Day January 19, 2026

The environmental debate around electric vehicles has become absurdly polarized. One side claims EVs are zero-emission saviors that will single-handedly solve climate change. The other insists they're toxic mining disasters worse than diesel. Neither extreme reflects reality. Here's what actually happens when you look at the evidence rather than the headlines: EVs produce significantly more emissions during manufacturing than petrol cars, primarily because battery production is energy-intensive. That's the "carbon debt" critics correctly point out. But during operation, EVs charged on the UK grid emit roughly 75-80% less CO2 per mile than equivalent petrol vehicles. That operational advantage pays back the manufacturing debt within 10,000-11,000 miles, roughly 1.2 years of average driving. After that break-even point, the EV is demonstrably cleaner for the remaining 12-15 years of its life.