Recently, I’ve become surrounded by talk about cars, and looking into the drama involved with them has turned into one of my guilty pleasures. I have a 2012 Ford Escape with a plethora of issues, so I clearly don’t qualify as a full-on gearhead, but it fascinates me nonetheless. 

I was informed of the fact that some of the most iconic car manufacturers—including, but definitely not limited to, Jaguar, Porsche, Nissan, Audi, and even Dodge—are going mainly or entirely electric in order to compete with Tesla.

That’s right: some of the greatest muscle cars of this day and age are going all-electric. 

At first glance, this may seem like a good change, specifically in terms of emissions and the—potentially now obsolete—need for gas, but it may have more drawbacks for our world than manufacturers have let on.

The first issue that comes to mind is regarding the emissions of these vehicles. Internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs) have been known to produce harmful byproducts from the use and burning of gasoline in the vehicle, the most concerning of which is carbon dioxide, which remains to be the most human-caused greenhouse gas. Cars account for 72% of the CO2 emissions, and this is a danger to the planet in terms of climate change.

Electric vehicles (EVs), however, are not out of the question here. Although they don’t make many while driving, over half of the emissions from EVs are made during the production process. Manufacturers must mine and drill for certain minerals and compounds, like lithium and cobalt, for the EV battery. They contaminate and use up excessive amounts of water and such raw materials, causing depletion in some of their mainly-sourced areas. What this does is creates more issues in terms of the world as a whole with nonrenewable resources and fossil fuels; in the long run, it will negatively impact the environment, comparable to ICEs.

In the realm of recycling batteries, there are drastic differences. A mere 5% of lithium batteries are recycled, but a whopping 99% of lead car batteries are recycled in the US. Most lithium batteries end up in landfills, and their hazardous components leak into the soil and groundwater in the area. Recycling the batteries would put a limit on the need for mining raw materials, as well as reduce the number of greenhouse gases produced by landfills. Aside from this, lithium battery prices have spiked, in some cases ranging from $13,000 to $25,000 in 2022.

Another misconception about EVs is that they are more efficient than ICEs due to their charged lifespan. While this may be true in some respects, it is crucial to consider the charging aspect of the cars. Charging has been recognized as one of the biggest problems with EVs, partially due to the fact that there is limited access to effective charging stations in many areas. Also, taking into consideration the fact that charging—any buying, for that matter—EVs is incredibly expensive, and the charging is a very long process in and of itself. 

The average expected charging time for EVs is around 31 minutes, but this is not a commonly achieved threshold. Looking at a few different car brands’ charging times, it is evident that in 31 minutes, the Nissan Leaf would charge 42% of its capacity, the Chevrolet Volt would charge 64%, and the Tesla Model 3 would charge 83% of its capacity. 

The capacity of the battery itself varies significantly between cars, and outside factors like the weather can make this waver even more. In cold months, the battery capacity is decreased, so charging time increases, but with lower capacity, it doesn’t do much for the car. 

All in all, there are countless differences between EVs and ICEs, and to each their own. It is important to recognize these differences and try to understand them as best you can. 

If you prefer electric vehicles, good for you. If you prefer internal combustion engine vehicles, good for you, too. It’s all a matter of preference, but you can’t go into it without knowing the truth behind the cars. 

I’m not here to change your mind if you do prefer EVs, but you’ll only make matters worse if you remain blind to the environmental and efficiency issues of said cars merely for the sake of having an electric vehicle.