Advantages of EC

1. Saving the climate

The largest source of climate pollution in the United

States? Transportation. To solve the climate crisis, we need to make the
vehicles on our roads as clean as possible. We have only a decade
left to change the way we use energy to avoid the worst impacts of
climate change.

Emissions from cars and trucks are not only bad for our planet, they’re
bad for our health. Air pollutants from gasoline- and diesel-powered
vehicles cause asthma, bronchitis, cancer, and premature death.

The long-term health impacts of localized air pollution last a lifetime, with
the effects borne out in asthma attacks, lung damage, and heart
conditions.

As the COVID-19 pandemic — a respiratory disease — continues to

spread, a study by Harvard University found “a striking association
between long-term exposure to harmful fine particulate matter and
COVID-19 mortality in the United States,” explains Rashmi Joglekar, a
staff scientist at Earthjustice’s Toxic Exposure & Health Program. One of
the primary causes of fine particulate matter pollution (PM 2.5) is
combustion from gasoline and diesel car engines.

An earlier study by Duke University underscored the health costs: each

gallon of gasoline purchased at the gas station carries with it up to $3.80
in health and environmental costs. The diesel in big rigs and farm
equipment is worse, with an additional $4.80 in social costs to our health
and climate per gallon.

2. Electric vehicles have a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline-

powered cars, no matter where your electricity comes from.

The electricity that charges and fuels battery electric and plug-in hybrid
vehicles comes from power grids, which rely on a range of sources —
from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy.

Energy grids can vary from one state to another, which means that the
carbon footprint of driving an electric vehicle ranges depending on the
source of its electricity.
Earthjustice attorneys are working across the country to bring 100%
clean energy, but on our way there (consumption of renewable
energy recently surpassed coal), a portion of the electricity in this
country will continue to be generated by the burning of fossil fuels.

3. Cost

In the manufacturing process, electric vehicles will produce more global

warming emissions than the average gasoline vehicle, because electric
cars’ large lithium-ion batteries require a lot of materials and energy to
build. (For example, manufacturing a mid-sized electric car with an 84-
mile range, results in 15% more emissions.)

However, once the vehicles get on the road, it’s a whole different energy
story.

Electric vehicles make up for their higher manufacturing emissions

within, at most, eighteen months of driving — and continue to outperform
gasoline cars until the end of their lives

The average electric car on the road today has the same greenhouse-
gas emissions as a car getting 88 miles per gallon — which is far greater
than the average new gasoline-powered car (31 mpg) or truck (21 mpg),
according to analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

4. Electric trucks — delivering goods from warehouses to homes — can

make a big, clean difference. We need more of them

While diesel and gas trucks only make up a small portion of the vehicles
on our roads and highways, they generate massive amounts of climate
and air pollution. In the most impacted communities, these trucks
create diesel “death zones” with more severe respiratory and heart
problems.

In California, gas and diesel trucks are responsible for nearly half of the
transportation-related air pollution in the state, even though they are
vastly outnumbered by cars in the state.

Today, there are 70 different types of zero-emission trucks on the

market, and California in particular has become an important base for
designing and manufacturing big electric vehicles like buses with
companies like Proterra and Build Your Dreams in the state.
It is now time for major manufacturers to start producing electric trucks
on a larger scale. Communities across California successfully fought
for a strong electric trucks rule — the first protection of its kind in the
country — to require truck makers to sell a certain percentage of zero-
emission trucks starting in 2024.

Because of California’s market power, this rule will help jumpstart a

transition to electric trucks in other states.

5. Reduce noise pollution

Electric cars put a curb on noise pollution as they are much quieter.
Electric motors are capable of providing smooth drive with higher
acceleration over longer distances. Many owners of electric cars have
reported positive savings of up to tens of thousands of dollars a year. 
Disadvantages of EC

1. Electricity isn’t free

Electric cars can also be a hassle on your energy bill if you’re not
considering the options carefully. If you haven’t done your research into
the electric car you want to purchase, then you may be making an
unwise investment.

Sometimes electric cars require a huge charge to function properly –

which may reflect poorly on your electricity bill each month.

2. Short driving range and speed

Electric cars are limited by range and speed. Most of these cars have a
range of about 50-100 miles and need to be recharged again. You just
can’t use them for long journeys as of now, although it is expected to
improve in the future.

3. Silence as a disadvantage

Silence can be a bit disadvantage as people like to hear the noise if they
are coming from behind them. An electric car is, however, silent and can
lead to accidents in some cases.

4. Normally 2 seaters

Most of the electric cars available today are small and 2 seated only.
They are not meant for the entire family, and a third person can make a
journey for the other two passengers a bit uncomfortable.

5. Not suitable for countries that facing shortage of power

As electric cars need the power to charge up, the cities that already
facing acute power shortages are not suitable for electric cars. The
consumption of more power would hamper their daily power needs.

6. Minimal amount of pollution

Electric vehicles are also not 100% emission-free; they cause a little
amount of pollution indirectly. The batteries and electricity needed for
charging are not necessarily generated from renewable energy sources.