Essay Sample on Electric Cars: From Innovation to Substitution

Introduction

In 1890, William Morrison introduced the first electric car in Des Moines, Lowa. Morrison's 6-passenger vehicle had a maximum speed of 14 miles/hour (Ayres). His innovation inspired Americans to endorse electric vehicles; for instance, in New York City, roughly 60 electric taxis were introduced. By 1900, about 33% of the cars sold in the USA were electric vehicles (Matulka). However, when gas-powered cars were discovered, they became a suitable substitute that overtook electric automobiles. The prolonged refueling duration, higher retail prices compared to fuel-based cars, and the limited speed range associated with electric vehicles have curtailed their global usage.

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Most of the electric cars have a limited speed range. Even though some of the electric vehicles have a speed limit of up to 300 miles, most electric automobiles have a speed range of about 80 to 100 miles (Ayres). The limited speed range makes electric vehicles unfeasible option for the long-distance trips. Therefore, the use of electric cars is unviable due to the speed limit that compels users to have multiple refuel sessions. Moreover, there are few refueling stations established within the USA to facilitate increased electric cars usage. The centralized urban refueling stations have worsened the limited speed range issue due to the few nationwide recharging access. The limited speed range and few refueling stations linked with electric automobiles have made gas-powered vehicles a more reliable transportation mode.

Electric cars require a prolonged refueling duration. The use of electric cars is one of the best alternatives that most agencies have proposed to utilize to curb pollution and reduce over-dependence on fossil fuel. Hence, charging an electric car is a convenient option for powering automobiles. However, it is a lengthy process that requires the user to wait for hours before the vehicle is fully charged. For example, for every charging hour, an average electric car receives a 25 miles input to its total range when it is powered by a 240 voltage source (Ayres). Conversely, fuel-based vehicles are refueled within a few minutes to cater to their 600 miles range fuel demands. The lengthy refueling times associated with electric cars exposes the limitations that have barred their global usage.

Electric vehicles have a relatively higher retail price compared to fuel-based cars. In the United States, the average cost of an electric automobile ranges from almost $30,000 to $40,000 (Ayres). Additionally, the size of an ordinary electric car is equivalent to a small-sized fuel-powered vehicle. It implies that the cost of an electric vehicle is double the price of a gas-powered car in the same category. Even though some regions have endorsed alternative minimum tax to promote electric car usage, their net sales are relatively low. Despite the readily available tax incentives, electric vehicles require high capital cost that is quite difficult for the user to recover through the low fuel and maintenance costs. High retail prices of electric cars have promoted fuel-based vehicles dominance in the American automobile sector.

Electric cars offer a sustainable driving experience compared to fuel-based vehicles. An electric car offers improved driving experience since there is no combustion required to power the vehicle. As a result, electric cars are very quiet, and the ride is exceptionally smooth with few technical hitches when shifting gears. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences statistics shows that noise exposure causes various health complications (The Week magazine). Hence, nearly half of the American population experiences adverse traffic noise problems linked to high fuel-based vehicle usage. The noise reduction advantage linked to electric cars assists in creating a conducive environment for the society. Therefore, electric cars offer an environmentally friendly driving experience that promotes environmental preservation.

The US offers lucrative incentives for electric car acquisitions. It has adopted an incentivized federal tax credit for every new electric vehicle bought. The federal tax incentives added up to $7,500 for every new electric car purchased within the American jurisdiction (Matulka). The alternative minimum tax varies based on the overall size and the battery capacity of the electric automobile one purchases. The American government has offered customized incentives for the first 200,000 electric cars that the public will purchase (Ayres). The lucrative federal tax credit should encourage the Americans to buy the tech-savvy electric automobiles rather than the gas-powered vehicles.

The electric cars provide a sustainable driving experience compared to fuel-based vehicles. They have contributed to a significant reduction in emissions that have lowered air pollution. Even if the electric cars are stuck in traffic, no fuel is combusted to power the vehicle. Therefore, there are no greenhouse gases emitted during its operation. Conversely, the electric vehicles are unsustainable transportation mode due to the few refueling stations and prolonged recharging duration they require (Ayres). Most of the refueling stations are centralized in major urban centers rather than being located in various regions. Hence, electric cars cannot be used by the public for long-distance trips due to limited refueling stations and lengthy recharging duration.

The American government has offered enticing federal incentives to promote electric car usage. The federal credit tax has been tailored to suit the battery capacity and overall size of the cars being purchased. However, the retail price of most electric cars is relatively high compared to the fuel-powered vehicles; for example, an electric automobile in the USA ranger from nearly $30,000 to $40,000 (Ayres). Moreover, an average electric car's size is comparable to a small gas-powered vehicle. Therefore, the high retail prices of electric cars make them unfeasible despite their low fuel and maintenance expenses.

Conclusion

The prolonged refueling duration, higher retail price compared to fuel-based cars, and the limited range associated with electric vehicles have curtailed their global usage. The limited speed range and few refueling stations linked with electric automobiles have made gas-powered vehicles a more reliable transportation mode. The lengthy refueling times associated with electric cars exposes the limitations that have barred their global usage. High retail prices of electric cars have promoted fuel-based vehicles dominance in the American automobile sector.

Works Cited

Ayres, Crystal. "15 Electric Cars Pros and Cons". Vittana.Org, 2019, https: //vittana.org/15-electric-cars-pros-and-cons. Accessed 25 July 2019.

Matulka, Rebecca. "The History of the Electric Car". Energy.Gov, 2014, https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-electric-car. Accessed 25 July 2019.

The Week magazine. "Electric Cars: The Pros and Cons of EV Ownership". The Week UK, 2019, https://www.theweek.co.uk/94165/the-pros-and-cons-of-electric-cars. Accessed 25 July 2019