Introduction – Social Impact

Electric cars have been around for over a century, but they only recently started to
become popular. The first electric car was built in 1891, and the technology has
come a long way since then. Today’s electric cars are much more efficient and
reliable than their early ancestors. And thanks to advances in battery technology,
they can now travel for hundreds of miles on a single charge.

One of the main reasons why people are interested in electric cars is because they’re
environmentally friendly. The zero-emissions performance of electric cars is great
for reducing an individual’s carbon footprint. Travel, including personal travel and
commuting to work, is a major contributor to carbon emissions. And because EVs
are so efficient, they use less energy than traditional gasoline cars. The combination
of higher efficiency in terms of miles per kWh of energy used and the nature of the
electric grid containing renewable sources powering it means electric cars reduce
your carbon footprint in multiple, synergistic ways.

Another reason is electricity is cheaper than gas on a per-mile basis for both the
United States and Europe. This only holds as long as gasoline prices stay at their
prices and do not drop too far. Given the geopolitical events of 2022, and the energy
crisis engendered by the Russia-Ukraine war, in the short term electrical vehicles
seem like a smart move. In short, you’ll save money on fuel costs with an electric
car. And because electric cars lack the complex set of moving parts of an internal
combustion engine, they require less maintenance than gasoline cars. As a result,
you’ll save money on maintenance and repairs with an electric car.

What Is the Social Impact of Electric Cars?

The social impacts of electric cars are many and varied. They range from increased
environmental awareness to reduced dependence on oil-producing countries. Here
are the top 7 social impacts of electric cars:

1. Foster Greater Integration And Decentralization Of Power

Consumption And Generation – Vehicle-to-Grid Technology
Car batteries are large energy storage devices. The largest Tesla battery is 100 kWh
and the smallest ones are over 30 kWh. Even the smallest one has enough capacity
to cover the average power needs of a home for one day. Given the scale of car
batteries, they are viable as energy stores. Consumers will take advantage of
drawing energy from both solar and the electric grid, optimizing for off-peak usage
times, and returning energy to other cars, their homes, buildings, and the grid. In
other words, an electric car becomes a player in the storage and delivery of energy.
This concept is also known as vehicle-to-grid or V2G.

The other way that electric cars decrease centralization is due to the concurrent
adoption of personal renewable energy generation systems. Solar panels for the
home installed over the annual home capacity are well-suited to redirect to the
refueling of electric cars parked at home. For medium-distance travel, this is viable
with Level 2 chargers that will add about 200 miles of range for a modern electric
vehicle of moderate efficiency. This additional use case incentivizes the adoption of
renewable energy systems.

2. Foster Development Of Electrification Infrastructure

In the above, we suggest that cars will assist in decentralization. On the flip side,
better-centralized infrastructure will also be helped by the greater adoption of
electric cars. From the beginning, electric cars and charging stations have faced a
chicken-and-egg problem or the network-effect challenge. Without cars, there’s no
incentive to build a large charging infrastructure, and conversely, without a large
charging infrastructure, there’s a disincentive to buy electric cars. Tax credits for
buying cars, and car owners profiting from V2G, have the effect of overcoming the
challenges of building such infrastructure.

3. Increase Environmental Awareness

Electric cars are often seen as environmentally friendly compared to conventional
petrol or diesel cars. This is because they produce zero emissions at the time of use,
which helps to reduce air pollution and combat climate change. Of course, electric
cars use power and usually have a carbon footprint. For example, a power
generation facility that burns coal to make electricity has a dirty footprint of 500 to
1000 g CO2 / kWh. As our share of electric cars creeps into the low single-digit
percentages, the visibility will have a positive effect of informing and convincing
others that the time is right to impact the environment positively by switching to an
EV.

4. Reduce Dependence On Natural gas and Gasoline/Oil-

Producing Countries
Electric cars don’t rely on oil for fuel, so there’s less need for imported oil. This
reduces dependence on oil-producing countries and increases stability in energy
prices. Where would the electricity for cars come from if not fossil fuels? The major
ones are nuclear, hydropower, wind, and solar. Each country has its energy source
profile. A country like France has very low-carbon electricity derived from nuclear
sources. Powering an electric car in France would therefore have very low carbon
intensity.

