Assignment 5:

Reinventing Fire Through Automobiles

Kishan Patel

ECE 7000: Renewable Energy Policy

Due: 07/06/2020
 As discussed in our lecture, Amory Lovins proposes “a 40-year plan for energy”. In

Lovins’ Ted Talk, he explains how the United States can eliminate the use of oil and coal by

2050 and save over five trillion dollars (Lovins). Lovins focused on four major sectors;

transportation, buildings, industry, and electricity. As an avid motorcycle rider who enjoys being

on the road, transportation is where I can foresee a bright future in sustainability and eliminating

oil use. As electric vehicles emerge and become easily accessible to the average American, the

possibility of moving towards solely electric vehicles can be highly likely. As Lovins said, “our

mobility fuel goes three-fifths to automobiles. So let’s start by making autos oil free,” (Lovins).

In the United States, there are currently 273.6 million registered vehicles on the road

(Statista) with an average age of 11.8 years which continues to grow (Szatkowski). As time

progresses, there is also a trend of larger vehicles entering the roads. As of 2019, 72% of vehicle

sales include S.U.V.s, vans, and pickup trucks, essentially going away with the average sedan

(Voelk). As sedan sales decline, the size and weight of vehicles increase, causing a decline in

fuel efficiency. “Two-thirds of the energy it takes to move a typical car is caused by its weight,”

(Lovins). Most people do not even need the large space in the vehicles they own and could

suffice with a simple sedan, saving them fuel and money. For those who do need large vehicles,

Lovins suggests different manufacturing materials such as carbon fiber composites which are

extremely strong, light weight, and low in cost to produce (Lovins). The solutions are present, it

is a matter of implementing them.

The most obvious solution today is the use of electric vehicles. Popularity for these has

seemed to rise. When we first thought of fuel efficient vehicles, the Toyota Prius comes to mind.

However now, with fully electric vehicles such as Tesla, we see electric cars being luxurious and

having great performance. Since 2011, the sales of electric vehicles has risen every year from
10,100 electric vehicles sold in 2011 to 242,000 in 2019 (Bureau of Transportation Statistics).

The sales will continue to rise as they have due to various reasons. Batteries are allowing

vehicles to travel further distances while their costs have decreased. Charging stations are more

accessible in public areas and are now able to charge vehicles much faster using “super

chargers”. The overcall cost to buy an electric vehicle has decreased and is comparable in price

to an average car at about $35,000. With an increase in the use of electric vehicles, more people

will join the new trend as these are more accessible than ever.

Despite the obvious advantages of owning and operating an electric vehicle, there needs

to be a push for Americans to make the switch. Even with a low buying and maintenance cost

there is still a need to convince the population. Despite the large sales numbers, this is not

enough. Automobile manufacturers need to begin a transition towards electric vehicles by filling

their lineups with only hybrid and electric vehicles with the support from the government in

order to help initiate change. Similarly, the buyers need incentives as well. Americans that

believe in and support sustainability will buy such vehicles regardless. Unfortunately, most

Americans likely do not fall into this category and need an incentive to purchase electric

vehicles. Currently some states do offer a tax credit or rebate with the purchase of an electric

vehicle (Tesla). However, not all states do so and with the states that do, the amounts are low

which do not provide the buyer the motivation needed to purchase an electric vehicle. The future

of the transportation industry can significantly, if not completely, reduce the use of oil and

reduce emissions in the United States. The plan Lovins proposed for 2050 is certainly possible

with the aid of automobile manufacturers and government support however, the likelihood seems

rather optimistic. Electric vehicles are the way of the future, it is just a matter of time.
 Works Cited

Bureau of Transportation Statistics. “Hybrid-Electric, Plug-in Hybrid-Electric and Electric

Vehicle Sales.” Hybrid-Electric, Plug-in Hybrid-Electric and Electric Vehicle Sales |

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, 2019,

www.bts.gov/content/gasoline-hybrid-and-electric-vehicle-sales.

Lovins, Amory. “Transcript of ‘A 40-Year Plan for Energy.’” TED, 2012,

www.ted.com/talks/amory_lovins_a_40_year_plan_for_energy/transcript?language=en#t-

290293.

Statista. “Number of Cars in U.S.” Statista, Statista Research Department, 21 Apr. 2020,

www.statista.com/statistics/183505/number-of-vehicles-in-the-united-states-since-1990/.

Szatkowski, Danielle. “Average Age of Vehicles on U.S. Roads Hits 11.8 Years.” Automotive

News, 27 June 2019, www.autonews.com/automakers-suppliers/average-age-vehicles-us-

roads-hits-118years#:~:text=Average%20age%20of%20vehicles%20on%20U.S.%20roads

%20hits%2011.8%20years.

Tesla. “Electric Vehicle & Solar Incentives.” Tesla, Inc, 24 June 2020,

www.tesla.com/support/incentives.

Voelk, Tom. “Rise of S.U.V.s: Leaving Cars in Their Dust, With No Signs of Slowing.” The

New York Times, The New York Times, 21 May 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/

business/suv-sales-bestsellers.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CS.U.V.s%20made%20up%

2047.4%20percent,compared%20to%2072%20percent%20now.%E2%80%9D.