Proper management and recycling would determine whether usage of vehicles becomes genuine climate solution or waste crisis: Academic

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) push could end up creating a new environmental headache if the country fails to manage and recycle used batteries properly, said a transport researcher.

With most EV batteries here still far from the end of their lifespan, the policies put in place now would determine whether EVs become a genuine climate solution or a future waste crisis, said Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Civil Engineering lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Nur Sabahiah Abdul Sukor.

“The policies and recycling systems we build now would determine whether this becomes an environmental problem or a circular economy opportunity,” she said.

Her comments follow a recent environmental group report questioning the assumption that switching to EVs automatically cuts carbon emissions.

Nur Sabahiah said EVs should not be judged only by the fact that they do not emit exhaust fumes but by their full lifecycle impact, from manufacturing and battery production to electricity generation and daily use.

“When we talk about lifecycle emissions, we’re not just talking about what’s coming out of the tailpipe, since EVs don’t have one.

“We consider all emissions from ‘cradle to grave,’ which include driving the vehicle, producing the car, manufacturing the battery and generating the electricity used to charge it.

“Many studies argue that the battery in an EV can be more polluting to make, but it doesn’t affect the environment while it’s being used.”

She said in Malaysia, where most electricity still comes from fossil fuels, EVs generally produce lower total lifecycle carbon emissions than petrol cars but the benefits are smaller than in countries with cleaner power grids.

However, she added that battery production remains a major source of emissions and replacing batteries too early could further increase an EV’s carbon footprint.

“Since its initial manufacturing, battery production has been a major contributor to an electric vehicle’s carbon footprint. It takes a lot of energy and raw materials to make batteries, so the emissions are high at first.

“Typically, the larger the battery, the more pollution it generates during manufacturing.

“If you have to change the battery (more frequently), like when it wears out faster in hot weather or with heavy use, the EV’s carbon footprint goes up,” she said.

Mass EV adoption could, in rare cases, result in higher emissions per kilometre if vehicles are charged mainly with electricity from a fossil-fuel-dependent grid.

“Based on existing research, typical EVs still tend to have lower (or comparable) lifecycle carbon emissions compared with conventional petrol cars.

“However, emissions per kilometre could be higher if the EV is charged mainly using electricity from a grid that relies heavily on non-renewable sources.

“The comparison also changes if we look at fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles rather than standard petrol cars,” Nur Sabahiah said.

She added that from an engineering perspective, improving EV efficiency, battery health and charging habits is key.

“Efficiency is very important. The less electricity the car uses per kilometre, the lower the emissions.

“In our hot climate, it’s important to have lighter cars, better aerodynamics and more efficient air-conditioning systems. Good thermal management and smart charging, such as avoiding excessive fast charging, could help to make batteries last longer.

“Longer-lasting batteries help lower the overall environmental impact. It is also essential to reduce emissions from battery production by using cleaner energy and designing batteries for reuse or recycling,” she said.

She added that EVs and hybrids alone would not solve emissions problems if traffic congestion continues to worsen.

“A car stuck in traffic is still using energy, no matter what technology it runs on.

“That’s why electrification should also focus strongly on public transport and commercial vehicles, which recently made up a growing share of vehicles on Malaysian roads.

“Electrifying buses and logistics fleets can often deliver much bigger emission benefits per vehicle than just focusing on private cars,” she said.

 The Sun Malaysia