Do electric vehicles save on pollution or cause pollution because of lead acid batteries replacement problem?

Answer 1

Hybrid vehicles save on pollution.

The batteries in hybrids are designed to last the life of the vehicle (or between 150,000-200,000 miles) and most are covered under warranties between 8 and 10 years

Hybrids use NiMH batteries, which can be fully recycled. Toyota will actually pay $200 per battery to ensure that they are properly recycled.

Hybrids use less fossils fuels and they each emit about 2 tons less greenhouse gases annually than do conventional vehicles.

Last month over 23,000 hybrids were sold. Multiply that by 2 tons and they're reducing greenhouse emissions by 46,000 tons annually.....and that's just from one months worth of sales.

Answer 2

In a pure electric vehicle, the pollution comes from the power plant that is needed to recharge the batteries, not the vehicle itself. The batteries can be recycled, so that isn't any different than a normal car battery. The problem is the huge increase in power plants needed if pure electric vehicles become popular.

Answer 3

They don't pollute the air, but the batteries will eventually be put in the ground and the lead acid will work it way to the water table.
In the long run I think it is worst than a regular car.