Electric Vehicles
The Future of Sustainable Driving
Electric Vehicles (EVs) have changed the way we view sustainable driving. With the increased concern for climate change in the last decade, more and more car brands are joining the EV revolution. With Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles generating 4.6 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) per year, EVs present the possibility of decreasing or potentially eliminating these transportation-related emissions.
Instead of the traditional ICE that gas-powered cars house, EVs are equipped with an electric motor and batteries to store and transfer energy into power. Compared to ICE vehicles, which require gas or diesel, EV owners simply plug their car into a charger and ‘fuel’ up. This new method of transportation is not only cost-effective but also promotes decarbonization and sustainable living.
The International Energy Agency predicts that EV use will rise from 4 million vehicles in 2018 to 120 million by 2030. As more countries enforce stronger environmental policies, that number could hit 300 million by 2030.
This article will look at the potential advantages and disadvantages of Electric Vehicles compared to Internal Combustion Engine vehicles.
Advantages of Electric Vehicles
Lower Carbon Footprint Over Time
Unlike ICE vehicles, EVs generate significantly less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than ICE vehicles as they don’t require gasoline. Their batteries require electricity which is readily available for owners to quickly charge up.
Though the vehicles don’t directly emit CO2 emissions, the production of lithium-ion batteries does. The manufacturing process of these batteries results in a higher rate of emissions than the production of ICE vehicles. Depending on where the batteries are produced, this could be up to 30 to 40 percent more emissions than the production of traditional combustion engines.
EVs also require electricity to ‘fuel’ the batteries. Many places in the world rely on fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, or petroleum to power their electricity grids. Because EVs depend wholly on electricity and can hold between 28.9 kWh and 200 kWh, depending on the vehicle, this means their overall emissions depend on how the electricity is produced.
For example, charging an electric vehicle on a grid powered by coal, natural gas, or petroleum can generate 2.23, 0.91, and 2.13 pounds of C02 per kilowatt respectively. However, compared to ICE vehicles, which generate 4.6 metric tons of CO2 annually, the emissions used to power the EV battery is minimal.
An EV in the USA would typically generate 200 grams of emissions per mile, whereas an ICE vehicle would typically generate 404 grams per mile. Over time EV emissions are predicted to decrease to about 50 grams per mile by 2050.
Bearing in mind the production process, manufacturing of batteries, and charging, the emissions produced during the lifespan of EVs are significantly less than that of ICE vehicles when considering the total emissions savings over time.
Improved Torque, Handling, and Efficiency
The overall driving experience of EVs has proven to be significantly better than ICE vehicles. The first aspect is the torque, which is instantly generated by the electric current and magnetic fields in the motor. In an ICE vehicle, this process takes much longer as the gas must combust and turn the crankshaft. When comparing a US $10,000 Chevy Spark EV to a Ferrari, the EV provides more torque.
EVs typically have a lower center of mass. This is due to the way the battery pack is distributed across the bottom of the chassis. Though it is the heaviest component, it replaces the large and bulky gas engine with an electric one. With much of the weight at the bottom of the car, it assists with maneuvering and sticking to the road.
Finally, electric motors are significantly more efficient than an internal combustion engine due to the process of converting energy. In an electric motor, 85 percent of electrical energy converts into motion, compared to an ICE which converts less than 40 percent. According to the Department of Energy, 77 percent of the electrical energy from the grid assists in turning the wheels in an EV, whereas only 12-30 percent of energy from burning fuel goes into moving the wheels.
Reduced ‘Fuel’ and Maintenance Expenses
The savings from fuel alone has created a huge draw to EVs. For example, with a price per kilowatt-hour of $0.13, the average cost to charge an EV with a 200-mile range is $9.00.
