pressure EV manufacturers to sustainably source their raw materials, and to take measures to improve health and safety at mining sites.
Another issue facing EV’s is a more technical one — tyre wear. Tyre wear is a gradual process that affects all vehicles, both electric and fuel-based, causing Particulate Matter (PM) to be released into the environment. PM consists of airborne solid particles and liquid droplets, and has been implicated in a huge range of health problems including heart disease and cardiovascular disease. It’s even been implicated in mental health problems such as depression! This is a major concern, particularly affecting EV’s since they are significantly heavier than their petrol-based counterparts, due to their heavy batteries. Consequently, EV’s experience greater tyre wear, and release more PM as a result…
Digital media could address this in a variety of ways. For example, companies could use digital advertising to promote sustainable tyre solutions and their benefits, such as eco-friendly tyres which are produced from recycled or renewable materials. This would enable customers to make more informed decisions when choosing new tyres. Also, digital media could be used to educate people about the negative effects of tyre wear and emphasise the importance of tyre maintenance, minimizing the release of PM. This could be done via online articles, informed by scientific research in this area.
Another way that digital media could address EC tyre-wear is by showcasing innovative technologies which could combat this issue and it’s associated emissions. For example, companies like The Tyre Collective (TTC) are currently testing a device which captures tyre pollution. They’re using digital media to promote their new technology (via their website), and to find partners who can help them conduct more pilot-tests, so that this technology can be integrated into future vehicles. This demonstrates how digital media can raise awareness of such innovations and encourage their wider implementation. TTC are also crowdfunding, demonstrating how they’re utilizing digital connectivity to enhance their finances and operations.
Another issue facing EV’s is the availability of charging-stations. Although more charging-stations are being built, and at a much faster rate — EV owners may still experience “range anxiety”. This refers to the fear that an EV won’t have enough charge to reach its destination. Range anxiety is exacerbated by long-distance journeys and reduced availability of EV charging-stations. Whilst measures are being taken to reduce this issue, it can still deter people from buying EV’s. This hinders their large-scale adoption within the automobile sector.
Fortunately, digital media can help address such concerns. Digital applications such as ChargeFinder and zapmap provide interactive maps, to show the location of charging-stations that are closest to the user by using GPS technology. The maps are provided in real-time, so users are notified if a charging-station is currently in use. This is possible via user-reports, demonstrating how crowdsourcing can help address specific issues. Zapmap and other applications also offer other convenient tools such as calculators, for charging-costs and journey-costs, helping EV-owners confidently plan longer-distance journeys. In the future, more useful applications are sure to be released, helping encourage people to switch from fuel-based vehicles to EV’s.
An issue with EV’s is that it takes them a substantial amount of time to charge; much longer than it takes to refuel a fuel-based vehicle. This may inconvenience EV-owners, and discourage people from purchasing them. To mitigate this, digital interfaces in EV-dashboards can provide optimal charging strategies, which can enable drivers to optimize their journey-times by planning charging-stops in advance. This could be done via visual cues, presented on the digital screens within the car.
Overall, digital media plays a pivotal role in tackling various challenges encountered by the electric vehicle sector. Issues such as ‘range anxiety’ and the human-rights abuses linked to electrical battery production require multifaceted solutions. Raising awareness and educating the public through digital platforms are crucial steps, dispelling myths and fostering understanding. Additionally, online crowdfunding and crowdsourcing initiatives provide avenues for financial support and collaborative problem-solving. Harnessing the power of digital media becomes not only a necessity but also a catalyst for positive change, ushering in a more sustainable and socially responsible era for the EV industry.
