Electric vehicles are the future. There are already countries that have banned gasoline-powered cars within a certain amount of years. For example, Norway has announced that it will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars in 2025. This new development is a very good thing for a number of reasons. Here are the benefits of electric vehicles.
More Speed
Electric cars have more torque than their gasoline counterparts. This means that they can accelerate faster. Electric cars can go from zero to 60 mph in about 3 seconds, while gas cars can take anywhere from 5 to 10 seconds. This is a big deal for people who are in a hurry or who live in congested cities.
Here’s how it works: an electric motor provides constant power, whereas a gasoline engine only delivers power when it’s revving. So when you hit the gas in an electric car, the motor is already providing 100% torque, which means that you’ll get instant acceleration.
Further, an electric car can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge, while a gasoline car can only travel about 25 miles per gallon. This is because electric cars don’t have to waste energy on things like engine friction and exhaust.
Less Pollution
Most electric cars on the market run on ‘clean’ energy, which means that they are powered by electricity generated without producing carbon emissions. This is unlike gasoline-powered cars, which produce harmful gasses like carbon dioxide and sulfur oxide. These contribute to global warming and poor air quality.
The way this works is that electric cars use rechargeable batteries, which can be charged from many sources, including solar. According to the EPA, charging your electric car on a clean energy plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about half as much as using gasoline-powered cars. The dangers of air pollution include:
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which affects the respiratory system.
- Particulate matter, which is made up of tiny particles that can be inhaled causing asthma and bronchitis.
- Ozone (O3), which causes damage to lung tissue. Long-term exposure to ozone has been associated with an increased frequency of respiratory problems, including asthma, and can also reduce lung function.
Lower Maintenance Costs
Electric cars have far fewer moving parts than gasoline-powered cars. This means that they require less maintenance. There are no spark plugs, fuel filters, or oil changes necessary. Electric cars also have regenerative braking, which means that the brake pads last longer because energy is recaptured every time you brake.
To illustrate this point, compare the maintenance costs of a Tesla Model S, a popular electric car, to a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a popular gasoline-powered car. The Tesla Model S has an annual maintenance cost of $600, while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has an annual maintenance cost of $2,000. That’s a difference of $1,400 per year!
Reduced Noise Pollution
Electric cars are much quieter than gasoline-powered cars. This is because electric motors don’t have the same moving parts that gasoline engines do, which means there is less noise.
This is a big deal for two reasons. First, electric cars are more pleasant to drive because you don’t have to listen to the engine noise. Second, electric cars are more likely to be adopted by cities because they produce less noise pollution. This is important because noise pollution can be dangerous. Here are some of the dangers of noise pollution:
- Mental health problems- being exposed to noise pollution can raise your stress levels, cause mental health problems, and even depression.
- Heart disease- being exposed to constant traffic noise raises the risk of heart attack and stroke by 30%. It also increases a person’s chances of dying from a heart attack.
- Hearing loss– being exposed to loud noises over a long period of time can cause gradual hearing loss.
Increased Popularity Among Peers
Many people are interested in buying electric cars because they want to be a part of the next generation of transportation. Electric cars have become very popular among young adults and even teenagers. This is because electric cars have a greater social impact. Many think that they will be safer, reduce our dependency on oil, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
So, getting an electric car is now increasingly becoming a way to meet like-minded people and make new friends.
More Jobs
The popularity of electric cars can contribute to an increase in jobs. There is a growing demand for employees who can work on electric cars.
For example, Tesla Motors has created over 20,000 jobs and plans to create more as they expand their business. Many of these workers will have new skills that are needed for this emerging industry.
The future of driving is electric, and there are a number of reasons why this is the case. Electric cars are faster, cleaner, and more efficient than gasoline-powered cars. They also reduce noise pollution, and they are less expensive to maintain.