Pollution in India has become a growing menace, wearing many disguises across the seasons. During Deepawali, the bursting of crackers fills the air with smoke and toxic particles, turning celebration into suffocation. As winter deepens, stubble burning in the northern plains adds its own thick layer of haze, aggravating an already dire situation. Fossil-fuelled cars, even when they pass official pollution tests, continue to be blamed for adding invisible emissions to the atmosphere.

And now, even the much-touted electric vehicles ~ preferred as the clean alternative ~ carry hidden hazards in the form of battery risks, unsafe charging, and disposal challenges. The truth is that all these sources, whether festive, agricultural, or technological, converge into one problem: polluted air and poisoned soil. We cannot afford to treat crackers as culture, stubble burning as compulsion, or EVs as unquestioned progress without acknowledging their collective impact. True celebration lies in light, not smoke; true innovation lies in responsibility, not hidden emissions.

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The larger challenge of pollution cannot be solved by restraint in one area alone ~ it demands a rethinking of how we celebrate, how we farm, and how we travel. Electric vehicles (EVs) are often hailed as the answer to this crisis, promising cleaner streets, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and quieter roads. Olive green number plates are now a common sight, signalling a shift toward cleaner mobility. Consumers are excited, manufacturers are thriving, and policymakers hail them as a solution. Yet beneath the optimism lies a complex reality: just as crackers add smoke to our skies, batteries and charging systems can add new risks to our environment.

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Both are part of the same problem ~ pollution in different forms ~ and both demand honesty, responsibility, and innovation if we are to breathe easier. Lithium-ion batteries are the beating heart of EVs. They are popular because they store a lot of energy in a small, light package. Inside, they have two ends called electrodes, separated by a thin film and filled with a liquid that allows lithium ions to move back and forth. When charging, the ions move one way; when discharging, they move back, releasing energy to power a car or a phone. This simple shuttle of ions makes them efficient and reliable.

But if the battery overheats, is overcharged, or........

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