Electric Cars Will Be the Future of America Essay

Urbanization is on the increase, with estimates showing that an additional 2.5 billion people will be living in urban areas by the year 2050. Hence, major cities and suburbs will have to undergo substantial transformations so that residents can have sustainable living conditions. Mobility and energy happen to be the pillars of these transformations. Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more and more affordable, and some technology experts are predicting that they will make up about a third of all new-car sales by 2030( Baur and Todorova 254). Soon, there will be autonomous vehicles (AVs) and EV commercial fleets integrated as part of day-to-day lives. This essay examines why electric cars will be the future of the United States.

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A notable reason for the move towards electric cars is the need for America to be energy independent. Americans are not proud of the fact that the US has to negotiate with despots in foreign nations to ensure safe passage of oil for their vehicles. Given the increase in domestic production and presence of an electric grid that can support about 150 million EVs, it is clear that America is on the right path towards energy independence. According to Baur & Todorova (255), one way of making this work is by adopting electric vehicles. It is worth bearing in mind that the US spends $300 billion every year to import foreign oil, a figure that represents two-thirds of the nation's trade deficit. Depending too much on oil from foreign countries hurts the economy, and makes America prone to international disputes.

Switching to electric vehicles will play a crucial role in fixing America's seemingly inadequate climate policies. The country is expected to meet its share of the pollution cuts required to achieve the Paris international climate target of 2C. However, the Climate Action Tracker has rated the US policies as 'critically insufficient. The country may have withdrawn from the Paris agreement and is thinking of repealing the Clean Power Plan. All in all, it will have to make amends by implementing a plan that will accelerate the transition from fossil fuels. At the moment, power generation and transportation each account for approximately 30 percent of American greenhouse gas emissions, meaning the two sectors are the ideal targets for pollution cuts (Cecere, Corrocher, and Guerzoni 21).

Carbon pollution from transportation has been on the rise in the US since 2012. Thus, the transport sector represents the perfect target for minimizing carbon pollution in America. Light-duty passenger vehicles and medium-and-heavy-duty trucks account for 60 percent and 23 percent of those emissions respectively. One way of significantly reducing such emissions is by abandoning internal combustion engines and adopting electric vehicles. Judging from the average power grid mix, the US Department of Energy estimates carbon pollution from EVs to be 60 percent less than that of gasoline-powered vehicles. According to Cecere, Corrocher & Guerzoni (23), the figure is 80 percent lower for energy clean states such as California. Even in the case of a state like Wyoming that generates 96 percent of its electricity from coal, carbon emissions from EVs are still 17 percent less. Additionally, EV carbon emissions will only reduce given that clean energy is on the increase due to its widespread adoption and rapidly-falling costs.

Electric vehicles happen to be more efficient than their gasoline-powered counterparts. For example, American consumers continued purchasing plug-in EVs even when gasoline prices were nose-diving in late 2014. A reason for this is their superior efficiency. Unlike a gas-powered vehicle, an electric car has a constant efficiency for its lifespan irrespective of gas prices. This mere fact gives plug-in cars a huge advantage when compared to their gas alternatives. When the Tesla Model S began selling more units than the Mercedes S-Class, it ruffled feathers in the motor vehicle industry. This situation spurred other high-priced innovations such as the Audi R8 e-Tron to embark on competing with Tesla. Additional features such as smooth acceleration and instant torque are making the high-end EVs better cars to drive when compared to gasoline alternatives. Away from the premium class, electric cars still maintain that upper hand. For instance, owners of the Nissan Leaf who never purchase fuel and who have access to instant torque for driving in urban areas are very satisfied with their vehicles. More and more options are making their way into the market, meaning that a bigger percentage of car owners will enjoy the benefits of commuting in EVs.

Levels of greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high. While Americans may be skeptical about global warming and its impact, they cannot ignore other disastrous effects of adverse greenhouse gas levels such as breathing problems in children. Climate change is one of the major challenges facing the human race in the future. The state of California was one of the biggest contributors to emissions since the invention of cars. Nowadays, it is setting an example to be followed by the rest of America. The state has implemented alternative fuel vehicle programs that include EVs as well as emission reduction mandates. These measures have pressurized major automakers to go greener or risk losing business in the country's top auto markets. Mounting health issues have been the persuader in China and other industry-oriented nations. Whatever the case, the situation appears to be critical. Electric vehicles can make reductions in greenhouse gas emissions a reality (Carr-Ruffino and Acheson 17).

Solar energy is an ideal source of power for electric cars. While humans can deplete all kinds of natural resources, they cannot deter the sun from shining. Solar energy is the ideal source of clean and renewable energy that can be used to power vehicles. As scientists ponder on ways to stop increases in temperatures, solar power would definitely be put into consideration. The Carnegie Institution for Science once conducted a study whose findings showed that California could use solar power alone to exceed its demand for electricity by up to five times. While policymakers grapple with which industries need to be subsidized, it is worth looking at solar projects. Vehicles with zero emissions could be a reality in the near future.

The operating costs for electric vehicles are another reason why they have a future in the United States. It is worth bearing in mind how cheap it is to operate EVs. According to estimates by Fueleconomy.gov, drivers save about $5000 in fuel costs over a period of five years when operating a Nissan Leaf. This is when compared to the average 24 mpg vehicle on the road. In addition to the fuel cost savings, EVs are now cheaper than gas cars to insure and incur less operating costs. Also, an electric car does not experience mechanical problems such as failures in alternators, radiators, or the transmission (Ajanovic 527).

Every major car manufacturer is trying their luck in designing electric cars. Kia, Nissan, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and others have an EV development in the works. Even the fuel cell vehicles made by Toyota operate on electric motors. Some of the biggest competition may be found in creating an affordable EV that can go for 200 miles on a single charge. All in all, plug-ins is a top priority for automakers at every price point and segment. From the BMW X5 plug-in to the Tesla Model S and the compact Ford Focus Electric, there are endless possibilities for electric power in cars. Now that all manufacturers are in it, the inescapable competition between them in the electric car space will definitely result in better quality products for Americans.

Conclusion

Power generation in the United States is undergoing rapid de-carbonizing. For the country to fulfill its mandate of helping maintain global temperatures below 2C, it must target the transport sector. This is one area in which the nation's carbon pollution has not experienced much improvement in the twenty-first century. It is also an area that is rapidly improving technology has the potential to make a huge difference. Top car manufacturers are now aware that the shift from gasoline-powered cars to EVs is inevitable, and are adjusting themselves accordingly. One way of accelerating this transition is by putting a price on carbon pollution. Gas prices in the US are still low at about $2.50 per gallon. Such a situation encourages more Americans to purchase vehicles with low fuel efficiency. While the transition to electric vehicles is proceeding slowly, it is definitely a major part of America's future.

Works Cited

Ajanovic, Amela. "The future of electric vehicles: prospects and impediments." Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment 4.6 (2015): 521-536.

Baur, Dirk G., and Todorova Neda. "Automobile Manufacturers, Electric Vehicles and the Price of Oil." Energy Economics (2018).

Carr-Ruffino, Norma, and John Acheson. "The hybrid phenomenon." The Futurist 41.4 (2007): 16.

Cecere, Grazia, Nicoletta Corrocher, and Marco Guerzoni. "Price or performance? A probabilistic choice analysis of the intention to buy electric vehicles in European countries." Energy Policy 118 (2018): 19-32.

Wilberforce, Tabbi, et al. "Developments of electric cars and fuel cell hydrogen electric cars." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 42.40 (2017): 25695-25734.