KATHMANDU: Chairperson of Toyota Motors, Akio Toyoda, has raised concerns about the environmental impact of electric vehicles (EVs), saying that they may not be as clean as people believe.
Speaking to Automotive News, Toyoda, who is also the grandson of Toyota’s founder, stated that nine million electric vehicles have the same emissions impact as 27 million hybrids, implying that one pure EV pollutes as much as three hybrids. According to him, hybrid vehicles may currently offer a smarter and greener alternative. He also highlighted the environmental costs associated with EV battery production.
Mining materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel involves harmful and energy-intensive processes. Additionally, transporting these materials to factories and then to automakers adds further emissions.
“Most of the electricity that charges EVs still comes from non-renewable sources,” Toyoda said. “Also, shifting all vehicles to electric requires huge investments, which may not be practical for many countries.”
Environmental experts have similarly pointed out that EVs come with a larger “carbon debt”, meaning they emit more carbon during production than conventional gas or hybrid vehicles. Although they emit less while in use, they start off with a higher environmental footprint.
However, there have been improvements in mining and battery production in recent years. New battery types, such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium manganese-rich (LMR), use fewer rare materials and generate lower emissions during manufacturing. This means that future EVs could be cleaner from the outset.
While many countries are moving toward EV adoption, Toyoda believes hybrid vehicles may offer a more immediate and practical solution, particularly in countries where electricity is still generated from fossil fuels.
In contrast, the situation is different in Nepal, where nearly all electricity comes from clean hydropower. This makes EVs in Nepal significantly greener, as they operate on 100% renewable energy. While hybrids may be preferable in fossil fuel-dependent countries, EVs are better suited for Nepal’s clean energy future.
