Electric vehicles are often described as a symbol of a cleaner future. Governments, companies, and environmental campaigns promote EVs as a solution to reduce air pollution and fight climate change. Unlike petrol and diesel vehicles, electric cars do not release exhaust gases while driving. However, the environmental story of electric vehicles begins long before they reach the road. From mining raw materials to manufacturing batteries and managing waste after their lifetime, electric vehicles have a hidden environmental footprint that is often ignored. The Dirty Beginning: Mining for EV Batteries The heart of every electric vehicle is its battery, and producing these batteries requires several rare minerals. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite are essential materials used in modern lithium-ion batteries. Extracting these resources requires large mining operations that involve heavy machinery, fossil fuels, and chemical processing. These activities release greenhouse gases ...