Are Electric Cars the Best Solution?

Within the last few years, electric cars have generated quite the buzz. The idea of designing an electric car was once thought to be crazy and unfeasible. First of all, many were skeptical about how many miles these cars could travel within one charge. In 2015, Toyota’s electric RAV4 could only travel 103 miles on one charge. Therefore, an owner of this vehicle would only be able to travel about half the distance from State College, PA to Philadelphia. However, the mindset about electric cars has changed over the last few years due to improvements made by car companies. In particular, they have made greater efforts to increase the number of miles their cars get within one charge. Not only are people getting more miles out of their electric cars, but they are also not paying as much. Although traditional gas-powered cars are still cheaper, electric cars have made great strides in becoming more affordable to the general public. In this blog post, I will explore the pros and cons of electric cars, including environmental benefits and financial barriers.

Before I delve into the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars, I first want to speak about the different types of electric-powered vehicles. The first type of electric car is called a battery electric vehicle (BEV). When I think of an electric vehicle, a BEV is what usually comes to mind first. BEV’s only use electrical energy while they are in motion. They use batteries to store  electricity and power the electric motors. In order to charge BEV’s car owners must bring them to an external charging station. Another type of electric car is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). These cars have a traditional engine, but also an electric drive. HEV’s alternate using gasoline and electricity depending on the speeds of the vehicle. Given the capabilities of electric cars, several people have found great benefits by switching from their traditional cars to what they call “the cars of the future.”

This may not come as a surprise for many, but electric cars are better for the environment than conventional vehicles. Unlike, gas-powered automobiles, electric cars do not release harmful emissions into the air. This is especially beneficial in urban areas, where carbon emissions are higher. These emissions are not just harmful to breathe in, but they are also contributing to climate change. Reducing one’s carbon footprint is encouraged much more in today’s society and one of the best ways to achieve this is by going electric. Also, even though skeptical observers point out that the electricity from these cars comes from fossil fuels, electric cars are still a greener alternative to traditional petroleum based cars.

Additionally, electric cars may serve as a good long-term investment. Over time, the amount of money that can be saved from not having to fill the gas tank is quite large. According to Fleetcarma, the average person who drives 15,000 miles a year can save $850 annually compared to someone who uses a traditional gas-powered vehicle. Along with tax breaks and government subsidies, electric cars are definitely looking like a more attractive option in recent times. Other benefits include a quick 30 minute charging time and a quiet engine. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reported that about 100 million in the U.S. are exposed to traffic noises that can detrimental to their health. Therefore, electric cars reduce noise pollution and provide a smoother ride.

So with all of these benefits, why aren’t more electric cars popping up in your neighbors’ driveways? One of the main issues continues to be the lack of range these cars can travel before having to be recharged. The Tesla Model S and X can go about 250 miles before being charged, but other electric cars do not quite have the same capabilities. Besides Toyota’s RAV4 (which was mentioned earlier) Nissan’s 2016 Leaf has a limited capacity – only having the ability to drive up to 107 miles. Another obstacle is the upfront cost of buying electric vehicles. The Tesla Model S, for instance, has a starting cost of about $78,000. Although there are cheaper electric cars on the market, the amount of mileage that can be squeezed out from them with one charge is not feasible for may consumers.

As someone who has always been interested in technology, I feel that electric cars are definitely an exciting topic. Two summers ago, I had the opportunity to drive around with my uncle in his Nissan Leaf. It was one of the coolest experiences. The engine was as silent as a mouse and the ride was as smooth as butter. Although it was relatively a small car, I could feel that it had a lot of power and could accelerate at a rapid rate. However, he does live in California. Electric cars are more prevalent on the West Coast and charging stations are quite common. Most workplaces provide charging stations for their employees and actually encourage the usage of electric cars. Although this is the case, not every person can afford to pay the initial costs of a Tesla. Those with fancy tech jobs in Silicon Valley can afford to drop the initial $80,000 + on a Tesla, but not the vast majority of us. Second, charging the vehicle in places like State College, PA may be a problem. Charging stations are not prevalent during this point in time in several locations.

For these reasons, I believe that electric cars are not the best option for the majority of people at this current moment. But do I think electric cars should be the primary vehicles of choice for everyone in the future? Absolutely. The environmental advantages are significant. As a country, we are prone to great amounts of pollution. Electric cars would help to reduce this problem. The good news is that companies like Tesla are working on designing cars that are more affordable. Their Model 3 starts at $46,000 – a more affordable option than the fancier models. Also, charging stations are getting better and increasing in number. It is expected that by 2020 there will be 12.7 million units that can charge vehicles within 30 minutes. As a result, the future for electric cars and the environment look very good.

Sources: https://www.fleetcarma.com/everything-need-know-electric-cars/

https://www.fleetcarma.com/electric-cars-pros-cons/ ,   https://www.goultralow.com/choosing/electric-cars-environmental-benefits/

https://www.energysage.com/electric-vehicles/costs-and-benefits-evs/electric-car-cost/