5. Improve Local Air Quality

Because they emit little to nothing, electric cars replacing internal combustion
engine cars will contribute to an improvement in the quality of the air in urban
areas. That improvement is not due to the reduction of carbon dioxide, which in
these amounts is relatively harmless short term but terrible long term for the
climate. The improvement will be due to the reduction in PM2.5, or “particulate
matter of 2.5 microns or less”. Although no one has done a controlled trial of the
harmful effects of PM2.5, the observational evidence, with caveats that come with
any non-controlled observational study, is that these small particles have adverse
effects on the lungs, heart, and possibly other organs.

People who suffer from cardiopulmonary conditions will benefit tremendously. On

the other hand, emissions will continue to be generated indirectly via our electricity
generation grid. The health impact of such emissions is variable: they will be high
where the grid depends on fossil fuels, especially if it’s coal or oil, and low where
the grid is biased toward renewable fuels. Certain countries like South Africa still
use a lot of oil in electricity generation and therefore switching to EVs will have a
blunted impact on carbon emissions compared to countries like Iceland and
Sweden which have successfully switched to geothermal and hydropower.

6. Provide Quieter Journeys, Roadways

Electric cars are much quieter than petrol or diesel cars, making for a more relaxing
journey. This is also beneficial for people living near busy roads who would
otherwise be constantly exposed to noise pollution. Reducing noise on a highway
will not have as much impact as reducing it in dense city streets. The reduction of
noise, on first impression, seems to be entirely beneficial because most people will
say that noise is not pleasant. However, studies have found that a noise reduction
has the potential to be dangerous because it reduces the warning of a nearby vehicle
which nevertheless remains dangerous as a large, heavy, high-speed object with the
potential to injure.
7. Reduce Costs to Operate
Electric cars are cheaper to run than conventional gasoline cars because the
distance traveled per unit of energy for an electric car is higher than that for
gasoline cars. Even after accounting for the different costs per unit of energy of
electricity vs gasoline, we find that this conclusion holds: electric cars cost less to
run than gasoline equivalents. This will save you money in the long run, especially
if you have a long commute.

8. Create A New Interest And Hobby Niche For Car Culture

Hobbyists can explore new technologies such as battery management and
regenerative braking, as well as modify the electronics and software in their
vehicles. Additionally, electric vehicles can be used for drag racing, autocross, and
other motorsports activities.

Electric cars can also be used for restoration projects, allowing hobbyists to explore
the design and engineering of the vehicles. In short, electric vehicles provide car
hobbyists with a new set of challenges and opportunities. Electric vehicles have
successfully penetrated mainstream racing entertainment and a very popular event
is Formula E racing which involves electric cars. Interestingly, the race is
characterized by technology spectacles that aren’t available or less prominent for
combustion engine cars.

How Do You Take Care of Electric Cars?

While electric cars have many benefits, they also require some special care and
maintenance. Here are some tips on how to maintain your electric car:

1. Read the owner’s manual carefully. This will help you understand how your car
works and what needs to be done to keep it running properly.

2. Check the battery regularly. Electric cars rely on batteries for power, so it’s
important to make sure that they are in good condition. You should check the
battery level before each drive and recharge it when necessary.
3. Keep the charging system clean. The charging system for an electric car is
different from that of a gasoline car, so it’s important to keep it clean and free of
debris.

4. Avoid short journeys. Starting and stopping an electric car repeatedly can put a
strain on the battery, so it’s best to avoid short journeys if possible.

5. Plan your route carefully. Seasoned electric car drivers know that planning can
help you avoid running out of charge halfway through your journey. Checking the
map before you set off will help you find the quickest route and allow you to plan
stops at charging stations along the way.

