Electronic Cars Are Going to Decrease Pollution

Electronic Cars Are Going to Decrease Pollution

 Increased pollution is one of the challenges facing the world today. This issue is associated with other problems, such as climate change and negative health outcomes. As a result, electric vehicles (EVs) are heralded as the panacea to the problem of increased pollution that has been plaguing the globe for a long time. These vehicles seek to decrease the use of cars run by diesel or petrol, which are known to produce high quantities of pollutants. As the name suggests, EVs are run on electricity. This paper argues that EVs cars are going to decrease pollution by producing less lifecycle emissions, even if they are run by electricity generated from fossil sources.

As compared to their traditional counterparts, all-electric cars do not produce direct emissions. Vehicle emissions happen in two ways: Direct and lifecycle (Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy). On this note, direct emissions occur through the evaporation of fuel. This may happen when fuel is being transported from one position to another. At the same time, fuel may evaporate while inside a car’s tank. Also, the direct emissions may occur during the fueling process. The combustion of fossils may produce chemicals that are harmful to the environment. On this note, direct emissions comprise of smog-forming pollutants like nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy). However, electricity does not produce any of these pollutants when it is used as a source of energy for the cars. Thus, electric cars would decrease the total amount of pollutants getting into the environment as a result of their zero direct emissions.

At the same time, electric cars produce substantially less lifecycle emissions. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, all cars produce substantial lifecycle emissions. Electricity produces fewer emissions in comparison to the burning of gasoline or diesel. This means that cars that run on electricity as their source of power produce fewer pollutants throughout their lifecycles. However, the amount of pollution that can be attributed to EVs differs from one area to another. This is because the electricity used to run EVs can be generated from a wide variety of sources, such as biomass, water, or fossil fuel. These energy sources produce different quantities of pollutants. A study conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICTT) revealed that electric cars have significantly lower lifecycle emissions in comparison to their counterparts that use petrol or diesel (Ellsmoor). Other agencies have also reached the same conclusion regarding the lifecycle emissions produced by electric cars. For instance, the European Environment Agency states that the lifecycle emissions of EVs are approximately 17-30% lower in comparison to those produced by diesel and petrol vehicles. This means that EVs are safer for the environment compared to petrol or diesel cars.

On the other hand, some people hold the argument that electric cars will not decrease pollution since most of the global electricity is produced from fossils fuels. As such, EVs will only increase the demand for electricity produced through pollutants-rich products such as fossils (Franklin-Cheung). This means that electric cars may end up increasing pollution, although indirectly. At the same time, there is the argument that says that electric cars increase pollution through the manufacturer of the batteries needed to run these vehicles. On this note, a study conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICTT) revealed that counties that produce batteries or related products have a higher rate of emissions (Ellsmoor). This argument shows that EVs have an indirect effect on the levels of pollution across the globe.

In rebuttal, EVs may decrease pollution even if they are run by electricity produced from fossil sources. On this note, a study conducted at Northwestern University revealed that even when EVs use electricity produced from combustion sources, these cars have a net positive impact on climate change and air quality. This study appreciates that EVs may increase the demand for electricity produced from fossil sources. However, the study revealed that EVs have more pros than cons as far as reducing pollution is concerned.  At the same time, electric cars may produce more emissions through the manufacture of the batteries needed to run them. According to the European Environment Agency, emissions associated with EVs are usually higher during the production face but they are offset by the long term usage of these cars. Batteries used by electric cars are long-lasting. This means that there is no need for constant manufacturing of the batteries that run EVs. On the other hand, traditional vehicles need diesel or petrol regularly.

In conclusion, increased adoption of electric cars will play a crucial role in decreasing the levels of pollution globally. This is because these vehicles produce fewer pollutants in comparison to their counterparts that use diesel or petrol. However, EVs can only attain their goals of reducing pollution if they are run by electricity produced from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. This means that policymakers have a responsibility to pass necessary pieces of legislation that will offer adequate incentives that will increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. If this does not happen, EVs will not achieve their goals of triggering a substantial decrease in pollution levels.

Works Cited

Ellsmoor, James. “Are Electric Vehicles Really Better for the Environment?” The Forbes, 20 May. 2019. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/05/20/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-for-the-environment/#53d3294476d2

European Environment Agency. “EAA Report Confirms: Electric Cars Are Better for Climate and air Quality.” European Environment Agency, 10 Dec. 2019. https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/eea-report-confirms-electric-cars

Franklin-Cheung, Alexandra. “Will electric cars reduce pollution?” Science Focus, N.D. Retrieved from https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/will-electric-cars-reduce-pollution/

Northwestern University. “Electric Vehicle Adoption Improves Air Quality and Climate Outlook.” Science Daily, 12 April. 2019, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190412122912.htm. Accessed on March 17, 2020.

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.” Reducing Pollution with Electric Vehicles.” Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, N. D. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/reducing-pollution-electric-vehicles