In the past four years, Electric Vehicles (EVs) have seen a spike in demand, with the number of EVs sold in 2024 tripling that of the numbers sold in 2021. With the rise in popularity and interest in EVs, misinformation has spread throughout the media, challenging their sustainability, as well as their convenience and safety.
The Lithium-ion battery is the battery most commonly used for EVs for its outstanding energy density and reliability. A downside associated with the battery is creating it, the process in creating the battery is very energy intensive and emits 35-46 percent of total Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions an EV will produce over its lifetime. That comes out to around 100 kilograms of CO2 in the atmosphere per Kilowatt-Hour (kwh). The other 54 percent accounts for the CO2 emitted by producing the energy to charge the vehicle which is rapidly being replaced with renewable energy sources which lowers an EVs overall carbon footprint.
The typical passenger vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year, with the average car traveling 11,500 miles per year and the average lifetime miles of a passenger vehicle being 152,137, the total amount of CO2 the typical passenger car emits over its lifetime is around 60.89 metric tons which is 281 percent more than the emissions produced by a Tesla during its production (around 16 metric tons for a Tesla Model three)
Virginia and its major power utilities are also making strides to incorporate more renewable energy into the electric grid, further reducing the CO2 emissions associated with charging an EV. Dominion Energy, one of the major power utilities in VA, is aware of the rising stress of charging EVs on the grid and actively combating them by incorporating power and transmission upgrades to its network, decreasing the impact EVs have on the grid.
EVs have wide access to thousands of charging stations, such as Tesla’s “Supercharger” network, which aims to allow Teslas and other EVs to use their network, similar to how a regular gasoline-powered car would stop at a gas station. These stations use high-powered chargers that get cars back on the road, promising up to 200 miles of charge in 15 minutes. While drivers are waiting for their car to be charged, Tesla, as well as other EV manufacturers, offer entertainment applications and games available to the user via the large touchscreen in the front of the car to give them something to do while they wait. Additionally, most EV chargers are located by rest stops or restaurants, allowing ample time for the passengers to stretch their legs and use the restroom.
Another myth about EVs is that they are not as safe as their gas-powered counterparts. In reality, EV’s battery, which is situated on the bottom of the car, lowers its center of gravity, increasing the difficulty of it being rolled over in an accident. An additional integrated safety feature of EVs is the compartment in the front of the car, nicknamed the “Frunk”. The “Frunk” utilizes the space provided by the missing engine as an additional storage compartment that, in the event of a collision, acts as a “crumple zone” absorbing a large percentage of the kinetic energy, lessening the impact on the passenger section.
EVs have many misconceptions that have flooded mainstream media. EVs have important roles in our society, serving as a sign of advancement and humanity’s movement into a clean and more renewable future. Which benefits the future generations of humans and animals that will live on our planet.
