Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, USA



Hybrid and plug-in vehicle drivers overly satisfied with what they think is their great effect on the environment may want to get a look at a recent and quite long report released by the US Environmental Protection Agency (written by Abt Associates) about the overall effects of lithium-ion battery production and use.

Among the many things that may alarm the smug, the report points out issues such as the use of nickel and cobalt in lithium-ion battery cathodes. Those exposed to the production of those materials have a higher risk for respiratory and pulmonary problems, while the production of such materials can hasten global warming.

Additionally, recharging plug-ins in the US Midwest and South is a lot less environmentally friendly than doing the same the West or New England because of the prevalence of coal-fired plants as an electricity source in the former two regions, according to the study, which also used information from the Department of Energy's Argonne National Lab, Arizona State University, and the Rochester Institute of Technology

For a bit of downer, read the EPA's press release below and, if you have the better part of an afternoon, check out the 126-page EPA/Abt report here.Continue reading EPA looks into negative environmental, health effects of li-ion EV batteries

EPA looks into negative environmental, health effects of li-ion EV batteries originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 02 Jun 2013 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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