Abstract
You may have noticed more electric cars or hybrid cars on the roads or more public charging stations appearing in parking lots. Electric cars are becoming more and more popular and have become a very quick hit on the market. There has been lots of information that electric cars are better than gas powered cars for the environment and about how environmentally friendly electric cars are. Of course this comes with some backlash that electrical cars are not as sustainable and beneficial for the environment as they claim to be. One example of a negative claim is that the manufacturing process of electric cars creates a lot of greenhouse gases. Another is that the actual power used to charge the cars is coming from power plants that release significant greenhouse gases. The purpose of this blog is to address these and similar counterarguments to the net benefit of electric cars and prove how negative aspects of electric cars can be avoided. In this blog you will learn about the effects of the manufacturing process, the emissions that are released by operating electric cars, and the best way to charge an electric car. You will also learn that the US government and some states have financial incentives for people to purchase electric cars. Later in my blog I discuss how the local climate of the electric car affects how long-lived the battery is. When produced and charged in the proper way electric cars can help to lower the greenhouse gas emissions into the environment and help decrease negative effects on the climate. For this reason and many others, people are turning to electric cars as an alternative to gas powered vehicles to help lower their impact on climate change.
Why Electric Cars?
Why did I choose to research electric cars? I am aware that the climate is rapidly changing in a negative way and I am always looking for big or little changes that I can make to my life that will have a positive impact on the environment. All the little things do add up over time, especially if everyone is making changes to their lives. One reason I chose to research this topic is because I have noticed a lot of electric cars on the roads. I have also noticed that car companies are making more hybrid and electric cars each year. These electric and hybrid cars are being promoted everywhere, I see a lot of ads for them on TV for hybrid cars especially.
The main reason that I picked the topic of electrical cars is that a very good friend of mine owns a Tesla. Her model is on the older side and she seemed to constantly be having problems with it and complaining about the multiple things that are wrong with her car. For example her AC was broken for a long time, one of her doors cannot open from the outside, and she was having issues with figuring out the timing of the brakes. This got me thinking: are electric cars really that great? Are electric cars really worth it? I thought Teslas were supposed to be really nice cars and very efficient. I thought they were supposed to be very smart cars with all the bells and whistles. Well it turns out electric cars are actually worth it. Through the research that I have done I have discovered that electric cars can be very beneficial for the environment and are a much more sustainable choice to gas powered vehicles. My friend’s car is just an older version that was not made with the new technology that is available today. I have read a lot of information about how the technology is improving and the battery life of electric cars is getting better. With the technology available today electric cars and charging stations are becoming more reliable and efficient. Through this blog you will discover why electric cars are the more sustainable choice and are a better alternative to gas powered vehicles for the environment and why you should consider making the switch yourself to an electric car.
Manufacturing of EVs
A big concern that I have found through my research involving electric cars is the process by which they are manufactured. Some studies have shown that electric cars produce more greenhouse gases in the manufacturing process because of the extra energy needed to produce the lithium batteries (Electric Vehicle Myths, 2024). Although this is true, it however does not equate to the lifetime emissions of greenhouse gases for a gas powered car. The fact that electric cars are not producing greenhouse gases every time they are being used lowers their lifetime greenhouse gas emissions compared to gas powered cars. Some batteries are also recycled which reduces the need to extract more raw materials for new batteries helping to produce less emissions. Overall electric cars are producing less greenhouse gases in their lifetime making them a sustainable choice for the environment (Electric Vehicle Myths, 2024) and why you should consider purchasing an electric car as your next vehicle.
Another concern about the manufacturing is the lifetime and reliability of the batteries. Many electric cars are said to often have problems with their batteries. Although this may be true of older batteries, there are new ways batteries are being made and new technology that allows for a longer lifespan and more reliability. The image below shows the decrease in replacement batteries for the last twelve years. This graph proves that with new technology batteries are becoming more reliable as the percentage of battery failures has decreased dramatically. Right now, there are tests in place for batteries to monitor the drivers style of driving and provide feedback about batteries based on this (Schwartz, 2023). This will allow for longer battery lives as the drivers know how long and when the best time to charge their car will be. For example if someone is only usually driving around their town and does not have a high mileage they do not need to be charging their car as often as someone who makes long drives often. Knowing that some companies are guaranteeing longer battery lives (Electric Vehicles Benefits and Considerations, n.d.) gives customers a sense of security that influences them to buy electric cars because having an issue with the battery will no longer be a costly concern for them. Batteries are also being constructed in new ways to improve charging time so drivers can go longer periods of time between charges. In California the cost to charge electric vehicles (EVs) is half the price of the cost to fuel a standard gas powered car (Top 5 reasons to drive electric, n.d.). This is definitely something to think about as the price of gas keeps increasing.
