The Future of Transportation: Electric Vehicle Revolution - Essay Sample

Introduction

The electric vehicle (EV) scene is finally setting in; the future of transportations is slowly changing from the conventional system that has defined numerous cultures for over a century. Societies both in the United States and other countries are moving towards the "better" notion of sustainable driving. From the perspective of the demography seeking electric cars, they believe that fossil fuel-powered vehicles are archaic.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The reality is electric cars are being pushed to the masses by the government and manufacturers. They are promoting the notion that electric vehicles allow people to move from one point to the other without directly affecting the environment. The world we live in today is very different from that of the early to the mid-20th century. The world's crude oil reserves are depleting, and the world is experiencing climatic changes due to global warming. The introduction of new EV technology that can curb the effects of human activities could be the answer but not the long-term solution.

Tesla Roadster delayed again, as Musk admits it's at the back of the queue (Moldrich ,C., 2018).

From the first modern EV to take the road in the early 2000s, there has been a question that has been floating among critics, "are electric cars truly clean?" The subject encompasses various aspects of the manufacturing process of electric cars. From the manufacturing concerns to battery power sourcing. The debate has been fueled by the copious misleading information behind the facts on the efficiency of EVs. So how clean are electric vehicles when they are assessed from a holistic aspect.

Battery Production

Electric vehicle battery systems and their development (Yasin, Sarah, 2018).

Regarded as the most routine argument when discussing the cleanliness of electric cars, battery production requires a wide range of rare metals. The contribution of metals contributes to various forms of pollution affecting the climate and environment. The notion is supported by a 2018 report from the ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation). The organization confirmed that the regions where EV batteries are produced experience elevated levels of emissions due to the mining and processing of the metals. The organization in another comparative study compared ICEV (internal combustion engine vehicles) and EVs in China. The results of the study identified that currently, manufactures are not efficient. Manufacturing techniques and infrastructure are needed to critically reduce emissions.

Battery manufacturing must be considered as IEA (The International Energy Agency) confirms the rise in EV ownership. The organization further predicts the number of EVs on the road to exceeding 120 million globally by 2030. The notion is supported by the previously stated government initiatives. For example, it is well known that the State of California is pro-EV, it is depicted by the numerous tax cuts and legislations for owning and using an electric vehicle. The state government issued Executive Order B-16-2012, which directed state bodies to promptly facilitate the sale of ZEVs (zero-emission vehicles).

Governor Brown Takes Action to Increase Zero-Emission Vehicles, Fund New Climate Investments (Lam,S., 2018).

Nevertheless, the sale of EVs is rising, with the Chinese market taking the lead with sales of over 1 million electric cars as of 2018. The figure is over 55% of the global purchase of EVs. However, when it comes to electric motorcycles, trucks, buses, and scooters, China accounts for 99% of purchases.

The pressure for countries to go electric is increasing with various bans of fossil fuel vehicles being implemented in Europe. Some of the results include the close to 50% market share of electric vehicles in countries such as Norway. German giant automaker Volkswagen pledged the halt of manufacturing internal combustion engines by 2030, focusing more on EV technology. The pressure on the production of batteries to power the increasing demand for EVs will directly affect emissions as extraction will increase to comply with the market demand. It is essential to consider the already present pollution and emissions caused by the extraction of aluminum and copper needed to create the chasses and electric motors.

Electricity Sources

The purpose of electric cars, as identified by the majority of the population purchasing them, is to reduce the carbon dioxide, Sulphur-, and nitrogen-based compound emissions. Internal combustion engine vehicles have been directly associated with global warming. However, it is counterproductive in all aspects to provide electricity from EVs by burning fossil fuels. The notion comprehends with the introductory statement that EVs were still highly inefficient due to the current infrastructure and technology.

For example, according to the EIA (the U.S. Energy Information Administration), the country still relies on fossil fuels for over 60% of power generation. Germany, on the other hand, opted to rely on renewable energy; however, close to 45% of electricity is produced from fossil fuels.

Where Your Electricity Comes From and Why You Should Care (Tarbi, L 2013).

Therefore, it is accurate to state that EVs are facilitating pollution reduction in localized areas. However, they are not significantly impacting the global emission rates. The current infrastructure is limiting the intended outcome of the increase in EVs. The lack of prospective changes in the current global electrical grid could only result in the reduction of GWP (Global warming potential) of primary electricity sources. The assessment of power production and EVs demonstrate the possible shift problems as electric cars are intended to aid in the reduction of emissions and pollution.

