All major carmakers are going electric. Some have taken a more aggressive strategy, announcing the complete demise of internal combustion, by the end of the decade. Envisage a world of zero-emissions mobility, with vehicular pods scooting about in near-silence, no nasty puffs emerging from tailpipes (no tailpipes at all) — a pollution-free automotive utopia.
It’s possible, of course, but what’s the endgame? The ambition to reduce carbon footprints and adopt practices that are kinder to the environment is one we can all get behind. But like many apologists of engine-powered automobiles, one often feels the genre is wrongly singled-out as the biggest cause of harm.
Let’s imagine that the electric vehicle dream is realised, with affordable offerings available to local consumers. There’s still an entire supply chain to consider. The finished product will need to be shipped across the world to various markets, by diesel-powered vessels. Components will require air transport in fuel-gulping, emission-spewing jet planes. It’ll be a while before electric ships set sail and battery-powered aircraft take to the skies.
Then there’s the harvesting of raw materials required for electric vehicle batteries. You didn’t say they were grown in sustainable plantations, did you? Google the terms “cobalt mining” and “exploitation” then read the many enlightening, poignant investigative pieces from credible media agencies. Unearthing the basic resources required for electric vehicle production is an intensive process not without casualties, both human and environmental.
Another factor one is always mindful of, is the production of energy. Unless you’ve coughed up the outlay required for a solar set-up, you’re plugging your electric vehicle into a grid serviced courtesy of Eskom’s semi-functioning coal stations. Load-shedding in itself poses a challenge to electric vehicle owners. Sure, you could plan your life about a timetable, but what about those occasions when the local substation explodes, leaving areas in the dark for days on end?
Before you accuse me of being anti-progress, let me say on record that I’m not completely against the prospect of electric propulsion. There are many benefits to be had, environmentally and economically, especially in light of rising petrol and diesel costs. I’m just saying that electric vehicles are not the one-stop solution to saving the planet.
It’s a fashionable one though. More fashionable than talking about issues like single-use plastics, the effect of industrial farming, mining, including the greenhouse gases produced by livestock and deforestation.
Let’s not park it there though. The internal combustion engine overall has been refined to an impressive point: carmakers have downsized capacities, employed forced-induction and partial-electric set-ups to reduce carbon emissions and deliver lower-fuel consumption figures. And that’s without the sacrifice in power, tractability and enjoyment, as proven in many cases.
Porsche made headlines in 2021 when it announced development of synthetic, carbon-neutral fuels, made using renewable energy. They aren’t the first to dabble in the exploration, however. Audi announced intensification of research into “climate-friendly” fuels as far back as 2017. McLaren also announced in 2020 that alternative fuels were being looked into. Imagine being able to enjoy your rumbling, crude V8 guilt-free? Synthetic fuel would basically be like Beyond Meat but for cars. Count me in.
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