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Do electric cars actually have an impact on the environment? Many people have

different opinions on this topic and vary in knowledge. Hybrid cars, also known as hybrids, are a

newer type of technology that is just starting to grow. They are advertised to be more

environmentally friendly than gas-powered cars. A lot of well-known car brands are starting to

sell them. This leads to the question of if they even help the environment or if they are a waste of

money.

The first-ever electric car to be made in the U.S. was created by a chemist named William

Morrison. This made others want to try and make things similar to it and soon electric cars

became very popular. In an article written by the Federal Department of Energy, it states, “Fast

forward to the late 1960s and early 1970s. Soaring oil prices and gasoline shortages -- peaking

with the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo -- created a growing interest in lowering the U.S.’s dependence

on foreign oil and finding homegrown sources of fuel. Congress took note and passed the

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976,

authorizing the Energy Department to support research and development in electric and hybrid

vehicles” (Department of Energy 7). Because of this, they became more popular and that is how

they got their start.

One of the main reasons why hybrid cars are starting to become a normal thing is because

they don’t emit carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere like gas cars do. They are good for the

environment for this reason. A Scottish scientist named George Milev conducted a study where

he calculated the amount of CO2 produced by eclectic cars compared to gas powered cars and he

found that “...carbon emissions from the grid will be reduced as renewable energy produce about

47.25 gCO2/kWh, whereas coal is emitting approximately 220 gCO2/kWh” (Milev 42). Thus,
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the information he presented means that 172.75g less of carbon dioxide will be put out into the

air. This amount would make a huge difference for future generations and to help the

environment in general.

Much of the CO2 emission in the world is created by the usage of gasoline. By replacing

them with hybrid cars, this would be a minuscule problem. Furthermore, in a different study

done by a scientist named Djordie T. Petrovic, it was concluded that, “EC [electic cars] are a

solution for reducing CO2 emission when the emission factor of electricity production is low and

especially when the petrol FFC is replaced”(Petrovic 56). This proves that hybrid vehicles really

do help the environment.

Another reason why electric cars are a good option is that they have been proven to help

slow climate change. Climate change is a growing issue that is rapidly affecting the planet. In

more detail, it is melting ice caps, which causes ocean levels to rise. Rising ocean levels aren’t

good, because that causes major flooding and no one would know how to approach that problem.

In another experiment created by a college professor named Thi Kim Lien Ngyen, it was

concluded that “ Electric vehicles, for example, can reduce air pollutants, as an investigation of

electric vehicle charging optimization and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle illustrated the

minimization of greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of these benefits, the market share of

electric vehicles is expanding in many countries” (Ngyen 1). Therefore, by using charging

stations instead of gas pumps, people help fight against climate change.

On the other hand, there are a few downsides to these vehicles. They tend to take more time

and money to maintain. For starters, eclectic cars have a shorter mileage span than regular ones

do. Also, recharging its battery takes some time and it can be challenging to find a charging

station. An auto research website states, “The fully electric models of specific cars are always
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more expensive than their gas-powered equivalents. Usually, a car buyer will pay at least

$10,000 more for an electric car than they would for the same type of car in a gas model” (Auto

13). With a ten thousand dollar difference, that could be a deal-breaker for some buyers. All in

all, even though these cars are good for the environment, they do have a few downsides to them.

In conclusion, electric cars seem to be very helpful for the environment, but with all of

their cons, they might not be worth the buy. Maybe will some more research and convincing, that

could be reconsidered. The topic of everyday maintenance and use could help explore the

question even further. All in all, electic vehicles are very helpful to the environment, but they

aren’t as practical as gasoline-powered cars.

Works Cited
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Milev, George, et al. “The Environmental and Financial Implications of Expanding the

Use of Electric Cars - A Case Study of Scotland.” Energy and Built Environment, vol. 2,

no. 2, Apr. 2021, pp. 204–213. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.enbenv.2020.07.005. Accessed

21 March 2021.

Petrović Đorđe T., et al. “Electric Cars: Are They Solution to Reduce CO2 Emission?”

Thermal Science, vol. 24, no. 5 Part A, Jan. 2020, pp. 2879–2889. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.2298/TSCI191218103P. Accessed 21 March 2021.

Research, Hearst Autos. “Electric Cars: Pros and Cons.” Car and Driver, Car and Driver,

10 Nov. 2020, www.caranddriver.com/research/a32758614/electric-cars-pros-and-cons/.

Accessed 21 March 2021.

“The History of the Electric Car.” Energy.gov, 15 Sept. 2014, www.energy.gov/articles/history-

electric-car. Accessed 21 March 2021.

Thi Kim Lien Nguyen, et al. “CRITIC Method and Grey System Theory in the Study of

Global Electric Cars.” World Electric Vehicle Journal, vol. 11, no. 79, Dec. 2020, p. 79.

EBSCOhost, doi:10.3390/wevj11040079. Accessed 7 March 2021.

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