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To what? Lithium Ion battery production? That's just as bad as oil, and in some cases worse. This type of manufacturing process requires tremendous inputs of

To what? Lithium Ion battery production? That's just as bad as oil, and in some cases worse. This type of manufacturing process requires tremendous inputs of energy, particularly the forging of materials like steel, aluminum, glass and plastic. Interestingly, lightweight vehicles can sometimes be more energy-intensive to build than heavier cars because lighter metals like aluminum are harder to forge than stainless steel [source: Moon]. Experts estimate that 10 to 20 percent of a vehicle's total lifetime greenhouse gas emissions are released during the manufacturing stage alone Unfortunately, both nickel-hydride batteries and the newer lithium-ion batteries rely on the mining of nickel, copper and so-called rare earth metals. The production of lithium-ion batteries account for 2 to 5 percent of total lifetime hybrid emissions and nickel-hydride batteries are responsible for higher sulfur oxide emissions, roughly 22 pounds (10 kilograms) per hybrid compared with 2.2 pounds (about 1 kilogram) for a conventional vehicle [sources: Samaras and Burnham et al]. source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/does-hybrid-car-production-waste-offset-hybrid-benefits1.htm http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-my...

mikeash 12y ago
It's only just as bad as oil, and in some cases worse, if you charge the batteries with electricity produced from coal. Stop doing that (or just don't start; most places get a majority of their electricity from non-coal sources) and you're doing way better. This idea that battery production is more environmentally harmful than burning gasoline is largely a myth pushed by people who are politically opposed to alternative fuels. See also the infamous (and infamously wrong) article from a few years back claiming that a Hummer is less environmentally harmful over its lifetime than a Prius.
rwallace 12y ago
One relevant consideration is that e.g. aluminum manufacturing, while energy-intensive, is also renewable-friendly. That is, suppose you have a gigawatt of solar panels. You can't use them for lighting at night without also supplying storage. But aluminum smelting can just run when the sun shines, and can be located wherever the sun is most available. Or put another way, aluminum is a good form in which to store renewable energy.
- baq 12y ago
  see also icelandic geothermal aluminum smelting industry.

mikeash 12y ago

It's only just as bad as oil, and in some cases worse, if you charge the batteries with electricity produced from coal. Stop doing that (or just don't start; most places get a majority of their electricity from non-coal sources) and you're doing way better. This idea that battery production is more environmentally harmful than burning gasoline is largely a myth pushed by people who are politically opposed to alternative fuels. See also the infamous (and infamously wrong) article from a few years back claiming that a Hummer is less environmentally harmful over its lifetime than a Prius.

rwallace 12y ago

One relevant consideration is that e.g. aluminum manufacturing, while energy-intensive, is also renewable-friendly. That is, suppose you have a gigawatt of solar panels. You can't use them for lighting at night without also supplying storage. But aluminum smelting can just run when the sun shines, and can be located wherever the sun is most available. Or put another way, aluminum is a good form in which to store renewable energy.

baq 12y ago
see also icelandic geothermal aluminum smelting industry.