Submission Date

7-21-2023

Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Department

Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor

Brieanne Berry

Comments

Presented during the 25th Annual Summer Fellows Symposium, July 21, 2023 at Ursinus College.

Project Description

Electric vehicles are a fast-growing market. By 2030, half of all new cars manufactured will be electric. (iea.org) This growth is important because electric vehicles (EVs) are an important part of climate strategies to decarbonize our transportation sector. Yet while we need to transition to EVs to reduce our use of fossil fuels, there are potentially negative environmental aspects of EVs - particularly related to EV batteries. EV batteries are harmful to the environment at the beginning of their lifespan. They require precious metals from the Earth which take lots of energy to obtain. Additionally, when the battery reaches the end of its lifespan, around 80 percent of the components are recyclable. (greencars.com) EV’s are marketed for their great economic and energy savings, being beneficial to the environment. The reasons why people get into the EV market can shape the way they charge their cars. This research is critical right now because there is going to be a massive influx of EV’s on the market soon and we want to make sure the best system is in place for battery preservation.

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