The transition from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV) has been seen as a panacea of climate change and global warming. There has been a relentless push from the government side to switch to electric vehicles to achieve the country’s targets in the fight against the eclipse. Thus, companies are using all weapons in the arsenal to manufacture EV variants of ICE’s models and launch new options with bigger battery, efficiency and power.
But is EV, actually, green for the planet? The most pressing question that has been asked by environmentalists and sustainability advocates?
So, in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath raised a hard-hitting concern: Are we just moving pollution from cities to the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems and communities?
Kamath argued that the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs may not be as green as it seems. He pointed out that while city streets may be cleaner, the environmental and human costs of manufacturing EVs are often overlooked.
I’m not sure most people truly understand the cost of transitioning from ICE vehicles to electric vehicles.
Are we just moving pollution from city streets to biodiversity hotspots?
Indonesia (~50% of the world’s nickel) strip-mines paradise islands.
Congo (~70% of cobalt)… pic.twitter.com/qWy7RJNy3y
— Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) June 25, 2025
To begin with, Indonesia, which produces nearly 50% of the world’s nickel, is witnessing large-scale strip mining that destroys its pristine islands. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, which supplies around 70% of the world’s cobalt, child labour and unsafe mining conditions have long been reported. Meanwhile, China dominates the EV mineral supply chain, controlling 90% of rare earths, 75% of lithium, and 80% of tungsten—all essential components in EV batteries and motors. Ironically, much of the mining and processing of these minerals is still powered by coal-fired plants, raising further questions about the carbon footprint of EVs.
Kamath concluded by questioning whether we are prioritising technological advancement over genuine environmental sustainability. “Knowing us (humans), we’ll always chase ‘better technology’ over what’s better for the planet,” he wrote.