A revolution is well underway in the automotive industry. Electric vehicles are flying out of production facilities quicker than ever before.
It seems everyone has already hopped on the EV bandwagon. For good reason, though. The planet we call Earth needs to be taken care of. The environment is not invincible. The resources we take and do not replace, are not infinite. Just like us, the world is capable of reaching its limit.
Electric vehicles were the answer to the pain and suffering we were responsible for causing the planet. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the transportation industry accounted for nearly 30% of all emissions in 2017.
That outrageous number caught the eye of millions of individuals over the last decade, which gave way to a heap of people wanting to save Earth with their electric vehicles. Turns out though, the manufacturing process still emits harmful pollutants into the air.
The issue with electric vehicles is, well, they have issues. The idea that the internal combustion engine is going to completely die out is absurd. To begin with, Americans love their cars. When’s the last time you heard a battery sound like a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500? The answer is you haven’t, and you probably never will. I don’t foresee a gearhead trading in his muscle car for a Nissan Leaf anytime soon.
Next, history loves to repeat itself. That is not an old saying somebody heard from some guy at a saloon; it’s fact. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, electric vehicles actually came before the petrol-based vehicles we know today. They died out because they didn’t work as well, they were expensive to make, and even harder to fix.
So, if history loves to repeat itself, are electric vehicles in for a rude awakening yet again?
I get it; electric vehicles still go fast, technology is significantly more advanced than it was in 1901, and they serve a purpose this time around. Yet, they also have a laundry list of problems that nobody seems to be recognizing.
Evs Are Nearly Inoperable in Winter
Winters can be harsh in the United States. The Midwest sees temperatures drop to negative 30 almost every year. Those conditions can ruin regular vehicles in a heartbeat; imagine what they’ll do to a glorified phone battery.
Freezing temperatures will drain the range of electric vehicles, making them even more difficult to take on long-distance drives. Fast charging will be null and void to protect the battery. Not to mention, the charging stations themselves could be buried in snow or frozen. The car will use less power and not handle or perform nearly as well. For the battery to be heated, it will hold some of the energy that it usually puts out causing performance to be lesser.
While the technology is most certainly improving, it is not where it needs to be for EVs to be winter-ready.
Are EVs Truly Releasing “Zero” Emissions?
Absolutely not.
The common misconception with the “zero” emission idea is that even while EVs are being made, that they aren’t harming the environment. That premise is false.
Most 2020 model EVs are going to emit little to no emissions when they’re being driven, but when they’re being made, greenhouse gases and air pollutants are still being released.
The manufacturing process involves a range of rare earth metals to produce the electric batteries. To extract and manipulate these metals, emissions are indeed occurring. Over time, the manufacturing cycle will get smoother and more efficient – but right now, the emissions being released into the environment by producing an EV compared to a petrol-based engine, are barely worth noting.
That isn’t to say that the emissions from an EV will not be significantly less than an internal combustion vehicle sometime in the future; but while the process is being perfected, the emissions are still happening.
So, if emissions are still occurring, why would people go spend the outrageous amount of money it takes to buy an EV?
I’ll let you answer that one.
EVs are Expensive to Make, Buy, and Fix
Electric vehicles are far more expensive to make than internal combustion engines. Battery technology is not advanced enough to utilize cost-efficient products. For a longer charge range to be achieved, you need expensive materials that are tough to find.
EVs are dramatically more expensive to buy for a regular consumer. A lowly Chevrolet Bolt, which maxes out at 85 mph, will cost more than $35,000. If you’d like to upgrade to a Porsche Taycan, that’ll cost you around $110,000. For comparison, you can buy a 2020 Kia Telluride – arguably the best SUV on the market – for around $30,000.
On top of those costs, you’ll need a charger for your home which will run you around $2,500. Then, what happens if you need maintenance or service? Your local mechanic that’s been serving the area for 40 years is going to laugh in your face when you ask him to fix your EV. Few mechanics in the U.S. are qualified to handle battery technology.
Range
The issue that’s on the mind of most concerned consumers, is the range of electric vehicles. An average petrol vehicle will take you about 400 to 500 miles on one tank. It then takes a mere five minutes to fill it back up.
Electric vehicles, even the expensive ones, will take you 300 miles maximum. The average EV will take you 150 to 200 miles. Then, even with speedy charging, it’s going to take 15 to 20 minutes to get a full charge. In most cases to get a full charge you’re going to need to let it sit overnight. The inconvenience is something many Americans are not willing to suffer through.
Have You Seen a Charging Station Before?
Because I think I’ve seen one, and it was at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Unless you’re in California or some uber populated area, you don’t see electric charging stations at every corner gas station. The grid for charging stations is minuscule, at best. So, what happens when you’re taking a lengthy trip and don’t come across a charging station?
The questions seem to be endless, and the answers are not yet found. Yes, the electric vehicle looks to be the future, but right now, the technology is failing the American consumers’ needs.
