The world of the future is often associated with the invention of electricity-powered

cars. With promises of remarkable benefits, electric cars seem to be the best way to go for transportation in the modern era. Electric cars have attained much of their interest from the undeniable effects of climate change that have been seen all over the globe. New car

companies reassure that the electric car could be a major way to reduce greenhouse gases and further protect our endangered environment. Although many agree with this prospect, there have been rising issues regarding the extent of the positive impact of electric cars.

There are many pros and cons of electric cars, not only for the environment, but in our everyday life.

Electric cars, also known as battery-electric cars, are automobiles powered by electric batteries inside the car’s motors. The concept is often associated to be invented by Robert Anderson in the early 1800s. They are popular for the idea of energy conservation and releasing fewer emissions into the atmosphere.

A large preposition of electric cars is their energy-efficient build. Electric car batteries convert 59 to 62 percent of energy into vehicle movement, while regular gas-powered cars can only convert between 17 and 21 percent. This fact is often mentioned when discussing the benefits electric cars could have on our environment. However, although batteries contain more energy that can be used at once, they have a much shorter lifespan than gas power. The average distance after one fill of gas in a gas-powered car is 300 miles/charge, but for electric cars, it is around 60-120 miles/charge after one battery change. This means that electric cars not only need frequent charging, but are also only able to go for short distances; an insufficient option for current roads. Although electric cars may be more energy-efficient, the distance they can go per charge is much less than that of a regular car.

Another benefit of electric cars in regards to improving the environment is a reduced production of pollution and waste. Currently, it has been found by the UK government that more than 25% of greenhouse gas emissions are directly from transportation vehicles, especially tailpipe emissions from gas-powered automobiles. Electric cars rid of the gas release function on cars altogether, seemingly becoming much more eco-friendly. Even more impressively, much of the electric car is made with recycled materials. Even used batteries can retain up to 80% of their original energy capacity.

However, electric cars still have a carbon footprint. Although the cars themselves do not create the same levels of carbon emissions, the manufacturing process of electric cars is still heavily reliant on non-renewable energy, contributing to pollution and detrimental harm to the environment. Electric cars can reduce the severe environmental impact of gas emissions, but their manufacture is still a large producer of air pollution and waste.

Even though it can be said that there are just as many cons to electric cars as there are pros, I still think electric cars are a worthwhile investment, at least in the near future. As technology continuously evolves and we think of new, innovative ways how our world can improve with environmental impact in mind, I’m sure that our modes of transportation will change and start a better, mindful path for our time ahead. The current electric cars could be seen as just a stepping stone to the best version of transportation our world can create. But for now, it is the best we have, and I believe we should all try to do what we can to make sure our environment can stay safe and recover.

Citations

Bakx, Kyle. “Trucking Companies May Want to Go Electric, but It Wont#39;t Be Easy or Cheap | CBC

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Bater, Emily. “The Environmental Pros and Cons of Electric Cars.” Admiral, Admiral, 22 Oct.

2020, www.admiral.com/magazine/guides/motor/the-environmental-pros-and-cons-of-

electric-cars.

Gonçalves, André. “Are Electric Cars Really Eco-Friendly? Maybe Not as Such Much as You

Think.” Youmatter, Youmatter, 25 Sept. 2018, youmatter.world/en/are-electric-cars-eco-

friendly-and-zero-emission-vehicles-26440/.

“Pros and Cons of Electric Cars.” EnergySage, U.S. Department of Energy,

www.energysage.com/electric-vehicles/101/pros-and-cons-electric-cars/.

wikipedia. “Electric Car.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Apr. 2022,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car.\

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