Cars have significant environmental impacts due to emissions and the resources required for production and disposal.
The impact encompasses energy consumption, air pollution, and infrastructure development.
Production and Destruction
Production:
High energy consumption for creating materials like steel, rubber, glass, and plastics.
Automotive production leaves a large environmental footprint before cars reach the road.
End of Life:
Cars contribute to environmental degradation even after their use ends.
Components such as plastics and toxic battery acids persist in the environment.
Positive note: About three-quarters of a car, including steel frames, can now be recycled.
Impact Balance:
Environmental impact is largely due to fuel consumption and emissions.
80-90% of a car's environmental impact comes from its operational phase, mainly fuel use.
Fuel Costs
Petroleum Products:
Extraction is energy-intensive and can harm local ecosystems.
Fuel transportation is energy-consuming and risky, with potential for spills.
Oil sands and unconventional sources have growing ecological impacts.
Electric Vehicles:
Use electricity instead of burning fossil fuels, offering reduced environmental impacts.
Air Quality
Vehicles are major contributors to air pollution in the U.S., responsible for about a third of the pollution.
Emissions, including smog and carbon monoxide, affect human health more directly because of ground-level release.
Infrastructure and Urban Sprawl
Road construction to support vehicles leads to increased emissions and affects wildlife.
Urban sprawl, driven by car dependency, adds to environmental issues beyond direct emissions.
Conclusion
While technological advancements like electric vehicles offer some relief, the broad environmental impacts associated with cars remain significant. Addressing these impacts requires attention to both the production phase and operational use of automobiles.