The electric car revolution tells you it’s “zero emissions” — but what if that claim hides a global supply-chain nightmare? In this episode we peel back the marketing to reveal the environmental and ethical costs of EV batteries, why consumers (especially Gen Z and detail-oriented buyers) are losing trust, and how radical transparency — not slick green ads — will decide which automakers survive the coming credibility collapse. Listen to the end to get the exact questions you should ask before buying your next EV.

🎯 Key Insights You'll Gain
- 🔋 Hidden carbon math: Why building an EV can create 10–30% more emissions than building a comparable gasoline car — and how battery mining and processing drive that gap
- 🌍 Real-world impacts of mining: What lithium extraction in Chile/Argentina, cobalt mining in the DRC, and nickel processing in Indonesia actually do to water resources, ecosystems, and communities
- 👥 Consumer trust breakdown: Why 88% of Gen Z distrusts corporate sustainability claims, why environmental professionals demand verifiable data, and how mainstream buyers view greenwashing as a financial risk
- 🧾 The transparency playbook: Examples of brands (like Polestar) that use lifecycle assessments and audited sourcing to build credibility — and the messaging strategies that earn long-term trust
- 🛒 Practical buyer checklist: Specific questions to ask automakers about audited cobalt sourcing, water use in battery production, battery recycling plans, and verifiable third‑party data — plus the simple rule: if they can’t answer, walk away

Topics covered (search-friendly)
electric vehicles, EV lifecycle emissions, battery mining, lithium water use, cobalt child labor, nickel environmental damage, greenwashing, corporate sustainability claims, Gen Z consumer trust, lifecycle assessment, supply chain transparency, battery recycling, ethical sourcing

Why this matters to you
If you care about climate impact, social justice, or long-term resale and reputational risk — and if you’re considering an EV purchase — this episode gives you the facts, the language, and the questions to hold automakers accountable and make a purchase you can stand behind.

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