Why I Chose This Topic
The topic of my multigenre research project is electric vehicles. I chose this topic because I have a growing interest in cars and the automotive industry as a whole. I was interested in the development of electric vehicles because I have heard passing remarks about how they are good for the climate, but I never looked into specific advantages. The only previous experience I have had with this topic is surface-level research.
Before I began my research, I knew surprisingly little about electric vehicles. Common knowledge such as the fact that electric vehicles do not use fossil fuels as an energy source, they can be quite expensive, and that they need to be charged for a notable period of time before use was the extent of my knowledge.
When I decided to research electric vehicles, I wanted to find out if they really did offer distinct advantages over petrol cars. I also wanted to learn about the infrastructure that would be necessary to support the universal use of electric vehicles. My research was guided by my research question, “Will EVs become just as commonplace as gas cars? What resources are required to make this happen?”
I found information for my research project online from several sources such as government websites, nonprofit organizations, and scientific magazines. To get information for my timeline, I consulted biographies and other timelines. When making my poster, I used an online stock image. When making my bill, I viewed examples of real bills issued by the US government.
To answer my research question, I found that electric vehicles do offer real benefits to both the consumer and the environment. Obviously, electric vehicles do not emit carbon dioxide when consuming fuel. Additionally, I found that electric vehicles are quite affordable and that they can save the consumer money on maintenance fees and fuel. I also found that there is a surprising amount of nonexistent infrastructure that would be necessary to support the universal use of electric vehicles.
My research has heightened my opinion of electric vehicles and has also surprised me because of how many resources they require to operate. I would like my reader to take away the fact that electric vehicles are beneficial to both consumers and the environment, yet major action must be taken before everyone can drive them.
I have included a timeline, a propaganda poster, and a bill as my multigenre projects. My timeline portrays the history of electric vehicles, my propaganda poster is a hypothetical example of the future of electric vehicles, and my bill is an example of what is necessary to develop electric vehicles for their universal usage. Electric vehicles are an interesting subject that might have a great effect on the world very soon. I encourage you to research more about them and maybe consider using one as a daily vehicle.
Introduction
Experts estimate that by the year 2050, electric vehicles are expected to make up a majority of new vehicle purchases (“Our Electric Future”, 2022, para. 14). An influx in the popularity of electric cars would largely reduce the automotive industry’s contributions to the climate crisis. Does our world have the resources available to support this growth? Although environmentalists, government leaders, and the general population are all pushing for the mass development of electric vehicles worldwide because of their environmental benefits and ergonomics, the world does not have the infrastructure required to support an overtaking of electric cars as the world’s preferred vehicle.
Price
Electric vehicles, also known as EVs, are popular among consumers for many reasons. They have excellent fuel efficiency and are quite affordable and ergonomic. According to a study cited by the International Conference of Information Technologies in Business and Industry, “The average daily rate of the cost of the [gas] vehicle exceeds more than 2.5 times the consumption of the electric vehicle.” (Electric cars, Gelmanova et al., 2018, para. 18). This significant difference in the cost between electric and petrol vehicles means over time, operating an electric vehicle is significantly less expensive than operating its gas-powered counterpart. In the article “Charging into the future: the transition into electric vehicles,” authors Colato and Ice cite several studies, which state that “switching to EVs saves consumers money, especially over the long run.” Additionally, they claim that “EVs yield about $8,000 to $12,000 worth of savings on maintenance over the lifetime of the vehicle” (2023, para. 9). Because the purchase price of EVs is comparable to that of petrol cars, the ability to save significant amounts of money on maintenance fees and fuel is very appealing to consumers.
Infrastructure
Even with EVs being relatively common on roadways today, a mass growth in EV usage would require the construction of additional infrastructure such as charging stations and power plants. According to experts, purchase rates of EVs are limited because of “‘range anxiety,’” which is the fear of being stranded without a charging station (“Our Electric Future”, 2022, para. 22). In their current state, EVs have much less availability to charging stations than petrol cars do to gas stations.
Additionally, there is a worldwide need for the production of more energy. The article “How much electricity would it take to power all cars if they were electric?” cites a study, which states “The US would need to produce 20-50% more electricity in a year if all cars were EVs” (2023, para. 4). Considering the enormous amount of electricity the US already produces from a variety of sources such as hydroelectric power, nuclear plants, burning coal, and solar power, the need for 50% more energy to be produced would require an insurmountable amount of government funding.
Environmental Impact
EVs are incredibly energy efficient and emit zero carbon dioxide during their operation. An experiment cited by The International Conference of Information Technologies in Business and Industry concluded electric vehicles to be greater than four times more efficient than vehicles fueled by natural gas or petrol (Electric cars, Gelmanova et al., 2018, table 2). This, alongside the absence of fossil fuels as a fuel source, is one reason why the implementation of electric vehicles is essential to combat the climate crisis. Although their production does emit carbon dioxide comparable to that of a petrol car, electric vehicles do not emit carbon dioxide during operation because they do not use fossil fuels or natural gas as fuel sources (“What are the downsides”, n.d, para. 5). This is yet another environmental issue that the widespread implementation of electric vehicles can limit.
Conclusion
In summary, owning electric vehicles is incredibly advantageous to both consumers and the climate because of their energy prices, fuel efficiency, and a lack of a need for maintenance. In the long run, owning an electric vehicle can be significantly less expensive than owning a petrol car. Additionally, an increase in the usage rate of electric vehicles in favor of petrol ones would notably lessen the automotive industry’s contribution to the climate crisis, even if not everybody drives an electric car. Yet, before everybody can enjoy the advantages of electric cars, resources such as electricity must be produced and infrastructure such as power plants and charging stations must be built. This development must be sponsored and supervised somehow. If you as an individual want to support the development of electric vehicles, you can advocate in your community for funding and time to be contributed to the cause.
References
Bryan, E. (n.d.). An electrifying Iowan: William Morrison, pioneer of battery technology and automobiles. Iowa History Journal. https://iowahistoryjournal.com/an- electrifying-iowan/
Colato, J. & Ice, L. (2023). Charging into the future: the transition into electric vehicles. US Bureau of Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-12/charging-into -the-future-the-transition-to-electric-vehicles.htm
Department of Energy. (2014). The History of the Electric Car. https://www.energy.gov/ articles/history-electric-car
Gelmanova, Z. et al (2018). Electric cars. Advantages and disadvantages. Journal of Physics. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1015/5/052029/pdf
History of the electric car. (2023). https://blog.evbox.com/electric-cars-history#First -electric-car
How much electricity would it take to power all cars if they were electric? (2022). USA Facts. https://usafacts.org/articles/how-much-electricity-would-it-take-to-power- all-cars-if-they-were-electric/
Kuchta, D. (2022). The history of the electric car: A timeline. Tree Hugger. https://www. treehugger.com/history-of-the-electric-car-trials-and-triumphs-5193009
Lohner-Porsche. (2012). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohner%E2%80%93Porsche
Our Electric Future: When will gas cars go the way of the horse and buggy? (2022). Generation 180. https://generation180.org/when-will-gas-cars-go-the-way-of-the- horse-and-buggy/#:~:text=Credit%3A%20EV%20Volumes&text=Unfortunately%2C%20despite%20projections%20of%20EVs,their%20lead%2C%20even%20in%202050
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2023). Allesandro Volta. https://www. britannica.com/biography/Alessandro-Volta/additional-info#history
What are the downsides to electric cars? (2023). Young People’s Trust for the Environment. https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/electric-cars/what-are-the- downsides-to-electric-cars