Electric Vehicles

Gasoline vehicles contribute to climate change. Cars emit twenty percent of all greenhouse gases emitted in the United States. Gasoline vehicles give off carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide accounts for about 76 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. But electric vehicles are helping to solve this problem. Compared to gasoline-powered cars, EVs reduce the amount of carbon dioxide sent into the atmosphere. A gasoline-powered car emits around 66 tons of greenhouse gasses over its lifetime. EVs are 40% better and only generate around 39 tons of greenhouse gases.

But, even with all the positive contributions to climate change, only 6% of new cars being sold are electric. One of the biggest reasons people don't buy electric vehicles is the high cost. The average price of an electric car is about $18,000 more than the average price of a gas vehicle. Another issue is the limited amount of charging stations. Charging these electric cars also takes at least half an hour. On the other hand, fueling a gasoline car takes much less time, making it more convenient to use. The best electric cars can drive up to 300 miles on a single charge. But, many other electric vehicles can only drive 150 miles or less. And, new gasoline cars can go 500 miles between refills.

Nevertheless, there are solutions to these problems. Even though it is more expensive to buy an electric car, charging an electric car is cheaper than gasoline. Electric vehicles also save money on maintenance costs. EVs do not need oil changes, spark plugs, or timing belts, and don’t require routine maintenance. This can save an EV owner over $1,500. Also, electric vehicle owners can install a car charger at home. Charging their cars at home is cheaper and lets their car charge overnight. Many more cars are getting more than 300 miles every year.

Tesla, the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, reduces the amount of carbon dioxide sent into the atmosphere. Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. Tesla released its first electric car, Roadster, in 2008. It has made many more models after that. In 2022 alone, Tesla has sold over 3 million cars across the world. Another important EV manufacturer is Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.

Better known as Porsche, it is the second-largest electric car company in the world. The German car company made its first electric car in 1898. The Egger-Lohner C. 2 Phaeton was powered by an octagonal electric motor that could hit a top speed of 35 km/h. The Cayenne S Hybrid, the first modern electric Porcshe, was released in 2010. About 14% of the cars Porsche sells are electric.

Many popular celebrities have transitioned to using electric cars instead of gasoline cars. For example, Leonardo DiCaprio has a Toyota Prius, Fisker Karma, and Tesla Roadster. He said, “I own a Toyota Prius; it’s a step in the right direction…We have the technology to make every car produced in America today just as clean, cheap, and efficient.” He bought the first Fisker Karma in 2011. The car has solar panels on the roof to recharge its battery. Leonardo DiCaprio even became a brand ambassador for Fisker Automotive. His Tesla Roadster cost at least $200k. There have only been 2,400 units made worldwide.

Arnold Schwarzenegger also had a Tesla Roadster, but he had to return it. He found it difficult to get in and out of the car because of how big he is. Another celebrity with an electric car is Robert Downey Jr. He has an Audi e-Tron GT. In Marvel movies, Tony Stark, his character, drives an Audi R8 e-Tron. He was able to get the car before the official release. Will.i.am and Shakira have a Tesla Model S. Will.i.am customized his Tesla to have suicide doors and a wider body.

The members of the British band Coldplay are also trying to be more sustainable. They created the first mobile, rechargeable show battery with BMW for their 2022 world tour. They recycled car batteries that came from i3s to power their show. Recycling batteries are an important step in reducing their carbon footprint, making it an important step in EV progress. Coldplay’s song Higher Power was lent to the advertising campaign for BMW’s new EVs. Chris Martin, a member of Coldplay said, “We’re proud to partner with BMW to create the world’s first tourable, rechargeable show battery, which will allow us to power our concerts almost entirely from clean, renewable energy”.

The world is slowly transitioning from gasoline cars to electric vehicles. On August 5, 2022, President Biden announced his goal of having half of America’s new cars be electric by 2030. Electric cars are much better for the environment compared to gasoline cars. They emit fewer greenhouse gasses. Many companies have started manufacturing electric cars. Celebrities have started using these cars instead of gasoline cars. Electric cars will be more and more popular in the future.

Shruthi Raj