Are electric cars water-thirsty?
When it comes to the driving phase, fuel-free, electric motor powered EVs outperform their ICE equivalents, in large part a result of the water required to extract, refine and transport fuel.
Reducing water usage has become an integral part of the many green initiatives that prioritise the health of our planet and its environment.
But in striving for eco-friendly mobility, in general, the focus has been on reducing exhaust emissions. Less attention has been paid to the car’s water usage. Producing a car is water intensive. The paint shop facility is perhaps one of the most water-thirsty components of the production process.
Take electric vehicle (EV) carmaker Tesla, which uses 3,100 litres of water to produce just one of its electric vehicles, or BMW and VW (both manufacturers of EV and fuel-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles) with a water usage of 2,250 litres and 3,700 litres per vehicle respectively.
Ironically, given its so-called green credentials, the electric vehicle is not as water-friendly as the ICE vehicle when it comes to water usage over the entire life cycle (production, distribution, consumer use, recycling, and disposal).
On average, an electric vehicle consumes 56% more water resources during its life cycle than its fuel-powered counterparts, according to a study conducted by the US’s Congressional Research in 2020. Elements that elevate the EV’s water footprint include the mining, extraction and disposal of rare earth materials used in the EV’s lithium-ion batteries.
When it comes to the driving phase, fuel-free, electric motor powered EVs outperform their ICE equivalents, in large part a result of the water required to extract, refine and transport fuel.
What that translates to for vehicles that are in any way powered by fossil fuels is this: the more fuel-efficient the car, the less its water footprint.
For the most part, hybrids with their combination of internal combustion engines and electric motor offer superior fuel consumption to that of conventional petrol or diesel engine powered cars.
The much-maligned diesel engine variants generally trump their petrol rivals in respect of fuel frugality, and thus offer a lowered water consumption.
There’s a certain irony to that. Water scarcity is a global concern and considering a fuel-efficient car or electric vehicle, like those in AutoTrader’s sample of the least water usage offenders during the driving phase, can help motorists lower their water footprint.
Sample of the least offenders of water usage (driving phase)
*Data source: AutoTrader AutoTrader is the largest digital automotive marketplace in South Africa and operates a marketplace at scale; and as such serves as a barometer to provide unparalleled insight into car-buying patterns.
