Green Wheels: The Environmental Impact of Switching to Electric Vehicles

Colorado’s switch to EVs

Transportation is the leading source of greenhouse gas and ozone-damaging emissions in Colorado. Despite lofty goals, Colorado has already amassed  various Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule violations from emissions across the state. 

The state had set goals for a 26% greenhouse gas reduction from a 2005 baseline by 2025, and 50% by 2030 — a goal that depends on having 940,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on state roads by 2030. For those in the Boulder area, investing in an EV can be a great way to positively contribute to the environment, though there are some facts and considerations to be aware of.

EV adoption has surpassed expectations, with 10% of car owners driving one. To further highlight their growing popularity, 50% of those who took the survey said they will buy or lease an EV by 2028. EVs have the potential to benefit the environment in various ways. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, all forms of EVs “can help improve fuel economy, lower fuel costs, and reduce emissions.” To underline the value of this it’s important to note that vehicle tailpipe emissions, which emit pollutants, are very harmful to both human health and the environment. Such emissions are a major cause of global warming.

Environmental value of EVs

Internal combustion engines produce about 10% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Like lithium for batteries, gasoline to power non-electric cars has to be mined.” The refinement process once the crude oil has been extracted is responsible for the majority of emissions, which consist of methane and nitrous dioxide in addition to greenhouse gasses. When coupled with a low-carbon electricity sector, Earth.org points out that EVs “have a large potential for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.” However, power in the US still comes from coal plants, highlighting the value in renewable energy expansion.

EVs can be better for the environment but it’s imperative to understand the full extent of the benefits. For example, one source of EV emissions derives from the creation of their lithium-ion batteries. “We shouldn’t claim victory that with this switch to electric cars, problem solved, we are going to have zero emissions,” said Sergey Paltsev, Deputy Director of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. Paltsev noted that EVs are “actually much, much better in terms of the impact on the climate in comparison to internal combustion vehicles. And in time, that comparative advantage of electric cars is going to grow.” Although greatly reduced, even EVs are not entirely free of harmful emissions. 

Addressing Colorado’s challenges 

Regarding the state of EV usage in Colorado, Denver7 News noted that the switch is “a slow and tedious transition.” The article delves into a report from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), which estimates that Colorado’s state and local governments could save taxpayers $152 million annually by switching to electric cars for their light duty fleets. Alex Simon, a public health advocate with the Colorado Public Interest Research Group noted that fueling and maintaining gas-powered vehicles is a large expense for governments. “By shifting to electric vehicles, they can save consumers taxpayer dollars while also improving air quality,” Simon said. According to the report, it’s estimated that the transition of these vehicles will “result in a drop of state greenhouse gas emissions by 300,000 tons over the next decade alone.” While this highlights a dramatic environmental impact, the change to all-electric vehicles is not only costly for governments, but involves the requirement of significant investments upfront as well.

When it comes to making the switch across the board, the infrastructure needed to support EV adoption remains a challenge. CBS News cited the fact that Colorado has more than 4,900 public EV chargers.EV Colorado reported that while the subject of charging is a concern for drivers, 66% of those surveyed said they have charging options where they park, and more than half said they knew where public chargers are located. 

Improvements to charging infrastructure are needed in order to support a switch to EVs. Denver7 News citedAndrew Goetz, a professor in the Department of Geography & the Environment and a faculty associate in the Transportation Institute and the Urban Studies Program at the University of Denver: “All the gas stations that we have around cities, make it really easy to be able to refuel internal combustion engine vehicles, we are going to need something like that when it comes to electric vehicles.”