At first glance, electric vehicles (EVs) appear to be a clear solution to our climate crisis — they are zero-emission! Yet, these vehicles are much more complex than media and advertising companies often lead us to believe. In 2021, the Biden administration signed Executive Order 14037, which calls for 50% of all new car sales to be electric by the year 2030. The Trump administration later revoked it, but the Biden adminitration regarded it as the strongest-ever pollution standards for cars that both protects public health and addresses the climate crisis.

The fact is, EVs are only zero-emission when driven; they reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by only 17-30% in comparison to gasoline cars over their lifetime. But here’s the catch: manufacturing an EV generates 50-80% more emissions than building a gas-powered car. EV batteries rely on a rare earth mineral, lithium-ion, which is attained through mining — a process involving heavy machinery for extraction, processing, transporting and waste management, all of which produce significant emissions. The vehicle then has to be assembled and transported from point A to B to be sold. Once purchased, EVs must be charged to run, which also emits GHGs. In essence, substantial emissions are released throughout the entire production chain up until the car is sold.

Because of the amount of GHGs that are produced to get the car manufactured and running, an EV needs to be driven 5-10 years before it “breaks even” environmentally. It is important to acknowledge that gasoline cars produce 350 grams of carbon dioxide per mile while EVs produce 200 grams per mile. Therefore, although EVs may appear to reduce overall GHG emissions, the reality is more complex. Only the act of driving produces zero emissions; manufacturing and charging EVs still generates GHGs.

Yet, advertising and political messages rarely acknowledge this complexity. Since companies’ marketing campaigns, such as Tesla, focus solely on the final products’ emissions, many consumers often overlook the negative impacts of holistic manufacturing processes. Going back to Biden’s executive order, because of these statements, consumers are often led to believe that simply switching to an EV is an environmentally meaningful way to combat climate change.

Media exposure and the popularization of these cars sell them as more efficient than they are. According to Pew Research Center, about four-in-ten Americans (38%) say they are very or somewhat likely to seriously consider an EV for their next vehicle purchase. Among those who would consider purchasing an electric vehicle, about 72% say helping the environment is a major reason why.

The belief that these cars are eradicating GHG emissions and saving the environment could be largely linked to media exposure and advertising. Companies selling these vehicles, like all companies, have a financial incentive to highlight the benefits while minimizing their drawbacks, which creates a public perception that EVs are the key to solving the climate crisis.

This does not mean that EVs have no place in creating a sustainable future. As mentioned, if EVs are used long enough to “break even,” then the payoff exists. In truth, EVs are most effective when implemented long-term and on a large scale, making EVs especially useful and environmentally beneficial in public transportation. Our very own San Antonio VIA Metropolitan Transit has implemented EVs since 2023. This is where EVs make the most sense — reducing emissions on a large scale without encouraging more private car ownership.

The truth behind electric vehicles is not a lie, but the story about them is incomplete. True environmental responsibility should not be measured by how many charging stations we install or how green a campus appears, but by whether we are willing to invest in solutions that reduce emissions at a large scale. That means prioritizing public transportation, walkable infrastructure and long-term systems over short-term fixes.

EVs can play a role in addressing climate change, but only if we stop treating them as a cure-all and start asking questions about what sustainability actually looks like in our own community.

*This column was updated on Jan. 28, 2026.