Of the many aspects of the modern world that require serious rethinking to strip out the associated greenhouse gas emissions, the way we move is one where individuals can assume greater responsibility of their personal impact.
Also unlike other polluting activities – say, a concrete works or an ethane cracker – transport often brings pollution to the immediate environment, rather than situating a carbon-intensive activity away from the general population. The picture of urban spaces shrouded under a cloud of exhaust fumes remains a reality, despite efforts to replace the dirty road hogs with cleaner battery-driven alternatives.
Part of the problem is the inhibitive cost: electric cars don't come cheap. Compact electric vehicles cost around 37% more than their combustion counterparts (think a Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio). That's typically over €10,000 more that a purchaser must pay to make the "right choice". Little surprise then that electrifying Europe's car fleet is such a slow process.
And although this highlights an apparent niche in the market for smaller electric vehicles, it's not one that manufacturers are jumping to fill. Industry attention is fixed squarely on larger vehicles – the rugged SUVs capable of tackling the most fearsome potholes and speedbumps that city streets can put in their way.
These huge chunks of metal powered by batteries big enough for three small electric cars come with far larger price tags, and with the fatter profit margins for producers. A Tesla Model X (the tractor size that weighs 2.5 tonnes) retails at around €100,000 – hardly a car for the people.
And besides the reduction in exhaust fumes, few are so deluded to think that these are an actual answer for cleaner, safer cities. Notable actions have been taken to highlight the idiocy of these contraptions, some more legal than others.
Indeed, whether hefty or petite, the idea that we need only swap combustion engines for electric is to misunderstand the demands of the challenge at hand. With Europe's cities growing as populations condense, the idea of owning a car at all should be questioned. The average occupancy rate (passengers per vehicle) of private cars across the continent rarely rises above 1.5 – for commuting it tends to be around 1.2. Meaning there's an awful lot of energy expended to transport one person a relatively short distance.
Even more alarming, a 2022 report by researchers at Belgium's KU Leuven revealed that electric car production is responsible for 50-60% of the overall demand of energy transition metals (such as lithium, cobalt, or nickel) – well ahead of wind and solar applications. It's a stark warning that not only are these vehicles too expensive for consumers, they're gutting the planet too.
How big is your EV? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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