Are Electric Vehicles Environmentally Friendly Or Just Another Consumerist Pull?

Do electric vehicles truly reverse environmental damage?

- Poovenraj Kanagaraj

Elon Musk’s Tesla Revolution brought upon a domino effect that had every country and car company scrambling to produce electric vehicles (EV). This is based on the perception that electric vehicles will reduce emissions, do good to the air we breathe and by extension, the environment.

Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes - you name it; everyone has had a hand in producing their very own electric vehicles. The trend of owning one might be slow but it is certainly catching up, especially in Kuala Lumpur. (Almost?) Every mall in the city has dedicated a section of the carpark for charging stations.

However, are they environmentally friendly or at least is the process of manufacturing them really lessening carbon footprints?

IMPACT OF PRODUCTION

According to Mike Campton, Assistant Manager of the Malaysian Youth Delegation, “it’s undoubtedly better to have EVs as the car of the future instead of continuing to burn fossil fuels. The development of EVs, however, cannot happen independently and needs to be coupled with the transition of our energy systems to more sustainable sources.”