Millions of people enjoy the benefits of new technologies but rarely ask how they are made. This is a serious area for discussion. Manufacturers and governments must take the responsibility for how mining the raw materials for their products is effecting the earth and the humans attached to the mining. The debate between the gas powered engine and the electric engine is in full swing. We hear so many people or read headlines the electric car is here to save the earth. I disagree, the electric car battery is a massive culprit in this area and with country after country or state after state claiming to do away with gas powered engines it makes us think in terms of what is the lesser of the two evils?
Lithium being one of the key components in the electric battery is found in only a handful of places on the earth. One being in the Congo where they are using children as young as 4 years old to mine the lithium by hand. Grueling hard labour for a man let alone a child. How about the mining companies not using child labour? Are we sure they are practising sustainable protocols and do all these mining companies use practices that are not harmful to animals, watersheds and the environment itself. I doubt it. Did you know lithium is cheaper to mine new than to recycle it. Where is all that perfectly good lithium going to go once the electric battery is finished is usage?
Two South Korean battery makers – Samsung SDI and LG Chem – have responded to the crisis of over mining some materials by stepping up development of new power packs that use more nickel and less cobalt.
I'm not saying that the electric battery is the evil that will destroy everything and is at fault for all things. As a society we must not jump on the band wagon and spew how green or good we are because we own an electric car. Please keep in mind that owning an electric car also makes you part of the problem with child labour and shoddy mining practices. Whether we own an electric car or a gas powered car none of us are exempt from responsibility. Let's ban together and keep things honest, real and do our part to keep production practices for the betterment of society.
Lithium being one of the key components in the electric battery is found in only a handful of places on the earth. One being in the Congo where they are using children as young as 4 years old to mine the lithium by hand. Grueling hard labour for a man let alone a child. How about the mining companies not using child labour? Are we sure they are practising sustainable protocols and do all these mining companies use practices that are not harmful to animals, watersheds and the environment itself. I doubt it. Did you know lithium is cheaper to mine new than to recycle it. Where is all that perfectly good lithium going to go once the electric battery is finished is usage?
Two South Korean battery makers – Samsung SDI and LG Chem – have responded to the crisis of over mining some materials by stepping up development of new power packs that use more nickel and less cobalt.
I'm not saying that the electric battery is the evil that will destroy everything and is at fault for all things. As a society we must not jump on the band wagon and spew how green or good we are because we own an electric car. Please keep in mind that owning an electric car also makes you part of the problem with child labour and shoddy mining practices. Whether we own an electric car or a gas powered car none of us are exempt from responsibility. Let's ban together and keep things honest, real and do our part to keep production practices for the betterment of society.