Transportation is necessary, but too often we find ourselves driving gasoline or diesel vehicles that harm our health, environment and pockets when we could be using electric vehicles.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation accounts for roughly 27% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S.
GHGs lock heat into the atmosphere, causing climate change and the whole slew of problems that come with it. These problems include elevated temperatures, worsening weather events and illnesses from air pollution.
Electric vehicles (EVs) emit no greenhouse gasses while gasoline-powered vehicles let out carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, all of which are greenhouse gasses, from their tailpipe.
Tailpipes are not the only source of vehicle-related GHG emissions. The electricity sources utilized during the manufacturing of all vehicles and the charging of EVs also contribute.
According to the International Council on Clean Transportation, battery electric vehicles, one type of EV, emit fewer GHGs during manufacturing than gasoline internal combustion engine vehicles.
However, battery electric vehicles do have additional greenhouse gas emissions during the production of their batteries, bringing their total manufacturing emissions above internal combustion engine vehicles. To combat this, electric vehicle batteries can be recycled, reducing the amount of them that need to be manufactured.
The recycled components can go towards making new lithium-ion batteries for EVs and batteries that store solar energy.
This helps to lower the GHG emissions that are products of the battery-making process, as well as lower the number of battery components from EVs that end up in landfills.
EVs do not use the oils and fluids that gas and diesel vehicles do, lowering the amount of fluids that polluting oceans and other bodies of water.
Motor oil, along with other auto-related liquids, can get washed off of the streets and into lakes, streams, rivers and more, damaging the life living there.
These oils can also get into our water supplies, contaminating them and making them unusable.
This restricts water access to people that may need it.
Not only are EVs better for our water supply and environment, but they are also better for our health.
Vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel produce smog and pollute our air.
According to California’s Air Resources Board, 80% of smog-causing air pollution in California comes from vehicle emissions.
These emissions can increase the risk of developing various respiratory and cardiac illnesses like asthma, heart disease, and lung disease.
An individual’s risk level increases the closer they are to frequently traveled roads like highways and expressways. EVs do not produce nearly as much smog and pollution as gasoline-powered vehicles, which means that they could lower our risk of illnesses and improve our health.
In addition to better health and a better environment, EVs can save you money.
Many often balk at the initial price tag of EVs, but multiple factors go into why they can cost less long term.
According to Consumer Reports, electric vehicles “need less maintenance, and generally cost less to repair than the average gas-powered vehicle.”
Less maintenance means less money spent on repairs.
A Consumer Reports survey stipulated that owners of EVs “pay half as much to repair and maintain their vehicles” and can save “an average of $4,600 in repair and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle compared with a gasoline-powered car.”
The cost of electric fueling is also significantly less than a traditional vehicle. According to EnergySage, a solar energy company, “charging an EV is approximately 3.5 times cheaper per mile than the cost of fueling a gas-powered car.” Federal and state governments also gives out tax incentives and credits for people purchasing electric vehicles.
These savings can quickly pile up to counteract the amount of money an electric vehicle may cost you. Soon, you may not even have the option to purchase a gas or diesel vehicle.
States across the country are following in the footsteps of California by mandating a zero-emission vehicle policy. These policies prohibit the selling of all new vehicles that produce emissions such as gas and diesel-powered ones.
Right now, it is still our decision to make the switch to an EV. I would recommend you use an EV to save Earth, money and your health.