The manufacturing process requires a great deal of money which causes the initial cost of EVs to typically be higher than gas powered cars. The price of EVs are expected to be reduced as new and improved ways of manufacturing arise. As more EVs are being manufactured and batteries become more reliable, prices are expected to be around that of conventional vehicles (Electric vehicle benefits and considerations, n.d.). There are also incentives from the US Government and some states to help reduce cost in order to persuade people to get electric cars, which I will go into greater detail later in this blog. Although the cost of electric cars tends to be expensive, there are very low maintenance costs for electric cars (Top 5 reasons to drive electric, n.d.) because they do not need routine oil changes and the brakes are regenerative so they do not wear down as quickly as gas powered cars brakes do. This is definitely something to consider when purchasing a car because EVs will not be in the shop as much as gas powered cars will be. Which will also be helping to lower the cost spent on maintenance issues. As people are finding out the most effective ways to build EVs the time and cost spent on maintenance issues will only be decreasing. Although initially EVs seem to have a much higher cost than gas-powered cars the initial cost to maintenance issue costs can even out making it worth it to initially pay more for an EV.
EV Emissions
As mentioned before the greenhouse gas emissions for an EV do not equate to the emissions of a gas powered car. EVs only contribute to greenhouse gases during the manufacturing process, which these emissions are also expected to be reduced in the future. EVs are not releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere everyday or even every time they are in use. Depending on the type of charging station that is being used electric vehicles may only be producing greenhouse gases during the time they are manufactured. This is very beneficial for the environment. About thirty-one percent of greenhouse gas emissions are from cars (Frequently asked questions, 2024). This is a big number, thirty-one percent of emissions of greenhouse gases in the whole world is due to automobile use which is a lot. If people switched to electric cars this number would drop significantly which would be highly beneficial for the environment. Changes like this and being aware of how our actions are affecting the environment can be insanely beneficial and positive. In areas where an abundance of EVs are present greenhouse gases emissions are seen to be going down (Earthjustice, 2024). In California specifically, many benefits have been seen with the increase in electric car usage (Top 5 reasons to drive electric, n.d.). Which is a direct example of how beneficial EVs are in relation to greenhouse gas emissions. The environment already has so many greenhouse gasses emitted into it everyday, so being able to make a change to help decrease emissions is highly beneficial. The graph below shows the emissions of EVs versus gas powered cars and trucks. You can see that when comparing emissions of gas powered cars to electric cars there is almost a fifty percent reduction and comparing gas powered trucks to electric trucks there is about a sixty percent reduction.
Source: Union of Concerned Scientists. (Casey Chin / Earthjustice)
Effective Ways to Charge EVs
The biggest issue that I see with EVs and that owners need to be aware of is where the power they are using to charge their EVs is coming from. Some charging stations are really harmful for the environment but many people are becoming aware of this issue, which is great! People are creating new charging stations powered by clean energy to help with this issue. Some electricity used to charge electric cars comes from power plants and burning fossil fuels (Earthjustice, 2024). Most power grids do use fossil fuels to create energy but some “residential solar and battery systems could help stabilize the grid as customers generate their own power and sell excess electricity back to the grid” (Brigham, 2023). However, if the power grids are not being properly managed EVs may actually be worse for the environment (Nour, 2020). This is important information to know because people can keep a watch on the grids and get energy from clean sources to power their EVs. People need to be aware of where the energy at their charging stations are coming from and make sure that they are using clean energy. As mentioned before, people are still discovering new ways to create longer lasting charges and greater electromotive force (Saqlian, 2021). Something to be looked into for the future is creating charging stations that only use clean energy and phasing out any charging stations that use power plants or fossil fuels to get energy. As seen in the graph below even when EVs are charged on the dirtiest US grids they are getting more miles per gallon than gas powered vehicles. This means that even when charged on power grids that are releasing emissions EVs are still releasing less emissions than the average gas powered vehicle.
Source: Union of Concerned Scientists. (Casey Chin / Earthjustice)
Another complaint about charging stations is that they use a lot of power. Much of this power that is produced can be lost in the process of transportation. When power is being transported an estimated energy can be lost in the conversion process (Top 10 Reasons…, 2020). This is very upsetting news because energy should not be wasted, especially with electric vehicles because they are supposed to be energy efficient. On the other hand EVs are so new to the market that people are still discovering new ways that charging stations can be designed to be more effective and reliable. Something that should definitely be looked into is finding ways for less energy to be lost during the process of making and delivering the energy for EV charging. Once this energy loss is lessened and people only use clean charging stations the negative effects associated with charging EVs will be eliminated.
Something that I have noticed is that charging stations are becoming more prevalent in parks, or plazas with lots of stores to shop at around them. People do not have to directly charge their car at their house, so if you were wondering how you would charge your EV or if you did not want to install charging in your home, that is not a problem. In my hometown specifically, new charging stations were just placed at a local park, so many people will go for long walks while their car is charging. With charging stations in plazas with lots of stores people are able to do their errands while their car is charging. Another place that I have also noticed charging stations appearing is at public libraries so that people can do work while their car is charging. States and towns are making clean charging stations as accessible and easy to use as possible to get people to charge their EVs in the best way possible without feeling like they are wasting their time. By making charging stations more accessible people are able to see how convenient it can be to charge your car and look into purchasing an EV.
