The electric car is 'hot'. The AutoRAI, a major motor show opening its doors this week in Amsterdam, is full of them. But for all the environmental friendliness of using eco-cars, there are concerns over the production of their batteries.

The Amsterdam Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), responsible for research into sustainable development, has studied the unknown effects of electric cars on the environment. They also looked into working conditions at the factories where their batteries are made. 

The less clean aspects of the electric car are a growing problem, simply because more and more of the cars are being produced and sold. Worldwide, governments are encouraging sales with a variety of financial and fiscal regulations. 

Lithium 
Environmental problems with the eco-car start at the very beginning: with the extraction of the mineral lithium. Lithium batteries are best suited for electric cars but world production of the mineral is nowhere near the levels required to meet rising demand. 

Currently, Chile is the main producer, but neighbouring Bolivia has the largest commercially extractable reserves. Unfortunately, extraction on a large scale will mean the immediate destruction of a unique ecosystem. SOMO researcher, Tim Steinweg: 

"There are huge salt plains in Bolivia, which consist of a hard crust of salt and mineral-rich water below. The lithium is found in that mineral-rich water. To extract it, holes are drilled in the salt crust and the water must be pumped up. Published reports are warning that if the lithium is mined on a large scale, the ecological impacts will be very detrimental. " 

The prospect of making piles of money only serves to build tensions between Chile and Bolivia, both of whom want to attract the emerging market for lithium. There is also fierce opposition from foreign mining companies over possible exploitation.

Working conditions
Steinweg also examined the manufacture of batteries, currently experiencing a spectacular growth in China. In particular, Build Your Dreams (BYD) is a battery manufacturer that is developing into a massive multinational. The company is notorious for its working conditions. Workdays exceeding 12 hours are the rule rather than the exception. In China, where the legal maximum working week of 60 hours is often exceeded, BYD is holding unions at bay. 

Taking into account both problems with lithium mining and the working conditions in battery factories, can you really still say the electric car is a sustainable phenomenon? Tim Steinweg: 

“It becomes a sustainable phenomenon the moment these other problems are tackled. And because the electric car is growing as it is and production is in motion, it is time to focus attention on these issues.” 

That will not happen at the AutoRAI. The Amsterdam motor show is primarily a place for you to marvel at fast cars and sit behind the wheel of some of the priceless models. 

(lo/rk)