Everything you need to know about electric cars

They are our future, the future of mobility, with a fundamental role for the necessary ecological transition, or "they are madness that has no environmental, economic, social, industrial explanations", as claimed by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini?

One thing is certain.Since 2035 it will no longer be possible to purchase new petrol and diesel cars within EU countries.Car manufacturers will have to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of new cars sold by 100%, with the aim of encouraging the transition to the sale of electric cars.

Yet the transition to electric cars is encountering a certain resistance, not only in public opinion but also among those who should support and accompany this transition.Always Minister Salvini he said that electric cars "are rubbish from Europe that is giving a huge gift to China".

His position is not isolated.

In short, even on electric cars the debate has been polarized, especially by those who, in the name of a alleged pragmatism, defines the transition to electric mobility as ideological.A refrain that we have already seen for the climate crisis or cultured meat.And even the media are not helping citizens to orient themselves, on the contrary.

What is the role of electric cars in the energy transition?Are they sustainable?Under what conditions?How much do they pollute?How much do they cost?How much do they consume?How long do batteries last and how to recycle them?Do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages?Are we really dependent on China?Where are we in Italy?Pros, cons and false myths to dispel about electric cars.

We talked about it in "Che clima che fa", the podcast by Blue suitcase dedicated to the climate crisis, edited by Roman Angel, with Arianna Ciccone.

Sitography

Carbon Brief – 21 misleading myths about electric vehicles

Economyup – The electric car is truly sustainable only under certain conditions:here they are

Guardian – EV mythbusters

Heated – A guide to electric car misinformation

International Energy Agency – Defying expectations, CO2 emissions from global fossil fuel combustion are set to grow in 2022 by only a fraction of last year's big increase

IPCC AR6 WGIII FullReport – Climate Change 2022 Mitigation of Climate Change

Vaielettrico.it – “Abbott:so Formigli short circuits”

Blue suitcase – The role of electric cars in the fight against climate change

Music: Jack Johnson - The 3 R's

Direction: Vaudio

Preview image: Automobile Italy, CC BY 2.0 DEED, via flickr.com