Recycling Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Batteries

It was previously mentioned that EVs are on the rise, and in 2017, the number of EVs globally surpassed 1 million. With moderate assumptions, the battery pack of an average EV weighs approximately 200 kgs and with the volume of half a cubic meter. When EVs reach end-of-life, a study identified that less than 5% are properly recycled. The outcome is over 200,000kgs and over half a million cubic meters of unprocessed e-waste. With increments in demand for EVs and the inefficient recycling infrastructure, the burden of e-waste is expected to increase. Some of the acknowledged challenges by the government include the lack of storage for the batteries before determining how they will be reused or discarded. The main issue with EV batteries is the components used in its manufacture. The chemicals leave environmental footprints of the manufacturing process.

However, according to a study by Ziemann et al. (2018), from the journal resources, conservation, and recycling, the value of LiBs (lithium-ion batteries) is expected to rise. They offered the suggestion that the LiBs should undergo a hierarchy of processes that will allow for the optimal use of and maximization of the batteries. The market for energy storage is still under development, and regulators are still implementing policies in relation to the changes. The EV is a disruptive technology that is revolutionizing the automotive industry targeting emissions.

Facts and Opinions

In the current economic environment, it is difficult to negate some types of issues with consumer products. Some of the best examples available stem from multinational companies such as Foxconn. The company is well known for providing critical smartphone parts for companies such as Apple, Samsung, and others. However, it experienced disputes over the working conditions. Regardless of consumer electronic, supply chain issues are expected, considering the majority of LiBs source from China. The transportation of the final products via water contributes to emissions. EVs have been identified to rely on challenging metals to facilitate their construction. Their extraction and processing significantly contribute to greenhouse emissions.

The production process of EVs creates both environmental and human rights issues. They are severe and require absolute addressing. EVs will continue to contribute to environmental harm until proper infrastructure to improve the extraction, manufacture and energizing of BiLs is attained. Alex Kierstein (2019), from Autoblog, suggested that among the first steps in ensuring EVs attain their objective is by controlling the mostly unregulated extraction process. As previously mentioned, EVs are a disruptive technology and lack the needed policies and regulations compared to conventional vehicles. The majority o the technology implemented in the vehicles are still under testing. For example, Tesla's autopilot feature was not regulated for months until random errors that caused accidents forced the government to intervene.

The overall consensus from the various researchers, authors and bloggers is that it is critical to address the costs incurred by the violation of human rights and environmental pollution. Organizations such as the EPA and OSHA are actively addressing the issues relating to EV in the United States. Europe, on the other hand, is controlled by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, among other organizations which develop policies and expectations for the EV market. For the other regions of the world, mostly third world countries seeking EVs, it will rely on the people to influence politicians to make the needed initiatives. Either way, the current efficacy state of EVs is too low. According to the MITEI (Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative) Senior Research Engineer Howard Herzog,

MITEI Senior Research Engineer Howard J. Herzog discusses his new book (Travers, K., 2018).

it would require the extraction of 15 to 20 billion tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide annually for the earth to retain its original state before the industrial revolution. Nevertheless, EVs offer a start to the process; it will require a lot of modifications for higher efficacy.

Comment Piece

The change is here, and green technology is being openly embraced by various governments globally. Currently, the Corona Virus is the leading issue affecting humanity, and it is closely followed by climate change. It is a known fact that developed countries, as well as highly populated developing countries, are the leading polluters among the other nations. For example, before COVID-19, regions such as New Delhi, India, and Shenzhen, China was well known for their smog-filled skies. The increase in demand for EV (electric vehicles) and shift from conventional internal combustion Engines is aimed towards reducing emissions and the effects of green house warming. However, there have been numerous questions on whether EVs are technically "clean" technology, or they still contribute to emissions. Regardless, the use of EVs is a step forward in humanity's fight against global warming. The features present in EVs offer the desired pathways towards humanities' eventual limitation of global warming below two degrees Celsius.

Though no direct greenhouse gases are produced directly by EVs, they utilize electricity that is sourced from various energy sources, among them fossil fuels. It is also essential to view the power consumption of the manufacturing facilities that produce EVs. From a personal perspective to achieve the bold objective of climate goals, EVs must be more than a niche product for the rich. The notion is valid with older EVs and further supported by the new EVs being produced. The primary purpose of EVs is to offer a cheaper and cleaner means of travelling from one place to the other. However, the current prices of the standard EV mo...