Annually, EV owners should expect to spend around $530 to charge their vehicle with a daily cost of $1.45 to charge at night. Comparing an ICE vehicle, an owner would expect to spend $2,500 (~$7.00/day) in annual fuel costs. Though the daily savings may not seem significant, the average new vehicle ownership is around 7 years. Over this time, an EV owner would spend $3,700 in ‘fuel’, compared to an ICE owner who would spend $17,500 in fuel; a total of $13,790 in savings.
ICE vehicles also require more maintenance such as oil changes and engine maintenance. Looking purely at the cost, to maintain an ICE vehicle works out to be $0.101 per mile. Comparing this to EVs, the cost is significantly lower at $0.061 per mile. With the average vehicle traveling around 13,000 miles per year, an EV owner would save $520 annually and $3,600 over seven years in maintenance costs.
Disadvantages of Electric Vehicles
Required Public and Private Infrastructure
EVs rely heavily on public and private infrastructure, much like ICE vehicles rely on gas stations. Over 80 percent of EV owners charge at home overnight. When commuting and traveling, however, public infrastructure is necessary. Typically, home chargers are considered Level 1, meaning they can charge at a rate of 2-5 miles per hour, or Level 2, charging at a rate of 10-20 miles per hour. Level 3 chargers, or superchargers, which are more often deployed as public or private infrastructure, are capable of charging at a rate of 60-80 miles over 20 minutes.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, at least 3.4 Level 3 and 40 Level 2 chargers are required per 1,000 EVs. Assuming that there are 35 million EVs on the road in the US by 2030, there will need to be at least 50,000 charging stations to meet this recommendation.
With the addition of thousands of charging stations, power grids will also need to be upgraded to facilitate increased use. Specifically, Level 3 chargers require the same level of electricity as a whole neighborhood at once, putting significant pressure on existing capacity and aging equipment.
Range Anxiety and Long-Distance Driving
Range anxiety is common a stress among EV owners as chargers aren’t as readily accessible as gas stations are. Similarly, while ICE vehicles only a few minutes to fuel, EVs can take anywhere from 6 minutes to 26 hours to charge up to a 100-mile range.
Like ICE vehicles, city and highway driving have different range efficiencies. However, for EVs, the city range outperforms the highway range efficiency. When EVs are traveling at low and variable speeds, the battery can recapture energy, effectively ‘re-charging’ the battery. This ultimately creates better city range efficiency. When traveling at higher speeds, energy consumption increases drastically. The faster the electric motor spins, the less efficient it becomes. The battery may also drain faster when using comfort settings such as air conditioning or seat warmers.
When it comes to driving long-distance, your trip time may be extended to account for multiple charging stops. All of this is dependent on the vehicle's range, the speed on the highway, and the distance traveled. This variability can be a barrier to adoption over ICE vehicles.
Temperature Conditions Affect Range
Temperature and weather conditions pose a potential disadvantage for EVs. Most of North America will experience extreme heat, extreme cold, or both. In the cold, below -20 degrees Celsius, the battery life can decrease as much as 40 to 50 percent as the temperature impacts the storage and release of energy. The battery will regain full capacity once the cold subsides or if you plug in the car to ‘warm’ it up.
On the flip side, any temperature above 21 degrees Celsius will also harm the battery life as the total range starts to drop faster than the actual distance traveled. Though the decrease isn’t as significant as in the cold, the heat does affect the range. In some cases, battery loss isn’t a huge problem, for instance, in cars with 300–500-mile ranges. However, cars with a smaller range, such as 200 miles, would require more charging during these extreme temperatures.
Electric Vehicles – The Future of Driving
When comparing the performance, efficiency, and sustainability of EVs and ICE vehicles, EVs are the future in sustainable driving. Considering how much people rely on their vehicles, over time, drivers will benefit from decreasing their carbon footprint, fuel costs, and maintenance expenses. As more charging stations are deployed and the infrastructure required to support EVs is built out, EVs will continue to become a more viable replacement for the traditional internal combustion engine and will grow to become the new standard for personal transportation.
