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 on account of its excessive power calls for. The manufacturing unit, which aligns with the Biden administration’s push for EV adoption, is predicted 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 considerations about useful resource adequacy to the Kansas Metropolis Company Fee. To satisfy the power wants of the manufacturing unit, the utility intends to proceed utilizing the coal plant close to Lawrence, Kansas, and postpone plans to transition some models to pure gasoline. This resolution has drawn criticism from environmentalists.
A coal energy plant will likely be used to energy an EV battery manufacturing unit, which drew criticism from environmentalists.
A Lesser-known Reality About EVs
The scenario highlights a lesser-known reality about EVs: their manufacturing necessitates substantial power consumption. As an illustration, a 15-pound lithium-ion battery requires as a lot power as a pound of oil, involving intensive 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. Because of this, EVs should be pushed for a substantial distance, round 50,000 to 60,000 miles, earlier than their web carbon dioxide emissions discount is realized.
With the growing variety of factories supplying EV producers within the U.S., the demand on the ability grid is predicted to rise considerably. Recognizing the necessity for coal to offer baseload energy, there’s rising consciousness amongst lawmakers and power specialists that prematurely shutting down coal-fired energy vegetation might pose power provide challenges.
Whereas renewable power sources like photo voltaic and wind are essential for supplemental energy, they might not present the constant, baseload wanted for a dependable power provide. This actuality underscores the complicated power calls for related to the transition to electrical autos and the necessity for a balanced method to make sure power sustainability.
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