Nowadays we notice that electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular. However, electric vehicles are not a new concept and their history dates back to the early 19th century. The first electric vehicle was invented by Thomas Davenport in 1834. This vehicle was powered by a small electric motor and could reach a speed of 4 miles per hour. In the following years, electric vehicles became more and more popular, with various inventors and companies experimenting with this new technology.

It is of vast importance to note that electric vehicles are growing constantly due to their impact on our planet. Let’s have a look at this article to have a deeper understanding of this subject.

Countries All Over the World Bet on Electric Vehicles:

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular around the world, and countries are betting that they will be the future of transportation. People from different countries are switching  to electric cars, therefore the market is growing rapidly. In fact statistics have shown  that the electric car market has increased by 54% from 2016 to 2017,and particularly in Saudi Arabia, the electric car market is expected to grow by 43% between 2020 and 2025. 

How do electric cars affect our environment?

 Vehicle electrification presents more prospects for reducing emissions. In this regard, EVs have  the potential to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants that  cause climate change and public health problems.

Electric vehicles are powered by electricity from batteries, which can be derived from renewable sources such as solar, wind, or hydro power.  And accordingly, EVs can have very low emissions when they are charged using renewable energy.

As statistics have shown, electric cars are up to four times more efficient and eco-friendly than gasoline cars. This implies that they produce  significantly lower emissions of global warming pollution and other air pollutants over their lifetimes. 

In addition to their environmental efficiency, the rising adoption of EVs lessens our reliance on oil while simultaneously expanding the market for renewable energy. For now, although Electric cars are still a small fraction of the overall car market, their sales are growing rapidly. The more people buy EVs, the easier and more affordable it becomes for businesses and utilities to install the needed infrastructure to support them, and this infrastructure can then be used not only to power EVs but also for homes and businesses using renewable energy. 

Although Electric vehicles are beneficial to the environment, it’s crucial to think about the way  they are powered considering that electricity generation still  emits  greenhouse gases and other pollutants. On that account, the benefits of EVs regarding emissions can only be attained if they are powered by renewable energy. Fortunately,  the  cost  of  renewable  energy  is  falling  rapidly, which makes it increasingly an attractive option for running EVs.

In short, electric cars have the potential to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. They can help grow the market for renewable energy and reduce our reliance on oil. However, to realize these goals, EVs should be powered by renewable energy.

How Much Do Electric Vehicles Emit When On The Road?

Electric vehicles are often lauded as being more environmentally-friendly than their gasoline-powered counterparts. But how much do electric vehicles actually emit when on the road?

A new study from the Union of Concerned Scientists found that, on average, electric vehicles produce about half the emissions of gasoline cars over their lifetimes. The study looked at the emissions of electric vehicles in the United States, accounting for the different sources of electricity generation across the country. The study found that, even when powered by coal-fired electricity, electric vehicles produce about 30 percent less emissions than gasoline cars.

And as Don Anair, research director for the Union of Concerned Scientists Clean Vehicles Program and one of the authors of the study: “Our analysis shows that electric cars are a cleaner choice than gasoline cars in every region of the country,”.

The study also found that, as the electricity grid continues to get cleaner, electric vehicles will produce even fewer emissions. By 2050, electric vehicles are expected to emit about one-third of the emissions of gasoline cars, even when powered by today’s electricity mix.

In this context, Anair also said:  “As we move to a cleaner electricity grid, electric cars will get cleaner as well”. That means electric car drivers can do their part to reduce emissions and help fight climate change.”

So, if you’re looking to reduce your emissions and do your part for the environment, an electric car may be the way to go.

What About Battery End-of-Life Emissions?

Electric cars are often lauded as being more environmentally friendly than their gas-powered counterparts. But what about when the batteries in those electric cars reach the end of their life? What happens to the battery emissions then?

Turns out, it’s not as bad as you might think. While the manufacturing process of batteries can be quite emissions-intensive, the end-of-life emissions from batteries are actually quite low. This is due to a few factors. First, electric car batteries are designed to last for a long time – often 10 years or more. This means that there aren’t that many of them reaching end-of-life each year. Second, when batteries do reach the end of their life, they can be recycled. The recycling process for batteries is actually quite efficient, and many of the materials in the battery can be reused.

So while there are some emissions associated with electric car batteries, they are far outweighed by the emissions saved by using electric cars instead of gas-powered cars. In the end, electric cars are still much better for the environment – even when their batteries reach the end of their life.

Balancing sources and sinks, which is the essence of electrifying vehicles, is a crucial step to reduce greenhouse gas emission. However making a real difference remains dependent on two major issues: the way EVs are powered and electrifying the whole transport sector. IN this regard and in order for EVs to be implemented as a carbon neutrality strategy , governments should address the relevant issues to the sector by developing strong mining and battery disposal regulations .