Like misguided beliefs about clean energy sources, disinformation abounds concerning electric vehicles (EVs). There are concerns about the number of charging stations, mainly because businesses are reluctant to invest in charging stations unless there are enough people with EVs. In turn, some people have been reluctant to buy EVs because of range anxiety. Commitments from the federal government are addressing some of those concerns and others. Far from wasting taxpayers' money, support for this burgeoning industry will reduce air pollution from fossil fuel burning vehicles, which continues to afflict our people. Today, the government continues to heavily subsidize many polluting industries, including the mature fossil fuel industry. Leveling the playing field for EV’s can make a big difference in addressing one of the largest contributors to climate pollution across the globe.
In 2021, Congress allocated $7.5 billion to expand electric charging stations in the U.S. The Biden administration pledged to have 500,000 charging ports in the US by 2030. Despite a slow rollout, they remain confident of achieving their goal. At the same time, Tesla is opening its chargers to other car makers, making charging stations more available to all EV brands. Many nations are far ahead of us in adopting EV technology. The third biggest city in China, Shenzhen, now has more charging stations than gas stations.
Manufacturers generally warranty batteries on EVs for 100,000 to 150,000 miles, but usually batteries last much longer than that. Car and Driver magazine predicts that EVs will have a similar lifespan as fossil-fuel cars with proper care. In the case of battery failure during the warranty period, the manufacturer will replace the battery. EVs with 200,000 miles have only shown a battery degradation of about 10%, while battery replacement is not recommended until 30% degradation.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), sales of electric cars grew by 15% in the U.S. during the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter of 2023. The IEA predicts an overall growth of EVs in the U.S. in 2024 compared to 2023. While sales are slower than automobile manufacturers anticipated, sales continue to grow. Industry analysts suggest that a “tipping point” for mass adoption of EVs occurs when five percent of cars sold are electric, a level that has been reached in 31 countries already, according to Bloomberg’s Tom Randall.
Reporting by Camila Domonoske of National Public Radio found that “GM and Ford are shifting their timetables, not their targets.” However, Bloomberg’s Randall reports some car manufacturers are experiencing tremendous growth of their EVs, with six of the top ten manufacturers experiencing 50% growth over last year's sales. These manufacturers offer features that customers desire.
An increase in EV global sales will result in less oil being used and thus will reduce transportation's contribution to atmospheric carbon and will eventually lead to an economy of scale that will make EVs much more affordable. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 28% of the greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, making it the largest sector of emissions in the United States. The quicker there is a transition to EVs, the faster we eliminate a significant source of dangerous greenhouse gas emissions.
Questions or comments can be sent to Mike Buza at theoriginalzuba@yahoo.com