6. Invest in a home charger. If you have an electric car, it’s worth investing in a
home charger so that you can charge your car overnight while you sleep. This will
save you time and hassle during the day.

7. Join an EV driver community. There are many online communities for electric

vehicle (EV) drivers where you can ask questions, share advice, and find out about
events and meetups in your area. Joining one of these communities is a great way to
connect with other EV owners and learn more about driving and maintaining your
car.

The answer varies depending on the make and model of the car, as well as the
country in which it is being purchased. In the United States, for example, the
average price of a new electric car is around $30,000. However, some models can
cost as much as $100,000 or even more. In Europe, the lowest cost model is in the
range of €10,000 or about $10,000 at 2022 exchange rates, for example, the Dacia
Spring that styles itself as a “city car”.

In other countries, such as China, the prices of electric cars are often much lower.
This is due in part to government subsidies and incentives that make buying an
electric car more affordable. As a result, the cost of an electric car is something that
can vary widely from one country to another.

Summary
Electric cars will have far-reaching and long-lasting effects. They have a double
benefit: they cut down on pollution and climate change while also saving money for
motorists. Furthermore, electric cars are significantly quieter than gas-powered
vehicles, making them perfect for use in urban areas. The rising popularity of
electric vehicles is justified by their many advantages. The environmental and
economic benefits of electrified cars are only expected to grow as more people
make the switch.
Are electric cars better for the environment?

The major benefit of electric cars is the contribution that they can make toward
improving air quality in towns and cities. With no tailpipe, pure electric cars
produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving. This reduces air pollution
considerably.

Put simply, electric cars give us cleaner streets making our towns and cities a
better place to be for pedestrians and cyclists. In over a year, just one electric
car on the roads can save an average of 1.5 million grams of CO2. That’s the
equivalent of four return flights from London to Barcelona.

 
Electric cars and UK's Net Zero target

According to the Mayor of London, road transport accounts for around half

of the capital's air pollution. It’s no wonder that the UK government and local
councils want to accelerate the number of electric cars on the roads. The UK
government has set a target that the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be
banned by 2040. The government is also looking to reduce carbon emissions to
zero by 2050, and electric cars will play a big role in that. 

What's more, EVs can also help with noise pollution, especially in cities where
speeds are generally low. As electric cars are far quieter than conventional
vehicles, driving electric creates a more peaceful environment for us all.

 
Compare an electric vs petrol car

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology has put a fabulous tool

together to help you compare the overall environmental impact of electric
cars vs internal combustion engine (petrol) cars. The main aim is to let users
understand why, how, and in which cases electro-mobility is performing
according to its green image, by cutting per-km emissions from its fossil fuel-
based counterpart. A second objective is to show in which conditions electric
vehicles may "counter-perform": what happens when the battery size
changes; or the background electricity mix; the battery lifetime; what about
winter conditions affecting battery performances?
 
How does electric car production affect the environment? 

Making electric cars does use a lot of energy. Even after taking battery
manufacture into account, electric cars are still a greener option. This is because
of the reduction in emissions created over the car’s lifetime

The emissions created during the production of an electric car tend to be higher
than a conventional car. This is due to the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries
which are an essential part of an electric car. More than a third of the lifetime
CO2 emissions from an electric car come from the energy used to make the
car itself. As technology advances, this is changing for the better. 

Reusing and recycling batteries is also a growing market. Research into the

use of second-hand batteries is looking at ways to reuse batteries in new
technologies such as electricity storage. One day we could all have batteries in
our homes being used to store our energy. Opportunities like this will reduce the
lifetime environmental impact of battery manufacture.

 
What about the electricity required to fuel an electric car? 

Research by the European Energy Agency found that, even with electricity

generation, the carbon emissions of an electric car are around 17 – 30% lower
than driving a petrol or diesel car. The emissions from electricity generation are
also dramatically improved when low-carbon electricity is used.

That’s good news for our customers. Here at EDF, we produce more low-carbon
electricity than any other supplier in the UK(1). The GoElectric tariff is also
generated from 100% renewable sources, helping electric car drivers to make
more informed choices about how they charge up, maximizing their
environmental impact whilst driving.

