The pandemic has changed a lot about our lives: where we work (home), how we socialize (less), and for many, how we get places (e-bikes). As we lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, and as images such as the one above become more prevalent, it seems high time to take a step back and do some hard thinking about the potential environmental costs of the components used electric machines such as bikes and cars, and if the benefits they produce outweigh the negatives.
When it comes to e-bikes, the main topic of concern is the lithium-ion battery that powers the electric motor, a concern with basically any battery-powered electronic. Battery technology has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years, and lithium-ion batteries represent the current forefront of the constantly developing technology. They have the highest energy density out of all current battery technologies (more power, less mass), can go through thousands of charging/discharging cycles, and depending on the mix of compounds used, can be fine-tuned for features such as quick charging or heat/cold resistance. Most top-of-the-line battery-powered devices use lithium-ion batteries, such as electric cars, laptops, cell phones, and, of course, e-bikes. And there are currently no signs of that stopping, with the market for lithium-ion batteries projected to grow from $30 billion in 2017 to $100 billion in 2025.
The environmental benefits of battery technology are abundantly clear – on the road, having...
Read Full Story: https://www.theinertia.com/environment/should-we-be-worried-about-the-batteries-in-e-bikes/
Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.
