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The rise of green tech is feeding another environmental crisis
(www.bbc.co.uk)
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this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2025
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TL;DR companies making EV batteries don't have good environmental processes.
Which, we knew. It's why we shouldn't run out to replace ice with ev but if you're in the market for a new vehicle, then go ev. Plus this is an old old argument from conservatives, it's been proven many times that the environmental impacts are offset after a year or so of driving compared to driving ICE
The article talks specifically about an EV battery plant in Nevada has drained all of the water and destroyed habitats. I don't think that's going to be offset by people driving EVs.
But that's not necessarily an inherent issue with EV batteries; it's an issue with that particular battery maker having a poor environmental policy. It's not the same as burning coal, where you can do it a little less bad but pollution is essentially unavoidable in the process.
ok so not news and a quick search shows zero mention of solid state batteries, I'll pass
But isn't that part of what the EU law is trying to tackle
I have the impression that in the EU what they care more about is having a constant supply and recycling. At least this was my understanding from the European Critical Raw Materials Act.
Maybe there's another piece of legislation that tackles the issue of how these materials are mined, but I don't know about it. So if anyone does, please share.
It's this thing, I think: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/batteries_en
In this link, they also mention the sourcing of materials, but they don't really talk about it. The focus is on recycling.
Maybe, but the article is 90% about a plant in Nevada; EU regulations aren't going to affect that much.
You don't think? To sell devices with said batteries in Europe, they have to comply, so like USB-C, it will have a knock-on effect.
I didn't hear that the hostile reaction from the Europeans to Elon's shenanigans affected his behavior much. He bitched about it, but didn't change anything.