Are EVs bad for the environment?

With so many headlines and social media debates about EVs and the environment, it can be tough to figure out what’s fact and what’s myth. So, we’re here to break it all down and cover some of the most common misconceptions about electric vehicles and the environment.

So, what are people saying? Let’s chat through:

• “EV manufacturing is worse than building a petrol or diesel car”
• “An EVs total carbon footprint over its lifetime is high”
• “EV batteries are bad for the environment”
• “You can’t recycle an EV battery in the UK”
• “EVs really aren’t that much better for the environment”

It’s true that making an electric car (especially the battery) can generate more carbon emissions at the start. But here’s the good news: once on the road, EVs quickly make up for that initial carbon cost. Unlike petrol and diesel cars (which keep emitting CO₂ their entire lives), EVs have zero tailpipe emissions. So, once on the road, they aren’t adding to your carbon footprint or releasing potentially harmful by-products into the air.

When does it balance out, you ask? Well, many UK-based studies (check out Energy Saving Trust for some light reading) suggest that within one to two years of regular driving, an EV has offset the extra emissions from its battery production. And comparing that to a petrol and diesel car driving around for 10-20 years, constantly emitting air pollution, an EV is sounding like the better option.

So, yes, EVs do start off at a slight disadvantage due to battery manufacturing. But, they catch up fast. And then they come out on top.

Plenty of folks worry that while electric cars are better on the road, they might be worse overall - especially considering the energy used to manufacture and dispose of them. But we already know from above, that the manufacturing of EVs is offset within one to two years of driving. So, what aspects other than no exhaust fumes can reduce an EVs carbon footprint over its lifetime?

Well, there’s the main one that Octopus Energy Group are a huge advocate of - and that’s powering by renewables.

The UK’s energy mix is becoming greener each year, and by powering your EV with renewable EV tariffs, or even your own solar panels, you’re cutting down your carbon footprint even more.

Want to read more about powering your EV with clean, green energy? Head over to our guide on How to charge your EV with renewable energy.

It’s surprising how many people worry about EV batteries but don’t worry about batteries for phones, trains, buses, your remote control… But, we get it - the battery sounds big and complicated, though it’s really not.

Let’s break it down - your EV most likely has a lithium-ion battery. These might be harder to recycle than the lead-acid batteries that you find in the likes of petrol cars. But, you can already recycle EV batteries in the UK. Plus, the UK is rapidly investing in even better recycling tech to handle these materials.

That being said, we’re forgetting about the fact that batteries can also be repurposed. Even when an EV battery is no longer ideal for powering a car, it can get a second life storing energy at home or supporting the national grid.

So, yeah, EV batteries are kind of a big deal - but they’re not the environmental catastrophe some make them out to be. Plus, major strides in repurposing mean those batteries won’t just end up in a landfill, unlike many other products.

Well, actually you can.. The UK is seeing a boom in lithium-ion battery recycling facilities.

And why? (Hint: it’s not just down to EV batteries):

• Wider tech use: Not just EVs - everything from smartphones to power tools uses lithium-ion batteries, creating a huge market for recycling.
• Valuable Materials: Batteries contain reusable metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. As tech companies continue to innovate, they’re finding more and more ways to reclaim these elements.

In other words - battery recycling is getting better all the time, and the UK is at the forefront of this shift.

We can see why people may think this, but, in actual fact - they are. Especially if you compare the total lifespan impact vs. a petrol or diesel car.

Plus, you can make them even better for the environment if you:

1. Charge with renewable electricity (through specialist tariffs, such as Intelligent Octopus Go)
2. Recycle or repurpose the battery

By owning an EV, you’re doing the planet a favour by cutting greenhouse gases and improving air quality - something we can all appreciate, whether we’re driving to work or heading out on a family road trip.

When all’s said and done, most experts (including UK-based researchers) agree that EVs are a huge step forward in reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. They still require energy to build, and batteries do pose challenges, but ongoing innovations in manufacturing, recycling, and clean energy mean their environmental advantage will continue growing.