Zero Emissions? Not So Fast . . .
At least spare us the sanctimony, you soot-spewing fools
First off: Um, yes, OF COURSE I’d like a Tesla. Oh man.
But this essay isn’t driven by envy. It is driven, like this entire series, by an aversion to bullshit. And those “ZERO EMISSIONS” license-plate placards you see on every new Tesla? They’re bullshit.
Now, this isn’t about Teslas only, and it’s not a criticism of electric-vehicle owners either. So let me explain.
Technically, these electric vehicles do not emit any exhaust as they zoom around looking badass.
Some people buy these types of cars because they never want to pay for gasoline again, some because, in the case of Teslas in particular, no other (relatively) accessible vehicle is as sophisticated, stylish, safe, and cool.
So if you have, or are planning on getting, an electric vehicle because they’re simply great cars — well, I agree with you and raise a glass to your happiness.
But to anyone who buys a Tesla, Prius, electric, hybrid, or other type of zero- or low-emission vehicle, you are deluding yourself if you think you’re doing the environment any favors.
Coal, Gas, and Other Fossil Ghouls
None of this is the fault of owners of electric vehicles or even of the companies who manufacture them, but in lieu of gasoline, these cars run on batteries charged by electricity, and it just so happens that almost two-thirds of all electricity in the United States comes from fossil fuels. Until about 2015, that meant mostly coal (now 30.1%), but owing to the shale-extraction revolution, natural gas (31.7%) has just edged coal out. The next biggest player is nuclear, which supplies 20% of all U.S. electricity. Natural gas and especially nuclear are pretty clean as far as energy production goes, but let’s not completely kid ourselves here.
In a saner world, our share of energy generated by nuclear power (including latest-generation micro-plants) would be far greater than 20%. France, for instance, gets 75% of its electricity from nuclear power, with 17% from recycled nuclear fuel. France is in fact the largest net exporter of energy in the world, thanks to its miraculously low cost of generation, generating over 3 billion Euros in revenue — but in the United States the industry has essentially been regulated to a standstill.
In California, coal-power has been largely shut down, but the biggest share of our energy by far comes from natural gas, and because of our hyper-strict energy regulations we end up having to import 33% of our electricity supply anyway. So much like Prius drivers, we like to shout about being cleaner and greener, all while relying on other regions to do the dirty work.
But there’s still more bullshit to unpack. You also must consider the energy consumption, waste, and environmental impact required to manufacture and dismantle these vehicles. Think about it: lithium in the batteries must be mined and extracted. Other rare metals are used in parts throughout the vehicle, including magnets in “everything from the headlights to the on-board electronics,” according to Wired. As that same piece states, “those rare metals come from somewhere — often environmentally destructive mines.” (Do you think rare earth mines in China are run with the same scrupulousness and sensibility as here?)
Assembling a Tesla is a whole other ballgame from putting together an F150, and if you consider the entire life of the vehicle, from mining specific materials needed for parts to assembly to shipping, those pickup trucks are more energy efficient and may have a lesser impact on the environment. This old article sums it up: “In 2007, a report commissioned by an auto industry trade group insisted that when you factor in the waste generated during production, the notoriously gas-guzzling Hummer is actually greener than the Prius.” (Emphasis added, because come on, man!)
And after all that, you have to consider the life of the car after you’re done driving it. What happens to all those half-ton lithium batteries in each Tesla? How are the rare-earth metals and magnets and electronics accounted for and disposed of?
Anyways, by all means, have fun driving your sick Tesla (or sad Prius) around. But every time you plug it in, keep in mind that the electricity juicing it up is probably coming from the burning of some dirty fossil fuel somewhere, with a 30% chance it’s coal. If you want to climb up on a moral environmental pedestal, the best thing to do is drive a basic car for 200,000 miles (don’t worry, the thousands of strangers on the road around you don’t give a shit what you drive).
The good news? Even our gas-powered cars run superclean these days. The majority of the smog in L.A. comes from our major port. As much as 15% of our air pollution wafts over from Asia. And according to the New York Times, Chinese energy companies are currently building or are in planning stages to start building 1,600 new coal plants around the world.
So look on the bright side. You and your car are not as consequential as you think, you know? And at least pollution creates some pretty nice sunsets.
Thanks for reading the inaugural post for this humble new Medium publication, Our Golden Age of Bullshit. A brief introduction is here.