Source: https://stockcake.com/i/tesla-charging-station_124640_13581
Government Incentives
Many states and government officials are realizing how beneficial EVs are becoming. In early August 2024, 29 states had incentives related to electric transportation (Puttré, 2024). The graph below shows states with incentives, regulations, etc. to persuade citizens to go electric. For this reason some states are providing incentives for citizens to purchase EVs. In New York the state government is putting money directly into making charging stations faster and creating more charging stations in populated areas (Benefits of electric vehicles…, n.d.). As mentioned before the cost of charging is half the cost of filling up the tank of a gas powered car. Other states are offering incentives in the form of state and local tax credits and other state and utility incentives (Electric vehicle benefits…, n.d.). There is a federal tax credit of $7,500 for buying a new electric vehicle (Benefits of electric vehicles…duke energy, n.d.). These incentives help to lower the cost of electric cars making them available to a wider group of people.
Source: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/08/22/report-shows-u-s-states-and-utilities-easing-into-evs/
It is important to note the fact that states are putting in time and effort as well as money to get citizens to purchase electric vehicles which shows how important they are. States want EVs to become even more prevalent on the roads to help the environment and hopefully reduce the effects cars have on climate change. Other countries have also shown data of how beneficial EVs can be. This is important because incentives like this will help people to purchase EVs and make them available to more people. These incentives bring attention to how valuable EVs are for the environment. You should look into what your state offers to help you decide what EV to purchase and the benefits you will receive from getting one.
Climate Effects of EV battery Reliability
Different climates have different effects on the reliability of the batteries of EVs. Extreme climates whether it be very hot or very cold can affect EV battery life in negative ways. This is something that should be looked into in the future. Creating batteries for specific climates is something that can be improved in EVs. In areas of extreme weather (super hot, humid, or cold) batteries do not function as effectively as they do in a climate with no extreme weather (Top 10 Reasons…, 2020). Excess heat will have an effect on the strength of the batteries. Energy can be lost in the process of extreme weather but with batteries that are specifically designed for certain climates some of this energy can be gained back. The efficiency of batteries is something that is really important for electric cars and with new technology the efficiency will only be improving.
Another aspect of the climate that affects EVs is areas that could be flooded by saltwater. Before Hurricane Helene the governor of florida told citizens to get any EVs to higher ground because when in standstill saltwater they can catch fire (Funk, 2024). The lithium-ion being exposed to saltwater could create a fire (McCormick, 2024). This is problematic for people who live in areas where hurricanes are prevalent because everytime there is a hurricane they will need to move their car. However during a hurricane everyone will most likely be moving their car so this is not something that will be an extra hassle. Although not all EVs do catch fire it is something to be acknowledged because it does happen. For this reason it should be looked into how batteries can be made in a way that they will not be at risk for catching on fire. On the other hand, one benefit of having an electric vehicle during a hurricane is that people are not waiting in long lines to fill their tank with gas and in some cases the gas stations run out of gas (McCormick, 2024). This however is not a problem for people with EVs as long as they have somewhere to charge their car that has access to electricity. If you do not live in an area that is affected by hurricanes or at risk for saltwater floods your EV battery catching on fire is not an issue. If you do live in an area with a risk there are many ways to prevent the possibility of fire from happening. One of which is evacuating the area beforehand, which is probably something that you already planned on doing in the event of a flood.
Why you Should Purchase an EV
In conclusion, EVs are overall very beneficial for the environment. Even with some of these negative claims against them they are still beneficial for the environment (Burton, 2013) and are a better alternative for the environment than gas powered cars. EVs are only becoming better for the environment with improvements to the manufacturing process and the charging stations and new technology. Government officials are responding to EVs in positive ways by creating incentives for people to purchase them and with more research on battery life in certain climates EVs will become more efficient. By bringing attention to EVs people are becoming more aware of the benefits and how owning an electric vehicle is not an extra hassle but very worthwhile for the climate. With more time and attention to areas of improvement EVs will only be more beneficial for the environment. Hybrid cars are also an option if going full electric is not something someone wanted to do. Hybrid cars can also be a good transition to get a feel for an EV and then switch to full EV. The climate is rapidly changing and by choosing an electric car one person can be making a difference on the environment which is very beneficial. Making a switch to an electrical car can seem daunting but there are many steps that can be taken to make the process easier. First by figuring out if the state offers any incentive and then by finding local charging stations with clean energy, if charging at your house is not an option or something you wanted to do. An electric car can be an easy switch and will be very beneficial for the environment.
As our climate is changing so quickly I encourage everyone to look into ways that they can become more sustainable in their lives. This is very important because all the little things that everyone does add up. Thinking of aspects in your lives that you can change for the environment is important. Purchasing an electric vehicle would be something that would be beneficial for the environment. Take a look around and notice how many people are starting to purchase EVs and find the one that is the best fit for you. I have listed many benefits of EVs and addressed any counter arguments you may have heard by offering alternatives or a solution to the problem. The next time you are planning on purchasing a new car I highly encourage you to look at the electric cars that are available.
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