Fueling the Future: Why EVs Are Better for the Environment

Guest Post by Holly Shaftel

Introduction

When I was on Facebook (maybe five years ago), I once debated an old high school classmate about electric vehicles. I can’t remember the details, but this person replied to my post about electric trucks, spewing all the falsehoods she likely picked up from her social circle, including those about battery production.

As a proud EV owner and former NASA climate website editor, I’m used to “science bombing” online trolls, bots, and deniers who work for Big Oil and other bad actors. So, it might not surprise you that misinformation (unintentionally false information) and disinformation (intentionally false information) around electric cars often came up in my colleagues’ and my daily game of “Whack-A-Troll.”

Before I tell you what happened next, let’s bust some environmental myths about EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, which include gas and diesel vehicles.

Fueled by Pseudoscience

You might hear your cranky uncle or a loud media outlet repeat fake science masquerading as fact. Many of these claims come from fossil fuel-funded groups such as The Manhattan Institute. Some claims are “cherry picked” from real studies, ignoring the full picture.

Take my old high school friend’s argument, for example:

MYTH: “The batteries are bad for the environment!”

FACT: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says making EV batteries takes extra energy, sometimes creating more carbon pollution than building gas cars. But over its lifetime — manufacturing, charging, and driving — EVs produce fewer greenhouse gases (GHG), which heat the planet.

Why? No tailpipe! That’s where most gas car emissions come from.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) reports that electric cars produce roughly 50% fewer lifetime emissions compared to similar gasoline vehicles, even with battery manufacturing. Plus, cleaner lithium mining methods using geothermal energy are on the rise!

(Lithium is a metal used in EV batteries, and geothermal energy comes from within the earth. “Geo” means “earth” and “thermal” means “heat.”)

Here’s another one:

MYTH: “Batteries can’t be recycled, and they create toxic waste!”

FACT: EV batteries are recyclable, but they can create toxic waste if they’re not properly discarded. That’s where closed-loop recycling comes in — it reuses battery materials without losing quality. Companies like Redwood Materials and Altilium are leading the way, recovering components to make new (and even better) batteries. This process cuts carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, toxic waste, and production costs, making EVs even better for the planet!

Let’s not stop there…

MYTH: “EVs suck because they use electricity from fossil fuels!”

FACT: Remember how we talked about lifetime emissions? EVs are still more efficient and release fewer greenhouse gases than ICE cars, no matter how their electricity is made.

Take the graphics below. According to Karin Kirk from Yale Climate Communications, burning fuel for energy wastes a lot of it. In fact, gas cars waste about 80% of their energy source!

EVs, on the other hand, lose only about 11% of their energy. Without fuel to burn, most of the power goes into actually moving the car. And with regenerative braking (which recycles energy when slowing down), EVs get even more efficient!

As the power grid uses more clean energy, EVs will only get eco-friendlier, while gas cars will always burn fuel.

Learn more here.

And finally…

MYTH: “Electric cars can’t solve climate change!”

FACT: Not alone they won’t, but no single solution will. A global problem will take multiple solutions, depending on the region.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s top climate science group, says EVs are “likely crucial” for reducing transportation emissions. Switching to 100% EVs (and other zero-carbon fuels) could cut land transport emissions by 50% by 2050, with a possible range of 30-70%.

Learn more here.

So, What Happened Next?

Looking back, I could tell my old high school classmate wasn’t open to facts. I told her we could agree to disagree and ignored her “bear-poking” follow-up messages.

While debates and “whacking trolls” have their place, I could have tried to find common ground with her. After all, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe says the first thing we can do to fight climate change is talk about it — focusing on empathy, personal values, and shared experiences. Learn more in Hayhoe’s book Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.

Conclusion

In the battle between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine cars, the facts are clear — EVs are cleaner and more efficient (and cheaper to maintain).

While myths persist, electric cars produce fewer emissions, charge from increasingly sustainable energy sources, and while we’re at it, are improving in range and affordability.

As technology advances and infrastructure expands, EVs aren’t just a trend — they’re the future. The question isn’t if EVs will replace gas cars, but when.

Stay tuned for information on climate change solutions here!

Main photo: An electric car at a charging station. Credit: Lee Rosario from Pixabay