Major Project: Research Paper
The Benefits of Electric Cars
Research conducted in 2017 revealed that the transportation sector accounted for 29% of the nation’s total emissions and it is expected to continue to rise (Fast Facts). These total emissions cause a deterioration of our environment which causes climate change. The problem of climate change caused by the deterioration of our environment affects us all and we all have a part in it. Due to this many scientists, people, and companies are working on different technologies that can help reduce the deterioration of the environment. Technological advances have helped create many different environmentally friendly products that promise to help slow down this drastic deterioration. This is important because the need in the transportation sector is on the rise. Vehicles are being used by people to drive to and from work, to drive for leisure, and to help transport goods. Despite the increase in vehicle use research suggests that this is an area where people can make the fastest and quickest change. Due to this automobile companies have used new technology to develop electric vehicles as alternatives to gas/diesel vehicles. Electric vehicles, or EV’s for short, are considered to be beneficial for both consumers and the environment because they are better for the air we breathe, help reduce the emission that contribute to climate change, and they are easier and cheaper to maintain. Understanding the benefits electric vehicles should make us push our leaders and ourselves into investing in these.
Electric vehicles are thought to be expensive and due to this many consumers have apprehensions about buying them. Despite the perceived high cost of buying electric vehicles their low maintenance requirements saves consumers money in the long run. As the technology continues to improve the cost of the accessories, materials, and manpower necessary to build these cars will decrease. These new technologies that will rely on solar and wind sources will soon allow battery costs to fall allowing for electric cars to be cheaper to run. Electric vehicles do not need gas, oil changes, smog tests, and have fewer moving parts to break or wear out. According to a report by AAA, “Electricity required to drive a compact electric vehicle costs an average of $546, while the amount of gas required to drive costs $1,255 (or 130%) more” (True Cost). Electric vehicles are also cheaper to maintain. According to True Cost, “Electric vehicles do not require as much maintenance as gas-powered ones. They don’t need oil changes or air-filter replacements. Therefore, “ If maintained according to the automakers’ recommendations, electric vehicles maintenance costs $330 less than a gas-powered vehicle annually”. Apprehensions would decrease if the information regarding the overall cost related to the upkeep and maintenance was also emphasized. This would increase a person’s desire to purchase an electric vehicle and to use it frequently.
Electric vehicles are considered to be better for our environment because they do not emit high levels of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases. Unlike electric vehicles our current vehicles rely on gasoline or diesel to run. Gasoline and diesel release air pollutants that are bad for the air we breathe. The emissions created by regular vehicles create a layer of smog over our cities which causes many health problems. Cities with high rates of asthma, bronchitis, and cancer have been associated with poor air quality and high smog levels (Reducing Pollution). According to report written by Loveday, “Battery-electric vehicles — and even plug-in hybrids, when used in the correct manner — can work to keep our air cleaner and reverse the impact of climate change. They emit less or even zero greenhouse gas and pollutants into our air”. The fact that electric vehicles release less pollutants and emissions will improve the air we breathe and therefore improve the health of many city residents.
Transportation vehicles that are used for the delivery of goods are on the increase. The need for goods is on the increase as well as the desire to get goods delivered immediately. However, people are not considering that these transportation vehicles burn fossil fuels that emit carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas that is a major cause of global warming and the climate crisis. Due to these findings many cities and towns are turning to the new technology of electric vehicles to help alleviate this. Cities and towns are investing and buying electric garbage trucks, electric fire trucks, and busses to help reduce emissions and the carbon footprint on our environment . It is of particular importance to note that gas/diesel powered trucks outnumber cars on the road. These trucks release half of the transportation related air pollution that affects our environment. In order to help reduce emissions on the road and to help improve the air quality of the communities they serve many companies, such as Federal Express and Amazon, who changing their fleet to include only electric trucks (Marshall).
Despite all of the benefits to our environment that have been discovered with the invention of electric cars there continues to be much criticism and disbelief. Those who oppose money being spent on incentives or new technologies that surround the creation of electric cars proclaim that the advantages do not outweigh the disadvantages. Many say that research has proven that the electricity used to charge the electric cars comes from the burning of fossil fuels, used in the power plants to make them and in the batteries used to charge them will increase CO2 emissions (Turner).
The problem of climate change caused by the deterioration of our environment affects us all, not just certain people. Therefore, we must all try to do our part. It is easier to begin with something that we are familiar with, need, and have to do. This is why investing and advocating for electric vehicles is important. The years of research indicate that the benefits of electric vehicles for our environment outweigh the disadvantages. Choosing an electric vehicle is a step forward to being an environmentally conscientious individual. Advocating for laws and incentives that promote electric vehicles will help slow down the deterioration of our environment.
Works Cited
“Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 29 July 2020, www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions.
Marshall, Aarian. “Amazon’s Delivery Vans Point to the Future for EVs.” Wired, Conde Nast, 23 Sept. 2019, www.wired.com/story/amazon-all-electric-future-fleet-vehicles/.
Loveday, Steven. “EEA Reports Says Electric Cars Good For Climate & Air Quality.” InsideEVs, 24 Apr. 2019, insideevs.com/news/341086/eea-reports-says-electric-cars-good-for-climate-air-quality
Reducing Pollution with Electric Vehicles. www.energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/reducing-pollution-electric-vehicles.
Turner, Adair. “SHOULD YOU BUY AN ELECTRIC CAR?” AMASS, vol. 23, no. 3, 2019, p.32 +. Gale Academic OneFile Select link.gale.com/apps/doc/A579538781/EAIM?u=nysl_se_sojotru&sid=EAIM&xid=197dfefd. Accessed 18 Feb. 2021.
“True Cost of Electric Vehicles.” Electric Vehicle Owners to the World – Going Green Is Not as Scary as You Think, AAA, 7 Oct. 2015, www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles/true-cost-of-ev.