Electric Technology in the Transport Sector in the United States

Electric Technology in the Transport Sector in the United States

Abstract

The United States continues to demand a reduction in overreliance on foreign oil and fossil fuels to propel the transport and the manufacturing industries. The transportation system is critical in determining the way forward in improved efficiency standards and reduced taxes in transportation costs. To achieve this, the electrification of the transportation system in the nation remains to be a probable solution. As a leading nation in establishing minimal harm to the global environment, the US government associates with multiple automobile companies such as Ford, Nissan, Tesla, Mitsubishi and BMW amongst others that plan to distribute plug-in hybrid vehicles and battery electric vehicles to the American population. The nation is challenged by the cost of the electrified vehicles, the structural support of the electrified vehicles, including charging points, the attributes of electric vehicles over conventional vehicles, and the efficient and adequate availability of electrical energy. The United States hosts the PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) and the BEVs (Basic electric vehicles), with each having an incremental charge over the conventional vehicle in terms of the battery. Over time, Americans have been selecting gasoline vehicles over BEVS and PHEVS, which is more expensive. A decrease in the electrified modes of transport could bolster the industry. The modern American consumer remains concerned about the reliability of a vehicle, aesthetics, and performance in determining the car of choice. Such are issues that electric motor vehicles should address.

Electric Technology in the Transport Sector in the United States

Introduction

Electric vehicles offer zero emission of greenhouse gases over gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. On this challenge, automobile companies have been competing on displaying electric cars to grace the American roads (**). Electric vehicles offer the United States energy security and reduced consumption of oil while stimulating jobs in vehicle and battery industries. Electrification of the transport industry further promises municipalities and industries potential to reach stringent conditions for conventional emissions such as particles of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

The private and public sectors face the challenge of incurring transitioning costs from gasoline-powered to electric cars due to the capacity development and distribution system of the cars and the recharging sectors. The private sector costs include research, and technological investments include research and design of vehicles capable of convincing the public to prefer electric cars over conventional cars. The public then incurs a cost through taxation as appropriate infrastructures are installed by the government to supplement the electric cars. It is essential to explain to the public what the electric car technology really is and why Americans should consider it over the gasoline-powered cars. This is in consideration that electric cars come at a higher cost.

Literature Review

Technology, in attempts to high gasoline consumption, significantly is expected to improve fleet efficiency and miles traveled and substituted gasoline with other energy sources (**). Considerable reductions in travel made would arise with high costs of gasoline, which appears not to happen soon. A viable option is alternative energy options, which include electricity, biofuels, hydrogen, and compressed natural gas (CNG).

Major electric vehicles (EV) operating in the United States are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) (**). Chemical energy is preserved in rechargeable battery packs for BEVs to run on. They have a mean range of about 1000 miles with their operation level mirroring the gasoline cars. The history of electric vehicles includes begins from the 20^th-century American automobile history where the country had: an electric motor operating cars which were slow, expensive but clean; a gasoline-powered engine (ICE) that was complex to start traveling long distances with minimal refueling and; combustion engines powered by steam requiring too much time to start, inexpensive and fast and refilled with water after few kilometers (**). Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in establishing the Ford automobile giant considered the electric option but disregarded it as gasoline-powered cars offered travel for long distances. Therefore, the limited range is a challenge over costs. Ford, Nissan, Tesla, Mitsubishi, and BMW sold over 5,000 BEVs cars in 2014 across the United States (**). These companies continue to consider plug-in hybrids that result in a trade-off between range and cost.

PHEVs are plug-in hybrids with rechargeable batteries installed and charged through an electric source just like the BEV. PHEV can run on gasoline when the charge is exhausted. China’s BYD and Europe’s Renault lead in the production of PHEV though Volkswagen, Toyota, and Ford began the production of PHEVs prototype in 2013 (**). Chevrolet Volt is the most common PHEV in America. It can drive for 40 miles relying solely on battery energy and 350 miles on gasoline. It is thus precise technology offers a solution for reduced greenhouse gases emission; the challenge occurs on the range and the willingness of Americans to purchase them and the costs.

Methodology

The study primarily relies on secondary data. To acquire primary data, the researcher would require vast resources to visit different states and observe or interview operators on the costs and availability of electric vehicles. To overcome the challenge, the researcher relied on secondary reliable information outlets such as the media and the peer-reviewed articles. The keywords used to search for journals included US green technology in the transport industry, electric vehicles in America, petroleum products, US energy consumption, oil, environmental conservation, and climate change. The search was resourceful. The 21^st century is characterized by a generation that is sensitive to climate change and the preservation of the environment to benefit future generations. As a result, there were multiple articles to analyze the research topic. To qualify for review, the reports required to have adhered to scientific research methodologies and disseminated the findings on acknowledged journals to ensure the validity of the information.

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Findings and Discussion

This study observes that between 2010 and 2018, the operation and purchase of BEV and PHEV is average US$4,819 and US$5,377 more expensive, respectively, compared to the gasoline-powered cars (**). If the gasoline prices increase, and the battery costs decline, the electric vehicles would be less expensive than the gasoline dependent vehicles. The reduction in cost would range between US$1,155 and US$7,181. PHEVs remains to be more costly than BEVs as BEVs are built more simply, unlike PHEVs defined with complex drive trains and a higher range.

With the presence of the technology, it is essential to consider whether the American citizen would be willing to forego conventional cars for the eco-friendly electric vehicles. A car purchase is determined by multiple attributes, including reliability, aesthetics, cost, and performance, amongst others. While electric technology has made attractive inventions to ensure electric cars are comparable with conventional vehicles, consumers are concerned with the electric car’s reliability of the electric cars (**). BEVs especially are highly disadvantaged by the range limit. More advanced technology to improve the battery could translate to more acceptance of the electric cars. Performance in terms of range plagues the penetration of electric cars in the American market. Interventions by federal and state governments to improve battery technology and increase gasoline prices could boost the acceptance of electric vehicles as they could compete with conventional vehicles (**).

Electric cars require a different infrastructure to operate smoothly. There should be adequate electricity sources where the vehicles can be connected for recharging. America thus has to have sufficient electricity generation and transmission and distribution capacity (**). The government had the private sector must, therefore, provide the solution for the infrastructure. Commercial enterprises and households can install such equipment as it is inexpensive. Distribution and adequacy of generation systems differ from one state to another, with the electric utility industry expected to invest in that front additionally. The private sector, however, would only make such investments once there is a demand for the services (**).

Conclusion

As discussed, Ford, at its foundation, considered the cost of vehicle electrification but abandoned it for gasoline-powered ones due to cost. Electric cars offer America the solution to minimize gasoline reliance due to the emission of greenhouse gases. The PHEVs and BEVs are the solution. They still require battery improvements to compete significantly with conventional cars, and that time is in the near future. Governments have to support the progress through availing adequate infrastructure for electric cars and increase the gasoline price.

Acknowledgments

Researchers inform, educate, and raise questions for future research. This study is dedicated to those who have conducted past genuine research in the transportation sector in different parts of the world. This research was concluded by referring to past research articles to detect what was found, discussed, and recommended. May this document be beneficial to a researcher in the future.

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