(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column of those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
By Taylor Bryant
Electric vehicles (EVs) have become more popular in the past decade. With the increase in battery technology, building materials and charging stations, the ranges are going up, and the costs are going down.
With the addition of federal legislation on boosting infrastructure needs for EVs, I believe we will see more in the home driveways and in the fleets of companies. That said, there are disadvantages to EVs. They are not for everyone, including me. Let’s take a deeper look.
Many industries will be created with the increased use of high voltage vehicle technology, and many that be hurt or even cease to exist. Through research I have found many half-truths, interesting hot takes and flat out lies about the emerging sector from both sides of the argument aisle.
Range Anxiety is probably one of the biggest concerns about purchasing a fully electric vehicle. The words “range anxiety” are misleading, as most people are more likely to be worried about charging time than the actual range of their car. Unlike their fossil fueled counterparts, it takes time to charge an electric vehicle. This can make long trips even longer, with multiple stops to charge before you reach your destination. This is a disqualifier for many prospective customers of EVs. Look for this to change soon as battery and charging technology progresses.
The average American automobile owner drives around 15,000 miles a year, which is less than 300 miles a week. With a Level 2 battery charger, you should only have to charge your vehicle overnight once a week. Public and private charging stations are also getting much quicker at charging EVs, with the advent of DC voltage charging equipment.
Dirty power sources can make electric cars less green than gas/diesel, but this is really going to depend on where your power comes from, so this may be truer in some areas than others. Many critical of EVs will tell you that a car charged with a coal power source does more harm to the environment than the conventional vehicle, but it isn’t exactly a fair comparison. This excludes what it takes to get fossil fuels to the consumer and focuses only on getting electricity to an electric car.
Studies by the University of Cambridge in the UK have shown that in 95% of the world’s power grid situations, fully electric vehicles are more efficient, produce less hydrocarbons and reduce pollution. EVs operate at efficiency rates in the 90+% range with the power they use, where fossil fuel vehicles can barely pull 15% in most cases. As our power grid becomes more efficient with infrastructure improvements, these comparisons will become even more stark. EVs are not truly “emissions free vehicles” as most proponents claim, but they do have the possibility to be one day.
High voltage batteries are expensive, and some of them cost more than whole cars, but the price is relative to the life and use. There are also companies that are rebuilding these batteries at savings of about half the cost of new, with a similar warranty. These are the same companies that have been doing this for years with hybrid vehicle batteries. New battery tech is also in development that will make these batteries cheaper and last longer. Battery size, weight and density has been and always will be the weak spot for any EV.
The battery in an electric car is much different than the one in your smart phone or laptop. They have individual cells that can be replaced and cooling systems that maintain optimal temperatures. They are also not charged nearly as much as we charge these devices. Results will certainly vary with how the EVs are used, but typically after ten years, the standard battery used by Tesla has about 70% of capacity at full charge.
EVs statistically are less prone to fires. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, Gasoline powered car fires have rates of 3,475 fires per 100,000 vehicles sold. Electric cars have 25 fires per 100,000 sold. Most of this is due to the higher standard of scrutiny and design of EVs and fewer moving parts. There have also been recalls on electric cars for the slightest possibility of fire, as in the recent Chevrolet Bolt recall where all Bolt batteries will be replaced by the manufacturer at no cost. Fires with EVs are rare, but they do take some special tactics to extinguish, and pose hazards that aren’t comparable to conventional car fires.
The biases and lack of education on battery electric vehicles will most likely continue. There is so much money and market share at stake, that the fight to control the narrative will be a messy and expensive one. Also, things change rapidly with the technology, so things that may have been true or false in the past, may be different now. If you are interested in purchasing an electric car, thoroughly research the decision. Visit websites other than the manufacturer’s, forums where the car owners post, and talk to people with your lifestyle that own the model you want. Transportation touches all areas of our lives and needs to be thought out thoroughly.
