In 2014, Elon Musk did it again. Loved by social media for his down to earth, funny and altruistic character, the genius billionaire proved once more to the World, that a Big Brain can also come with a huge heart…By giving away TESLA engineering patents for electric engines.
But are electric cars really less polluting?
Elon Musk Mural Painting on the Office Walls of Nepal Tribune Media
Giving away electric car construction plans; investment in mankind and the future.
This is maybe old news for the followers of the “real-life Tony Stark”, but it needs to stay fresh. Elon Musk doesn’t only aim for the stars with his SpaceX programs. His head and thoughts are equally turned towards his home planet’s future.
The purpose of his 2014 open policy on whoever wants to take a peek at his plans for alternative electrical cars, in order of participating in a non-greedy investment and innovative program for a better, less polluted, tomorrow, is still actuality. And a great opportunity for countries such as Nepal, where gas car pollution is the main cause of Air Pollution.
Of course, it’s also a very good marketing move. If one day, electric vehicles overcome the gasoline market, Tesla will be the new Apple of the Car Industry. However, the recently fired CEO of Tesla, because of uncontrolled Tweets leading to an important value drop on the stock market, doesn’t seem to really care about profits.
In 2017, Nepal was ranked by Numbeo.com investigation putting together World Health organization reports, as the 5th most polluted capital in the World, with CO2 levels reaching a peak of more 400 µg/m3 per year. Neighbors, such as China and India suffering the same drastic numbers burden, have already announced the interdiction of Diesel vehicles hence 2040. So, Asia will soon be the most important customer of electric cars and motorbikes.
Pollution created by human movements, more specifically in means of transportation is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas. But electrical production being the first cause, is electrical car really a less polluting solution?
Are electrical cars really a less polluting solution?
Two things have to be kept in mind: Before being a “nonpolluting solution” an electric device goes through two polluting processes. The Fabrication and the Production of the Energy needed to recharge them.
Firstly, during the creation, an electric car produces 50 % more CO2 than a Thermic Car. Because the Battery and the Engine are more complicated to put together and need more raw rare materials. Such as Cobalt, Graphite, Lithium… The Refinement process of these metals is also subject to a lot of chemical treatment, and questionable mining methods as for the treatment of pollution residues spiled in the ecosystems (in China mostly).
TESLA declares keeping an attentive eye on their suppliers ecological print. Unfortunately, they admit it is hard to keep track of every action.
Now the car has been built, you will quickly need energy for it to continue rolling.
Here the question is: How is the electricity produced in a Country? If the main origin is by burning coal, like in the U.S, China or Germany (30 to 60% of production). Recharging the batteries of your car is as polluting for the environment than filling up your tank. You will see less pollution in the main cities, but it still exists the other side of the hills, in the countrysides, where central are producing electricity.
Consequently, if you buy an electric car, or motorbike, in a country who draws its main source of energy from the nuclear plants (No CO2 traces, but different environment print), or renewable energies, your car will stop polluting the minute it’s on the road. More precisely, it will take a year or two to compensate the extra-efforts, and raw material use put into the making. In opposition, a gas car will continue to produce CO2 for the rest of its life. On the long term, an electric car will always be up to 2 times less polluting than a thermic car, on the condition that the energy consumed by the is not fossil originated.
So, the non-polluting future of electric car entirely depends on the energy transition programs slowly put in place by the government. The car is not the danger to your health and environment, it’s what you put in it.
Yes, it is less polluting to use electric solutions in Nepal!
“Nonetheless, Nepal is blessed with significant hydropower resources. Nepal’s theoretical hydropower potential has been estimated to be around 84,000 MW, of which 43,000 MW has been identified as economically viable. Currently, Nepal’s installed hydropower capacity is 753 MW.” IHA International Hydropower Association”.
Hydropower is one of the prime sources of power offered to Nepalese citizen. Recharging your electric vehicle in the country hardly doesn’t produce any CO2.
Final words are; Going Electric is Going Green in Nepal!
Women Marching for The Environment in Kathmandu
