Are electric cars really better for the environment? Yes and no.

 Drivers who want to make the change over to an electric car often do so not only because they won't have to pay for gasoline, but also because they think they're doing Mother Nature a favor. But are electric cars really better for the environment? Toyota of Clermont's experts are here to explain this not-so-clear-cut answer. 

Are electric cars better for the environment? The answer isn't as simple as you think. 

The long and short of it is that electric cars are good for the environment in some ways, but not in others. It all boils down to batteries, as well as local and non-local emissions. Here's the breakdown of the issues. 

Battery production for lithium-ion batteries - the batteries used in all fully electric cars - is not a clean process and really complicates the question of whether or not electric cars are better for the environment. It produces a lot of emissions, and on top of that, these batteries can't be disposed of in a landfill or recycled in a traditional recycling plant. As demand for them increases, so does the need to find both ways to recycle them properly AND make the production process cleaner. 

Now let's talk about local and non-local emissions. 

Local emissions are the emissions that actually come out of your Clermont Toyota's tailpipe. Internal combustion cars produce these and they're bad for the environment; electric cars, on the other hand, do not produce local emissions, so you're doing your part there. 

Non-local emissions are another story. Your Clermont Toyota EV runs on electricity, sure. But how is that electricity produced? If it's solar, wind, or water-generated, then it's pretty clean and thus, your car doesn't have many - if any - non-local emissions. However, if your electricity is produced by fossil fuels, then it's not clean. This type of electricity production creates non-local emissions. 

Basically, you just have to do your research. There's really no getting around the battery issue; Toyota is working on other options, but for now, electric cars will come with a lithium-ion battery under the hood. But when it comes to emissions, find out where your electricity is coming from and make your decision from there. 

Decide if an electric car is for you with Toyota of Clermont

Still not sure if an all-electric car is a right choice for you? Toyota of Clermont can help. Call us today at (352) 404-7000 or stop by and see us. We're conveniently located just off the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50. We're open until 10pm every night!