 
Are hybrid cars just as good for the environment?
Plug-in hybrids combine an electric motor with a traditional fuel engine and
produce some emissions during a drive.

The green credentials of a hybrid depending on how much of the journey is

driven on electric miles as well as how the vehicle is charged.  This is why hybrid
drivers need to consider how their electricity is generated. Choose a form
of renewable energy, like the GoElectric tariff, and you’re making your
contribution to reducing emissions.

All this shows that electric vehicles have a big role to play in reducing transport
emissions and being a major factor in cleaning up the air we breathe.
Are electric cars better for the environment?

The major benefit of electric cars is the contribution that they can make toward
improving air quality in towns and cities. With no tailpipe, pure electric cars
produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving. This reduces air pollution
considerably.

Put simply, electric cars give us cleaner streets making our towns and cities a
better place to be for pedestrians and cyclists. In over a year, just one electric
car on the roads can save an average of 1.5 million grams of CO2. That’s the
equivalent of four return flights from London to Barcelona.

 
Electric cars and UK's Net Zero target

According to the Mayor of London, road transport accounts for around half

of the capital's air pollution. It’s no wonder that the UK government and local
councils want to accelerate the number of electric cars on the roads. The UK
government has set a target that the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be
banned by 2040. The government is also looking to reduce carbon emissions to
zero by 2050, and electric cars will play a big role in that. 

What's more, EVs can also help with noise pollution, especially in cities where
speeds are generally low. As electric cars are far quieter than conventional
vehicles, driving electric creates a more peaceful environment for us all.

 
Compare an electric vs petrol car

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology has put a fabulous tool

together to help you compare the overall environmental impact of electric
cars vs internal combustion engine (petrol) cars. The main aim is to let users
understand why, how, and in which cases electro-mobility is performing
according to its green image, by cutting per-km emissions from its fossil fuel-
based counterpart. A second objective is to show in which conditions electric
vehicles may "counter-perform": what happens when the battery size
changes; or the background electricity mix; the battery lifetime; what about
winter conditions affecting battery performances?
 
How does electric car production affect the environment? 

Making electric cars does use a lot of energy. Even after taking battery
manufacture into account, electric cars are still a greener option. This is because
of the reduction in emissions created over the car’s lifetime

The emissions created during the production of an electric car tend to be higher
than a conventional car. This is due to the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries
which are an essential part of an electric car. More than a third of the lifetime
CO2 emissions from an electric car come from the energy used to make the
car itself. As technology advances, this is changing for the better. 

Reusing and recycling batteries is also a growing market. Research into the

use of second-hand batteries is looking at ways to reuse batteries in new
technologies such as electricity storage. One day we could all have batteries in
our homes being used to store our energy. Opportunities like this will reduce the
lifetime environmental impact of battery manufacture.

 
What about the electricity required to fuel an electric car? 

Research by the European Energy Agency found that, even with electricity

generation, the carbon emissions of an electric car are around 17 – 30% lower
than driving a petrol or diesel car. The emissions from electricity generation are
also dramatically improved when low-carbon electricity is used.

That’s good news for our customers. Here at EDF, we produce more low-carbon
electricity than any other supplier in the UK(1). The GoElectric tariff is also
generated from 100% renewable sources, helping electric car drivers to make
more informed choices about how they charge up, maximizing their
environmental impact whilst driving.

 
Are hybrid cars just as good for the environment?
Plug-in hybrids combine an electric motor with a traditional fuel engine and
produce some emissions during a drive.

The green credentials of a hybrid depending on how much of the journey is

driven on electric miles as well as how the vehicle is charged.  This is why hybrid
drivers need to consider how their electricity is generated. Choose a form
of renewable energy, like the GoElectric tariff, and you’re making your
contribution to reducing emissions.

