Just throwing it out there for thought: what if diesel trucks, the older ones are actually more eco-friendly than electric vehicles (EVs)?
It sounds backward in today’s rush to electrify everything, but when you look at the facts, it’s a question worth asking.
First, diesel trucks are remarkably sustainable when it comes to longevity and recyclability.
A well-maintained diesel truck can be rebuilt and reused multiple times, sometimes creating ten “new” trucks from one original chassis through refurbishment. These vehicles are nearly 100 per cent recyclable, meaning less waste in landfills.
EVs, in contrast, rely on massive lithium-ion batteries that have a finite lifespan, contain toxic components, and are notoriously difficult—and expensive—to recycle. Where do these batteries go when they’re done? Too often, they end up as hazardous waste.
Second, we can’t ignore where the electricity powering EVs comes from. While EV advocates boast about “zero emissions at the tailpipe,” the bigger picture tells a different story. In the U.S., roughly 60 per cent of electricity is still generated from fossil fuels, in Australia that is 65 per cent.
That means when you plug your EV into the grid, you’re still indirectly burning carbon to move your car. By contrast, diesel trucks use an existing fuel infrastructure that’s been in place for over a century, and innovations in bio-diesel and cleaner diesel blends can further reduce their footprint without building an entirely new network.
Third, the mining required for EVs’ batteries is anything but green. Extracting lithium, cobalt, and other rare minerals devastates landscapes, pollutes water supplies, and displaces communities, especially in developing countries. It’s estimated that millions of acres of land have already been disturbed to mine these materials, with demand skyrocketing as governments push for EV adoption. Meanwhile, diesel trucks rely on a fuel supply chain that—while imperfect—doesn’t require the kind of intensive, destructive mining modern batteries demand.
And it’s not just EVs with hidden environmental costs. Consider wind turbines, a darling of the green energy movement.
Manufacturing turbines requires enormous amounts of steel, concrete, and rare earth minerals, each with heavy carbon and ecological costs. Transporting these massive components burns fossil fuels, and end-of-life turbine blades often end up in landfills, where they won’t biodegrade.
Worse still, turbines are notorious for killing birds and bats, including threatened species, especially when sited along migratory routes.
Wind energy also suffers from intermittency; when the wind isn’t blowing, fossil-fuel plants must pick up the slack, offsetting potential carbon savings. Plus, sprawling wind farms fragment habitats, disrupt local ecosystems, and face resistance from communities worried about noise and ruined views.
So, are EVs and wind farms truly “green”? Or are we trading one set of environmental problems for another—problems that are easier to ignore because they’re hidden far from city streets?
It’s time to have an honest conversation about the full lifecycle impact of our “green” technologies. Diesel trucks and traditional infrastructure, for all their flaws, may still have a place in a truly sustainable future. Before we rush to discard them, let’s make sure we understand the real costs of what we’re adopting instead.
