My people will inhabit a sojourn of peace, sheltered dwellings, safe places of rest” (Is 32:15-18).(1)
At the beginning of this time of creation, my idea goes on the propaganda that is currently being done on electric vehicles may also be following the rule to ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars from 2035 (2). The first time I took the electric bus, it attracted my curiosity. I observed it from the outside and from the inside without piercing the covered covers that make the beauty of the device.
The electric vehicle: remains this machine consisting of metals, steel, tires, plastic, rubber, batteries, etc To be able to manufacture this machine with an electric motor powered by a Lithium-ion battery, it is necessary to have several critical metals. The challenge for transportation and the environment is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants. The transition to cleaner mobility.
The advantages of electric vehicles: less noise pollution, they are compatible with a cleaner energy transition, very interesting especially if electricity comes from renewable energies such as solar, hydraulic, etc. No exhaust gas: good air quality.
However, the upstream and end-of-life implications of these devices are not negligible.
What are the environmental, social and geopolitical consequences of their manufacture?
the manufacture of an electric vehicle requires about 394 kg of critical materials: aluminum, cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, manganese and nickel in majority. This is 2.2 times more than for the manufacture of a thermal car, which requires 176 kg (aluminum, copper and manganese)(3).

This leads to the following consequences:
• ecosystem degradation, open mining, deforestation, groundwater depletion, soil and river pollution.
• Carbon emissions: electric vehicle production produces more carbon than thermal vehicle production because of the battery.
• Human exploitation: child labor and exploitation as in some Cobalt mines as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, dangerous working conditions under the influence of armed conflicts for the control of resources.
• By promoting electric vehicles, developed countries are shifting their pollution to countries that extract minerals; they will consume ready-made and clean batteries at the expense of producing and extracting countries that are generally already exploited.
• Electric propaganda leads to geopolitical tensions around minerals and leads to tensions around producing countries and the multiplication of mining agreements sometimes illegal and often refute locally.
• For electricity generation, if there is no possibility of renewable energy, coal is needed and coal is very polluting.

This quote is not exhaustive.
At the end of life of electric vehicles, there is a risk of toxic waste
Although they provide a clean solution to reduce pollutant emissions, their production and end-of-life pose ecological challenges. The materials needed for their manufacture often require extraction processes that impact the planet. This poses environmental risks (air, water and soil contamination), health risks, but also social challenges in some regions as mentioned above.
Moreover, without recycling, electric car batteries risk contributing to pollution. Indeed, the production of batteries for electric vehicles (lithium-ion battery) also involves potentially polluting processes. Recycling is particularly favored to reduce dependence on extraction.(3)

Alternatives:
Our common house is so polluted that the concern is to stop emitting carbon. Low pollution emissions may delay its total destruction, but they will continue to hurt it and will not solve the problem. We want to remove impacts, not displaced ones.
First of all, the use of bicycles, walking, the promotion of electric vehicles based on renewable energies, ending the use of lithium-ion batteries and for those that exist, starting the recycling procedure according to the directives of the European Union which require manufacturers to recover and recycle used batteries(4).
Otherwise, use light vehicles for necessities, electric buses for public use (public transport) , train and awareness to fewer cars and not say: only electric cars because they are still polluting in their manufacture and end of life if recycling is not done according to standards. This is also a global call for mobile independence.
We’re not going to be satisfied with the fact that electric vehicles pollute less compared to thermal vehicles. It is the law of least effort(5).
I encourage and support the initiatives of Volgswagen, a company that has committed to the Paris Climate Agreement with the aim of becoming a carbon-neutral company by 2050 (6) via its “way to zero” strategy. By developing rechargeable electric vehicles with green electricity, making its factories more efficient and powered by renewable energies and implementing advanced recycling systems for batteries and vehicles. The challenge is great and even historic. This is an expression of awareness, responsibility and goodwill.

In conclusion,
We recognize that electric vehicles are an important step towards decarbonizing transportation. If electric vehicles do not pollute during use, we must recognize that their manufacture and end-of-life pose ecological challenges. This is therefore not yet an effective solution.
Let the encyclical Laudato si’ continue to inspire us and let integral ecology be increasingly chosen and shared as the way forward.
Sources:
(1) Excerpt from Pope Leo XVI’s speech for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Safeguarding of Creation 2025.
2. European Parliament: All about banning the union European on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035
3. The Roole media newsletter: batteries in electric cars: critical metals issue. Published on 25/01/2024
(4) Chargemap Blog: battery recycling of electric vehicles
(5) Wikipedia: carbon footprint of electric vehicles / studies European.
6. Volgswagen: the first Volgswagen with a carbon neutral balance