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Li-Ion Batteries Get Green Seal of Approval
thecarchik writes "It is not an easy task to compare the environmental effects of battery powered cars to those caused by conventionally fueled automobiles. The degree to which manufacture, usage and disposal of the batteries used to store the necessary electrical energy are detrimental to the environment is not exactly known. Now, for the first time, a team of Empa scientists have made a detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) or ecobalance of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, in particular the chemically improved (i.e. more environmentally friendly) version of the ones most frequently used in electric vehicles. Researchers decided to find out for sure. They calculated the ecological footprints of electric cars fitted with Li-ion batteries, taking into account all possible relevant factors, from those associated with the production of individual parts all the way through to the scrapping of the vehicle and the disposal of the remains, including the operation of the vehicle during its lifetime."
We're going to run out of fossil fuels sooner or later. Environmental concerns aside we should be investing in renewable power sources. The market needs a little nudge in the right direction even without pollution worries. Imagine a world where power is plentiful and cheap. Imagine the technologies that could be implemented, the research that could be done. Imagine grow lights in remote areas for food. Imagine water filtration systems everywhere. Imagine automatic manufacturing on demand. Imagine constant high speed transportation all over the world and beyond. All for 1000th the price it would cost today because power is dirt cheap. This type of progress isn't possible while we remain tethered on fossil fuels. It has a limited supply to it will simply always be too expensive.
When we hit the lithium peak, how will we make more Li-ion batteries?
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
we're probably going to exhaust our entire supply of fossil fuels anyway
Not before acidifying the ocean to the point that everything dies. The increased CO2 in the atmosphere would also destroy countless ecosystems and result in mass extinctions.
Long story short, there is way too much carbon available to burn. We will kill ourselves long before we run out. Those who think governments should piss off and just let the market determine the price of oil really don't see the problem. As long as the environmental costs of oil are ignored, the market does not work to our benefit.
What carbon taxes do is they try to associate a dollar amount to the environmental costs of oil. When this tax is applied the market actually works to our benefit. In addition, because renewable sources of energy would not be taxed, there is increased motivation to develop these sources of energy - even without government grants.
The problem is that the world powers can not agree to universally implement such a tax. And because the CO2 emissions are shared by all, an agreement is really required. Without said agreement, a country would be sabotaging it's economy by implementing such a tax.