A brand new electrical automobile (EV) battery manufacturing unit in Kansas, funded by Panasonic with a $4 billion funding, is inflicting the state to delay the retirement of a coal-fired energy plant as a result of its excessive vitality calls for. The manufacturing unit, which aligns with the Biden administration’s push for EV adoption, is anticipated to require between 200 and 250 megawatts of electricity, equal to what a small metropolis would devour.
Evergy, the utility serving the manufacturing unit, expressed issues about useful resource adequacy to the Kansas Metropolis Company Fee. To satisfy the vitality wants of the manufacturing unit, the utility intends to proceed utilizing the coal plant close to Lawrence, Kansas, and postpone plans to transition some items to pure fuel. This determination has drawn criticism from environmentalists.
A coal energy plant can be used to energy an EV battery manufacturing unit, which drew criticism from environmentalists.
A Lesser-known Truth About EVs
The scenario highlights a lesser-known reality about EVs: their manufacturing necessitates substantial vitality consumption. As an example, a 15-pound lithium-ion battery requires as a lot vitality as a pound of oil, involving in depth mining and processing of minerals.
On common, an EV battery weighs round 1,000 kilos, and the emissions generated in the course of the mining and manufacturing course of typically exceed these of a gas-powered automobile. In consequence, EVs should be pushed for a substantial distance, round 50,000 to 60,000 miles, earlier than their internet carbon dioxide emissions discount is realized.
With the rising variety of factories supplying EV producers within the U.S., the demand on the facility grid is anticipated to rise considerably. Recognizing the necessity for coal to supply baseload energy, there’s rising consciousness amongst lawmakers and vitality consultants that prematurely shutting down coal-fired energy vegetation may pose vitality provide challenges.
Whereas renewable vitality sources like photo voltaic and wind are vital for supplemental energy, they could not present the constant, baseload wanted for a dependable vitality provide. This actuality underscores the complicated vitality calls for related to the transition to electrical automobiles and the necessity for a balanced strategy to make sure vitality sustainability.
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