It’s not a secret. Electric cars consume much less energy than their gasoline-powered cousins. That’s good news, isn’t it? Yes, but there are more items to be considered too.

Last year, the worldwide electric car fleet exceeded 5 million. That’s two million on the year before. The environmental advantages of electric cars are many. There are other green-related factors to check out too. Here’s the lowdown.

Electric Car Batteries

Questions have been raised concerning the pollution behind the making of the lithium batteries needed to power electric vehicles.

There are a few rare metals that are found in a lithium battery. Their extraction can contribute to carbon emissions.

The country where the batteries are made also plays its part. Chinese battery manufacturers produce far more carbon dioxide than their western counterparts.

The Environmental Benefits of Electric Cars

There is a stark contrast between emissions from planet and gasoline-powered cars.

With electric vehicles or EVs, there’s no combustion and there are no tailpipe emissions. These cars produce the bulk of their emissions throughout the manufacturing process.

EVs are responsible for cheaper emissions over their lifetime in contrast to vehicles running on fossil fuels. That's whatever the source that generates the electricity to power them.

Debunking the Myths

It’s true that some studies have tried to declare that EVs may not be as environmentally friendly as you might initially think.

These types of research has centered on the way in which non-renewable fuels are utilized to make electricity for the grid. Additionally they center on the amount of energy used in battery production.

However, many electrical grids which power EVs are on your journey to reducing their reliance upon fossil fuels. At the same time, they’re increasing renewable energy production.

Last year seventeen percent of electricity generated in the usa came from renewable sources. In developing countries, these percentages are expected to dramatically increase.

Improved Manufacturing

Electric vehicles already are producing fewer emissions over their lifetime. That’s compared with traditionally powered cars. The elevated economy of scale in EV manufacturing will also help.

Many EVs can now achieve higher speeds. Improvements have also been made in the length of time it takes to charge battery power.

Better energy storage in batteries means you can now drive EVs further without having to recharge. Many people though use their vehicles for brief commutes. This cuts down on the requirement for bigger charge capacities within the battery.

Manufacturing techniques have become more effective. Recycling choices are increasing. These can help EVs being the near future cars of choice and greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A Greener Future

It still takes energy to manufacture the batteries for electric vehicles as well as the cars themselves. However, this is easily offset through the insufficient carbon dioxide they emit during their lifetime on the highway.

The environmental advantages of electric cars make sure they are the vehicles of the future. Keep reading more related articles in our ‘ Green Transportation’ section.