Electric Vehicles and Zero-Emission Cars - Essay Example

Electric Vehicles and Zero-Emission Cars Abstract This research considers electric vehicles and zero-emissions cars. The research demonstrates that electric vehicles assumed a greater position of prominence in the later 20th century, when concerns over the difficulty of gaining oil and global warming increased. The essay then demonstrates that while electric vehicles have gained popularity they still remain less cost effective than traditional petroleum vehicles. Finally, the research considers that the emergence of zero-emissions vehicles presents a sustainable alternative to the significant pollution produced by gas powered cars. Introduction The 21st century has ushered in a new host of problems. To a large extent one recognizes that the increasing move towards globalization has created many of these challenges. One of the most predominant difficulties is energy consumption. Energy consumption is a notable concern both for the difficulties associated with attaining overseas petroleum, as well as environmental concerns over gas emissions. While petroleum use, most scientists agree, threatens the environment, society still has maintained a strong reliance on this energy source. In recent years, however, electric vehicles and zero-emission cars have emerged that have posed a slight challenge to the petroleum hegemony. This essay considers various elements related to these vehicles and cars. Electric Vehicles and Zero-Emission Cars While most people are aware of electric and hybrid vehicles, few understand their history or cursory issues. The electric vehicle is a vehicle that implements an electric motor for its primary power source. Within this context of recognition there are a number of different types of vehicles that implement electric power. One sort of electric vehicle uses energy that is located at an outside power source. Another form of electric vehicle operates from electric energy that was originally produced by an outside power source; one recognizes that hybrid vehicles would fall within this category as they gain their energy from an external electrical supply. The final type of electric vehicle is one that produces electric energy from an internal source (Mitchell 2010, p. 7). While most people associate electric vehicles with cars, in actuality electricity has been used to power a wide range of transportation devices. In these regards, everything from boats to planes to trains has been powered using electric energy. Electric vehicles have a long history. Indeed, one considers that by the early 18th century engineers and scientists had been experimenting with electric propulsion. Still, it wasn’t until the 20th century that electric vehicles were popularized within the United States. While electric vehicles were among the first types of cars produced, to a large extent electric propulsion remained marginalized to petroleum devices throughout the 20th century. Towards the end of the 20th century electric cars gained a slight resurgence. In 1990 the California Air Resources Board mandated that major automobile manufacturers produce electric vehicles for sale. Through the decade then automobile manufacturers increased production of these vehicles. Towards the end of the 1990s, however, consumers increasingly began to move towards sports utility vehicles. One of the main recognitions in these regards is that the lower-gas prices that were experienced during this period and the robust economy created a situation where electric vehicles were increasingly untenable. Still, with the on-set of the 21st century the hybrid car emerged as a trend. The 2001 the Toyota Prius became the first mass-produced hybrid electric car. A number of other hybrid vehicles would follow. Hybrid vehicles held a number of benefits over vehicles that entirely relied on electric power. Perhaps the most predominant of these advantages is that the hybrid vehicle had a portion of energy that ran on petroleum; this eliminated one of the major shortcomings of the entirely electric car, namely that it couldn’t travel long-distances because of energy issues. Today there are over 4 million hybrid cars that have been sold. The technology continues to develop with Volkswagon recently announcing that they would launching their own version of the hybrid car. Ultimately, however, electric vehicles remain marginal as compared to traditional petroleum fueled vehicles (Sperling & Gordon 2005). While one might assume that electric vehicles would necessarily be a cost effective approach to energy, the reality is more complex. In terms of efficiency the electric vehicle has the advantage of not using energy while idling. Still, while the vehicle is moving it uses close to the same amount of energy as a gasoline powered vehicle. While electric vehicles have been publicized as a low cost energy option, in reality the cost of powering an electric vehicle depends on location, as it depends on the cost of electricity. Additionally, studies have been conducted that argue on average it is more costly to power an electric vehicle than it is to simply purchase petroleum (Tyler 2009, p 34). There are further considerations related to the purchase of the car’s battery pack. A number of studies have investigated the correlation between the cost savings incurred. The recognition in these regards is that it is not merely necessary to continuously refill the electric battery pack, but just like an engine, it may be necessary to repurchase battery packs at a high premium. Because of these factors many studies argue that this mode of electric power remains cost prohibitive despite the later savings gained from reduced fuel expenses (Davis 2005, p. 320). Still, other perspectives have argued that hybrid and electric vehicles constitute a viable alternative to petroleum energy. This perspective contend that although electric cars are more fuel and cost effective – as well as environmentally sustainable – powerful automobile lobbies have prevented the nation from fully adopting this innovative technology (Billmaier 2010, p. 99). To a large extent, however, these perspectives have been marginalized as conspiracy theories. Ultimately then it seems clear that there remain significant barriers stopping the electric car from being more cost-effective than traditional petroleum options. While electric vehicle may not constitute a cheaper option than petroleum vehicles, there are still environmental advantages to using these vehicles. It is no surprise that the rise of concerns over global warming coincided with an increasing emphasis on the development of hybrid vehicles. The most pervasive recognition in these regards is that electric vehicles are able to avoid the gas emissions that contribute to polluting the environment. While electric cars may still have a degree of emissions, increasingly there has been the development of zero-emission cars. Zero-emission cars are those that emit no tailpipe pollutants from the car’s power source. Zero emissions vehicles have increasingly been supported by governments and states, as there has emerged increasing political pressure to curb pollution. One of the most proactive states in promoting these vehicles has been California. The California Resource Board established a number of harmful pollutants produced by petroleum powered vehicles. These pollutants include soot, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, ozone, and lead (Billmaier 2010, p. 111). Increasingly the state has then worked towards establishing measures to reduce these pollutants and promote the production of zero-emissions cars. For instance, the state’s Air Resource Board recently has proposed measures that would require one of every seven new cars sold in the state to be zero-emissions. While this regulation has not yet passed, if adopted this would require all major car manufacturers to be in compliance by 2025, with early parts of the program to be implemented by 2015. In addition to California, a number of countries globally have provided subsidies for companies producing zero-emissions cars. Among the most prominent of these countries are Japan and South Africa who have adopted these measures to curb significant pollution problems in specific regions (Motovali 2011, p. 78). Still, there remains considerable resistance from lobbyists who contend these are unnecessary measures. Conclusion In conclusion, this essay has considered electric vehicles and zero-emissions cars. In this context of understanding it’s demonstrated that electric vehicles assumed a greater position of prominence in the later 20th century, when concerns over the difficulty of gaining oil and global warming increased. The essay demonstrated that while electric vehicles have gained popularity they still remain less cost effective than traditional petroleum vehicles. Ultimately, however, the emergence of zero-emissions vehicles presents a sustainable alternative to the significant pollution produced by gas powered cars. References Billmaier, J. (2010). JOLT!: The Impending Dominance Of The Electric Car And Why America Must Take Charge. Advantage Media Group. Davis, W. (2005). Electric vehicles and cost buyer efficiency. Journal of Sustainability and Green Business. 54 (3). Mitchell, W (2010). Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century. Mass: MIT Press. Motovali, J. (2011). High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug In the Auto Industry. Rodale Books. Sperling, D. Gordon, D (2009). Two billion cars: driving toward sustainability. New York: Oxford University Press. Tyner, W. (2009) "Electricity pricing policies may make or break plug-in hybrid buys". Journal of Electrochemistry 39 (6). Read More