As the world becomes increasingly technologically advanced and environmentally-conscious, electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream. In fact, California is leading the way towards a future where all new cars are required to be zero-emission, and states like Massachusetts and Washington are planning on following suit.  

Not only are electric cars a more environmentally-friendly alternative, but they also are lower-maintenance compared to traditional gas-powered cars. Taking into consideration the cost of upkeep and gas money, electric cars have a leg up. However, despite the numerous advantages of electric vehicles, there are also several downsides. 

For starters, there aren’t many charging stations readily available compared to the accessibility of regular gas stations. This makes the option of going electric a lot more inconvenient, especially for people who have a busy schedule. With that being said, as electric cars become more common, charging stations will become easier to come by. For now, they are not easily accessible in most places. 

More importantly, the batteries that power electric cars such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel are mined in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, usually by women and young children. Mining for cobalt is an especially dangerous task because cobalt is highly toxic and miners are frequently exposed to it.

Unfortunately, the very workers that fuel the popularity of electric vehicles are exploited and overworked mining for metals that are then used to make car batteries. The workload is extremely taxing, and to make matters worse, living conditions are poor and so are the wages. Miners can barely afford to live in decent conditions and pay bills, let alone pay for food and drink. 

For years, the companies that run the mining industries in countries like DRC have been called out for child labor, among other concerning human rights violations. Seeing as the Democratic Republic of Congo supplies around 70% of the world’s supply of cobalt, it’s safe to say that the mining industry is not going to slow down any time soon. 

All things considered, the popularity of electric vehicles is continuing to grow at a fast rate, despite the serious human rights concerns that are associated with the companies overseeing the mines. Despite all the drawbacks associated with electric cars, they are certainly going to be part of the foreseeable future. 

Fortunately, there are many human rights advocates who are making strides to combat injustices surrounding the production of electric vehicles.