Electric vehicles of various manufacturers on display in Thiruvananthapuram. File | Photo credit: Mahinsha S
According to a report by economic think tank GTRI, manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) in India will increase dependence on China for raw materials, mineral processing and battery production.
The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) also stated that a life cycle impact assessment is needed for the EV sector.
It states that EVs result in pollution during battery manufacturing, disposal and charging and about 70% of the materials used to manufacture EVs in India are imported from China and a few other countries.
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“EVs will increase India’s dependence on China for raw materials, mineral processing, and battery production.”
China has bought the biggest lithium mines in Australia and South America. It processes more than 60 percent of the lithium produced globally. It also processes 65% cobalt and 93% manganese.
China makes three out of four batteries produced globally, he said, adding that more than 100 Chinese battery units use 60 percent of the cathodes and 80 percent of the anodes in lithium-ion cells.
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The report identified the impact of EVs on employment and pollution and identified 13 issues of concern to consumers, industry and government.
These issues include high prices of these vehicles, fitness of EVs for long journeys, performance in extreme weather, increasing demand for electricity, less fit for public transport, increasing dependence on China, no reduction in pollution, auto component sector. Includes disturbances, etc. and inadequate availability of lithium.
GTRI co-founder Ajay Srivastava said, “EVs with lithium-ion batteries are at best a work-in-progress innovation. We must understand the long-term impact of EVs on jobs, pollution levels, imports, and economic growth. “
On the issue of pollution, he explained that a typical 500 kg lithium car battery uses 12 kg of lithium, 15 kg of cobalt, 30 kg of nickel, 44 kg of copper and 50 kg of graphite.
It also uses about 200 kg of steel, aluminum and plastic. It added that mining, transporting, and processing these materials release pollutants and CO2, which pollute air and water.
“The life of a battery is 6-7 years; after which it needs to be recycled. Recycling is complicated because the battery contains many toxic materials that are difficult to dispose of. Firms promoting EVs zero tail. talks about pipeline emissions but is silent on mining and disposal costs,” the report said.
Further, he said EVs will only add to pollution because the batteries are charged with electricity generated from coal.
India generates 60% of its electricity from fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum and 50% of this is from coal.
“Electric cars make sense only when most of the power comes from renewable energy,” he said, adding that the EVs will disrupt India’s auto component industry with 700 organized and 10,000 unorganized manufacturers.
He also said that EVs will eliminate millions of shops/garages selling spare parts, changing oil and servicing vehicles.
Further, he said EVs are not a global trend and the push for them is coming from Europe, which is introducing a carbon border adjustment mechanism to protect their polluting industry and disrupt global trade. .
“There is no standard in charging ports for electric scooters. Each firm releases its own charging port model. Until charging ports are standardized, each manufacturer has to set up separate charging infrastructure across the country,” he said. He added.
