The future of electric transportation
Cars and light-duty trucks are responsible for most U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and the carbon intensity of fossil fuels, the use of large vehicles with a single passenger fortripsand the need for better public transit infrastructure exacerbate the GHG transportation challenge. Some states, including Colorado,have enacted . There are benefits and barriers to vehicle electrification, andas a university that valuessustainability, understanding the complexity of this solution will help usstreamline renewable energy. CU scholars and a local electric vehicle (EV) designer and entrepreneur offer their thoughtson efficient electric transportation below.
Benefits of electric vehicles
Electric vehicles have many benefits, including reducing the need for continued reliance on fossil fuels. To continue drilling for oil, companies need to dig deeper and in more vulnerable areas, making the industry more susceptible to polluting ecosystems with petroleum. Relying on the electrical grid can provide numerous advantages to society. CU Boulder is currently involved in research to make electric transportation sustainable.
One of the mainbenefits of electric vehicles is that they reduceozone and carbon dioxide pollution in urban settings. Not only arepedestrians and cyclists in cities forced to constantly breathe in vehicle exhaust fumes, but these fumes also contribute to smog which is detrimental to health and causes visibility issues. With electric vehicles, urban ozone pollution could be a thing of the past.
The University of Colorado Boulder is set to receive $4 million over the next five years from the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to the Advanced Sustainable Mobility Pathways through Innovative Research, Educationand Workforce Development Center (ASPIRE). The center aims to improve health and quality of life by promoting sustainable electrification in the transportation sector through research, education, workforce development, diversityand inclusion. ASPIRE will create a connected education and workforce development system to train a diverse engineering workforce for cross-industry transformations. The center will focus on interdisciplinary thinking and diversity to produce a workforce focused on inclusion and equity. Check outthis articleto learn more.
Impacts
While vehicle electrification yields environmental benefits, some repercussions remain. Lithium mining has createdboth human rights and environmental issues, as the mining industry can extract large amounts of lithium in exchange for low wages and in countries with weak labor protections. Lithium mining and battery production has significant environmental impacts including air pollution, water pollution, soil contaminationand the destruction of sensitive ecosystems. According to Ivan Penn and Eric Lipton, “Lithium Americas has drawn protests from members of a Native American tribe, ranchersand environmental groups because it is expected to useof precious groundwater, potentially , while leaving behind a giant mound of waste()." The disposal of used lithium-ion batteries can lead to the release of toxic chemicals into the environment, including heavy metals and toxic acids, whichis harmful tohumans and the environment. The mineral runoff from the mines causes acid lakes. One silver lining solutionis the prospect of lithium-ion battery recycling, which could reducethe exploitation of humans and mines.
The future of efficient EVs
Dan Sturges, an EV company entrepreneur,has sold histo the University of Colorado Boulderand they are now used for maintenance around campus.Sturges is working on innovation in electric vehicle design for lighter, smaller vehicles to replace standard large cars. This research is crucial as electric vehicle batteries rely on a limited supply of minerals like lithium, and innovations will ease that challenge in vehicle electrification. “Ninety percentof people in Colorado are driving alone to work in a car with five seats; that is a 20 percent load factor,” he said. In other words,all of the unfilled car seats can be seen as wasting energy. Entrepreneurs like Sturgesare doing the difficult work of reimagining what the transportation grid could be. With the help of visionary students coming into the required fields, we can ensure the future of more efficient batteries and grids. We need a systems thinking approach that includes all process aspects, from the vehicle to the way roadways are planned.
It is essential for companies involved in the production and disposal of lithium-ion batteries to adopt responsible practices and adhere to strict environmental and labor standards to minimize human rights concerns. This includes implementing sustainable production practices, reducing waste, investing in researchand developing more sustainable battery technologies. Renewable energyis an area that is ripe for innovation and careers. There are many pathways toin sustainable transportation work, perhaps through urban planning, engineeringor data science. Overall, lithium mining must be accepted as an essential environmental net gain due to GHG reductions, but it should be done with adequate controls to minimize mineral runoff from the mines. Therefore, we need active human and environmental health protection through policy measures and technical solutions. All of us should find a role in helping establish a sustainable world where humanity can thrive.