Photo Credit: Global Witness
As the global push for electric vehicles (EVs) gains unprecedented momentum, a lesser-known environmental cost is emerging – the EV production impacts on marine life. While EVs are hailed as a cleaner alternative to petrol and diesel-powered cars, the process of manufacturing them is silently affecting the oceans in profound ways.
Deep-Sea Mining: Powering EVs at the Cost of Ocean Ecosystems
The rise of EVs has triggered a sharp increase in demand for critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese — all of which are essential for battery production. Land-based mining has already caused environmental degradation, but a newer, even more worrying trend is gaining ground: deep-sea mining.
These minerals are found in abundance in polymetallic nodules scattered across the deep ocean floor, particularly in regions like the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean. Companies and governments are now eyeing these mineral-rich beds as the future of sustainable extraction. However, marine biologists and conservationists argue otherwise.
Sediment plumes from deep-sea mining machinery can blanket the ocean floor, smothering coral reefs, disrupting feeding patterns, and damaging fragile ecosystems that have taken millions of years to evolve. The EV production impacts on marine life through such activities are vast and largely irreversible. More than 700 scientists worldwide have called for a global moratorium on commercial deep-sea mining until its environmental implications are fully understood.
Toxic Wastewater Discharge from Battery Supply Chains
The environmental footprint of EVs doesn’t stop at mineral extraction. The battery refining process, especially in countries like China, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, often results in toxic wastewater being discharged into nearby rivers and coastal waters.
These contaminated waters, laden with heavy metals and chemicals used in processing lithium and cobalt, make their way to the oceans. This not only affects marine organisms directly through poisoning but also disrupts delicate aquatic food chains. Fish, mollusks, and plankton populations in affected areas have shown signs of genetic mutations and reduced reproductive capacity – further proof that EV production impacts on marine life are already being felt.
Microplastics and Tire Pollution from Heavier EVs
While EVs don’t emit tailpipe pollutants, their heavier batteries result in greater wear and tear on tires and road surfaces, releasing more microplastics than conventional cars. These particles are washed into storm drains, rivers, and ultimately the oceans.
Microplastic pollution is a growing concern for marine life. Ingested by fish, plankton, and seabirds, microplastics not only block digestive tracts but also leach harmful chemicals into the organisms. The indirect EV production impacts on marine life via microplastic contamination are subtle but dangerous, and could have long-term consequences for ocean biodiversity.
Electric Boats: Cleaner Engines, But Louder Waters
Even in the marine transport sector, where electric boats are replacing diesel-powered vessels to reduce air and water pollution, concerns are emerging. These boats, while cleaner on the surface, emit high-frequency noise that can interfere with the navigation and mating signals of certain marine species.
Fish like the brown meagre rely on sound for survival. Disruption from even small electric boats can alter their behavior, push them out of safe breeding grounds, and ultimately reduce population numbers. These acoustic disturbances add another layer to the EV production impacts on marine life, especially in already noise-polluted waters.
Solutions: Can We Have EVs Without Harming the Oceans?
To mitigate these hidden costs, experts recommend a threefold strategy:
- Enforcing stricter environmental regulations for deep-sea mining and industrial waste discharge.
- Investing in battery recycling and second-life usage, which can reduce dependence on new mineral extraction.
- Developing sustainable battery technologies that require fewer marine-harming metals, such as solid-state batteries or sodium-ion alternatives.
Some companies are also exploring land-based mineral recovery from industrial waste and geothermal brine, which could offer less destructive alternatives to ocean mining.
A Greener Earth Must Include Bluer Oceans
While EVs are crucial in the fight against climate change, the broader picture reveals that their production has unintended consequences. The EV production impacts on marine life are a stark reminder that sustainability must be holistic. If we are to truly transition to a greener future, it is imperative that our oceans – Earth’s largest carbon sink and biodiversity reservoir – are not sacrificed in the process.
