Buying BEV

This week I finally took the plunge and replaced my elderly Honda with a used BEV - a Battery Electric Vehicle. I have taken many years to reach this point.

For a long time, I was persuaded by a familiar environmental argument: that it is often more sustainable to hold on to an existing, if elderly, car. The logic is simple - follow the usual environmental advice of 'repair and keep'. Extending the life of a vehicle spreads the 'embodied carbon' from its manufacture over more miles, reducing its per mile carbon footprint.

There were other reasons for hesitation too. I had what many people call 'range anxiety'. Early electric cars I looked at offered barely 80 miles of range - just enough to get to Exeter and back. Longer journeys seemed inconvenient, requiring multiple stops and careful planning.

As I researched further, more complex issues emerged. Manufacturing any car - petrol or electric - produces roughly 6 to 10 tonnes of CO2. For EVs though, the battery adds an additional 2-5 tonnes. That raised a difficult question: was switching really better, or just shifting emissions elsewhere?

I also became increasingly aware of the global consequences of battery production. Driven by the rising demand for EVs from communities in the North and China, the extraction of materials such as copper, lithium and nickel is resource-intensive and often linked to serious environmental and social harms for people in the Global South. The transition to EVs to reduce emissions in the Global North is leading to 'climate colonialism'. Nickel extraction in Indonesia has contributed to deforestation; cobalt extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been associated with unsafe working conditions and, in some cases, child labour. Indigenous communities in several regions have faced displacement due to expanding mining operations.

These are serious issues, central to the transition. Electric vehicles may play a key role in reducing emissions and contribute to a greener future, but the benefits in the wealthier countries, such as the UK, risk being built on exploitation elsewhere. The transition to cleaner technologies globally has to be just and equitable for all.

So there were plenty of reasons to stick with my old car.

But over time. the balance began to shift. My Honda was aging, becoming unreliable, less efficient and more expensive to maintain. The emissions were increasing and causing more pollution. In contrast, a BEV produces zero tailpipe emissions. It has no exhaust, so while driving it emits no CO2, nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxide. It still produces some pollution from tyre and brake wear like any car, and it is not emission free over its lifecycle - but the difference in day-to-day use is significant, particularly for local air quality.

Also, when you look at the full life-cycle, the evidence now shows that electric vehicles in the UK now produce significantly fewer greenhouse gases than petrol cars. As the electricity grid continues to decarbonise, an EV can 'pay back' its higher manufacturing footprint within a few years. After that point, it remains the lower-carbon option. Buying a used EV strengthens the case further as it extends the life of an already manufactured vehicle.

Concerns about a growing electric vehicle 'battery mountain' from older electric vehicles are proving overstated. Batteries are lasting longer than expected and advances in recycling technologies mean that up to 98% of their components can be recovered. This reduces the need for continuous extraction of raw materials and begins to address one of the major criticisms of EVs.

Charging was another factor I had to consider carefully. We installed solar panels a few years ago, which means we can generate some of our own electricity. Our energy supplier also prioritises renewables, reducing the carbon intensity of charging further. That said, there are still tensions: in the South West, electricity can be more carbon-intensive overnight—precisely when the cheapest tariffs are available! There is, at times, a trade-off between saving money and minimising emissions.

Meanwhile, the practical barriers that I had worried about were quietly disappearing. Modern electric vehicles now offer real-world ranges of 200–300 miles—more than enough for my daily pattern of short, local journeys. Public charging infrastructure has expanded rapidly, with the number of charging points doubling in recent years and a growing focus on rapid chargers. Longer trips are no longer daunting—they simply involve planned stops, often with the welcome bonus of coffee and cake!

There are also practical benefits too. EVs are cheaper to run per mile and require far less maintenance. My elderly Honda was becoming increasingly costly to keep on the road. Continuing with another petrol car would have locked me into fossil fuel dependence for many years to come.

Even so, the decision wasn’t straightforward. At my relatively low mileage—around 6,000 miles a year—the overall carbon comparison is surprisingly close. If I had kept the Honda Jazz, I would have avoided new manufacturing emissions, and my total driving emissions over the next decade might have been around 10 tonnes of CO₂. With the Citroën ë-C4, the driving emissions fall to roughly 3.6 tonnes, but manufacturing adds an estimated 6–8 tonnes. On paper, the two options are broadly similar.

However, that balance changes over time. Using home solar, relying on an increasingly clean grid, and keeping the car for many years all tilt the outcome in favour of the EV. While manufacturing emissions are significant upfront, electric vehicles are much cleaner per mile. The more they are used—and the cleaner the electricity used to power them—the greater the benefit.

This was a genuine dilemma, one that many people are facing. But what ultimately tipped the balance wasn't just environmental reasoning, but geopolitics.

Rising global instability and concerns about fuel supply disruptions - particularly around key routes like the Straits of Hormuz - highlighted how vulnerable petrol dependence can be. With prices rising and potential shortages, relying on fossil fuel feels increasingly risky, especially in an area with limited public transport alternatives.

And if I am honest, the push to buy a BEV was emotional rather than rational! A moment of anger triggered by frustration with global politics - and figures such as Donald Trump - turned a long-standing concern into action. Following the news cycle, with its mix of conflict, energy insecurity and cost of living pressures, shifted me from hesitation to decision.

And perhaps that’s not such a bad thing.

Because while the decision may have been triggered by emotion, it ultimately aligned with the direction I already knew I needed to take: towards lower emissions, greater resilience, and playing a small part in improving the environment in my local community.

Further ideas:

Pros and cons of owning an electric car here.

Read about battery recycling here.

Calculate your carbon footprint here.

Devon Climate Emergency Tips here.

#CarbonReduction #EcoFriendly #SustainabilityMatters #GreenFuture #ZeroEmissions #RenewableEnergy #ElectricVehicle #GreenMobility #CleanEnergy #NetZero #ClimateAction #FutureOfTransport