It’s an argument sparking fresh debate around kitchen tables, engineering firms, and car dealerships everywhere: would anyone buy an EV if not for massive government subsidies?
As a transportation engineer points out, there’s still plenty of reason to doubt the “green halo” surrounding electric vehicles—especially when viewed through the lens of energy efficiency, manufacturing impact, and real-world practicality.
First, weight matters. Modern EVs tip the scales nearly twice as heavy as their petrol-powered counterparts, putting a bigger burden on roads, brakes, and, crucially, the batteries and components required just to move all that mass. Heavier vehicles always burn more energy, simply because of physics, regardless of their powertrain. That means more electricity consumption per kilometre driven, even as EVs tout higher efficiency at the motor.
Then there’s the environmental toll of manufacturing the vehicle in the first place. Building an EV requires nearly twice the energy thanks primarily to battery production. The mines expanding to supply all the lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths needed for batteries leave scars in forests and deserts—not to mention the carbon footprint of global shipping and refinement. Studies reveal carbon emissions from EV production far exceed those of petrol vehicles out of the gate, with a typical 60 kWh battery adding 4–5 tonnes of CO₂ before the car ever turns a wheel, compared to about 2.5 tonnes for the average petrol car.
So, when do EVs make up for this manufacturing head start in emissions? Only as they cover enough miles—and only if they’re charged from clean electricity. In countries with a green grid, the payback can come within a couple of years. But where power is coal-heavy, charging an EV may produce more emissions than simply driving a small, efficient petrol car. Some studies show nearly half of a country’s grid must be renewable before EV adoption cuts carbon overall.
And what about keeping cars for the long haul? For decades, sustainability in motoring quietly meant driving a well-built, easily repairable car for 15 years or more—sometimes 300,000 miles. Lighter cars and trucks from the 80s and 90s were thrifty with fuel, friendly to mechanics, and wrung impressive lifespans from basic designs. That’s a part of the environmental picture modern EVs rarely match, especially as batteries degrade and tech becomes obsolete.
The bottom line: without hefty subsidies and a very green grid, the environmental advantage of EVs is far from guaranteed. The real win? A return to lighter, more efficient vehicles—petrol or otherwise—built to last, maintain, and outperform in the long run, not just on a spec sheet. If the goal is true sustainability, it might be time to rediscover the forgotten magic of lightweight cars, meticulous maintenance, and keeping what already works on the road.