Electric cars are sustainable due to the implementation of electricity consumption, a renewable energy resource (Tai-Ran, 2013). They do not have any emissions; hence they maintain air pollution, improving the environment’s quality. Unlike gasoline-powered vehicles, electric cars are sustainable since they are easy and smooth to drive, making them preferable due to the comfort they offer. They use less energy and require minimal maintenance than diesel vehicles.
Energy Use and building efficiencies
Electric cars have reduced energy use because they consume less than gasoline-powered vehicles. Most electric cars consume electricity equivalently to 120-180 mpg. The cost efficiency brought by electric cars has increased their utility infrastructure and value (Wasim et al., 2022). The battery requirement for electric cars is 30% of the total cost. Hence, the reduced battery capacity in electric cars has significantly reduced their cost, making them affordable. Building efficiency can be increased with the aid of electric cars. Regenerative braking, which converts the energy from braking into electricity that can be used to power the building, is one-way electric vehicles can produce electricity. As a result, buildings may require considerably less energy from the power grid. By the use of electric cars, making use of day charging can significantly lead to reduced charging peak electric car charging.
Waste Management Generation and Prevention
Statistics show that the generation of waste from electric cars in 2016 was approximately 10,000 tons, growing with time (Xu c et al., 2017). Electric vehicles are a great method to lower waste production and avoid pollution. Electric vehicles do not emit exhaust fumes or other pollutants because they operate on electricity rather than gasoline or diesel. As they don’t contribute to air pollution or the release of greenhouse gases, electric vehicles are, therefore, much better for the environment than conventional ones. Additionally, since electric vehicles do not use oil or other petroleum-based goods, less waste is produced due to their use. As electric cars gain popularity, they will require fewer parts and components to construct and keep, which will help reduce the amount of waste produced by the automotive industry. Since electric vehicles require less energy to run than conventional vehicles do, they can contribute to a reduction in the quantity of energy used for transportation, according to Environmental information systems. (2022), using renewable energy sources, electric vehicles benefit the environment.
Transportation
The transportation sector in the USA consumes approximately twenty-eight percent of the total energy in the country and other industrialized countries (Tai-Ran, 2013). In 2005, the total energy consumption in the US was approximately 29,000, and 27,864 in 2012. Of this amount, 61% of the total energy was consumed by gasoline-powered vehicles, which would reduce electric cars’ costs. In addition, the transport sector is the leading contributor to air pollution in many urban areas worldwide. On the other hand, electric cars are fully powered by clean energy produced by electricity, making them sustainable and free from any air pollution. Electric cars operate at a reduced cost, making them preferable to gasoline cars. This is because electric cars do not need gas to operate. Electric cars are more effective than gasoline-powered vehicles since they can accelerate at high speeds.
Community Involvement
In many cases, electric cars can promote greater civic engagement. This is because their use is frequently linked to initiatives to cut air pollution, and local governments and other organizations actively promote and back them. This may facilitate the collaboration of neighborhood residents, businesses, and organizations to support a shared goal. Electric vehicles can also be a fantastic method to engage people in their communities. For instance, a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle will reduce carbon pollution by about 4,096 pounds annually compared to a Honda Civic gasoline-powered vehicle of similar size. According to the Stanford estimate of the social cost of carbon, the worth of decreased carbon emissions over the vehicle’s 10-year lifespan would be equivalent to about $4506 (USD) (Ingrid, 2016). electric vehicles can decrease transit costs, making it simpler for locals to get around. This may simplify people’s participation in civic activities by increasing access to recreational and educational opportunities.
Social challenges
The network effect issue has been difficult for electric vehicles and charging stations. Without automobiles, there would be no motivation to create a significant infrastructure for charging, and vice versa; there would be no reason to purchase electric vehicles ( staff writers, 2023). The effect of tax breaks for car purchases and car owners making money through V2G has been to overcome the difficulties in constructing such infrastructure. The lack of suitable charging infrastructure is one of the main obstacles preventing the widespread use of electric vehicles. There needs to be more charging stations in many cities and towns to accommodate the rising number of electric vehicles. Drivers may need help locating a location to charge their vehicle when needed due to the absence of infrastructure. Price: Electric automobiles are still more expensive than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Long-term fuel cost savings are possible with electric cars, but for many prospective customers, the initial cost of an electric car might be a considerable deterrent.
Economic challenges
Although it has been said that solar energy is the most affordable kind of energy, the initial cost of the components such as solar panels, inverters, batteries, and wiring as well as the cost of building and installing these farms would necessitate a sizeable sum of money. For many innovations, the challenges of the adapting the electric cars will be mainly on the few individuals who have acquired education and higher income ( kemp, 2021). Also, solar energy must be used right away or it can be stored, but solar energy batteries are quite expensive. Since these farms are intended for long-term use, they would also need materials that are extremely durable, able to tolerate many climates, and highly productive, necessitating a higher budget for the components.
Environmental challenges
Although it was also originally hoped that solar farms would generate greener power, this does not mean that they cause zero pollution at all, as the movement and placement of materials are also thought to contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Also, the production of necessary components like solar panels could exacerbate the pollution issue that already exists. The innovation fields may aid in the manufacture of the challenges that affect the electric vehicles production, charging times and the sustainable sources (jane, 2022).
Conclusion
The operation of electric cars should be supported by the governments across the globe due to the operation to support a charging network, governments should continue to encourage the implementation of publicly accessible charging infrastructure. In order to ensure that no community is left behind in the transition, ongoing government support, whether through legislation mandating the construction of charging stations or by fiscal policies and support should provide fair access to charging for all communities.
References
Tai-Ran Hsu. (2013). On the Sustainability of Electrical Vehicles. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258849529_On_the_Sustainability_of_Electrical_Vehicles
Wasim Shoman, Sten Kaelsson and Sonia Yeh. (2022). Benefits of an Electric Road System for Battery Electric Vehicles
Ingrid Malmgren. (2016). Quantifying the Societal Benefits of Electric Vehicles
Environmental information systems. (2022). Electric vehicles: a smart choice for the environment. https://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/electric-vehicles-a-smart
Xu C, Zhang W, He W, Li G, Huang J, Zhu H. Generation and management of waste electric vehicle batteries in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017 Sep;24(26):20825-20830. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-9890-8. Epub 2017 Aug 12. PMID: 28803394.
Staff writers. (2023). What Is The Social Impact Of Electric Cars? https://shrinkthatfootprint.com/what-is-the-social-impact-of-electric-cars/
Jane Marsh. (2022). Electric Vehicles and Their Impact on the Environment. https://biofriendlyplanet.com/environment-issues/electric-vehicles-and-their-impact-on-the-environment/#:~:text=EV%20battery%20production%20can%20adversely,are%20energy%2Dintensive%20to%20mine.
John Kemp. (2021). Column: Economic obstacles to rollout of electric vehicles: Kemp. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/economic-obstacles-rollout-electric-vehicles-kemp-2021-08-26/
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