All this shows that electric vehicles have a big role to play in reducing transport
emissions and being a major factor in cleaning up the air we breathe.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL HELP REDUCE

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
As well as the direct health benefits of having fewer pollutants in the air,
reducing emissions overall are vital to society’s efforts to reduce its carbon
footprint. Governments around the world are placing electric mobility and
renewable energy at the core of ambitious targets to reduce the effects of
climate change4.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL LOWER

AUSTRALIA’S OIL DEPENDENCY
Australia uses over 34 billion liters of petrol and diesel per year, and over
90% of this is imported. This leaves the country at the mercy of international
market fluctuations or shortages due to war, sanctions, or environmental
disasters. A shift away from petrol and diesel engines would reduce
Australia’s dependency on imported oil, enhancing the country’s self-
sufficiency in potentially turbulent times. 

ELECTRIC VEHICLES REDUCE NOISE

POLLUTION AS WELL AS AIR POLLUTION
While modern cars are much quieter than they used to be, many buses used
in public transportation networks continue to operate with loud diesel
engines. Electric buses, on the other hand, are comparatively silent. Over
40% of China’s one million buses in operation are electric, Paris has just
announced an order of 800 to replace its aging diesel buses, and the NSW
government also announced a plan to switch to an all-electric bus fleet 5.
Australian-made electric buses are also in production, and a large-scale
adoption would dramatically reduce both air pollution as well as noise
pollution on our city streets.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), long-term exposure to
high environmental noise levels such as traffic, above 53 decibels (dB) can
result in adverse health effects such as elevated blood pressure, coronary
artery disease, hearing loss, and even heart attacks 6.

To educate audiences on this growing health concern, Nissan measured and

compared the sound levels of a standard urban street, to that of a street with
the sound level of a 100 percent electric vehicle (EV), using a sound level
meter. The results showed noise levels peaking at above 90db on the street,
as compared to 21db the running noise of a Nissan LEAF powertrain, even
quieter than a library (around 30db).

When compared to the average noise of a stationary petrol or diesel engine

at around 76db, EVs are shown to present a viable option to help decrease
traffic noise pollution. The benefits of this at a societal level can include
higher property values and increased levels of pedestrian street activity and
social interaction.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES COULD CONTRIBUTE

TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE POWER GRID
Second-generation Nissan LEAF batteries don’t just draw power from the
electricity grid—they also have the potential to be able to send power back
into it (once Australia’s compatible technology catches up with what this
electric vehicle can do). This means an electric car may also be used as a
backup power source for any home that has a solar battery system in the
future. Australia already benefits from the strongest penetration of household
solar in the world, additionally, a network of electric cars has the potential to
stabilize the energy grid, by drawing power from renewables or during off-
peak periods and returning power to the network when electricity demand
spikes.

The second-generation Nissan LEAF is the first battery electric vehicle in

Australia to have vehicle-to-home capability from the factory. The power to
utilize this built-in technology is still in its infancy, with this compatible
technology only starting to emerge in overseas markets across Japan,
Europe, and the US. While it’s not available in Australia just yet, Nissan is
working closely with partners across the academic, business, government,
and utility sectors to implement local testing to validate and realize this
exciting future-power-sharing potential in Australia. Most importantly, ensure
the bi-directional units meet both Nissan standards and Australian
regulations.

To demonstrate this concept, Nissan Europe partnered with Amsterdam’s

largest stadium, the 55,000-seat Johan Cruyff Arena, to install 148 new and
used Nissan LEAF batteries. The batteries created a 3 Megawatt system that
captured and stored energy from the 4,300 solar panels installed on the
stadium’s roof and demonstrates the potential for re-appropriating and
recycling EV batteries if they need to be replaced in a vehicle. Although car
manufacturers offer warranties of 8 to 10 years on an EV’s lithium-ion
battery, replacing a battery isn’t going to be a regular occurrence for electric
vehicle owners.  
Introduction 1.1

Introduction

As we strive to achieve a more sustainable future, transportation plays a crucial role in

reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental sustainability. Electric and hybrid
vehicles have been hailed as a solution to the environmental challenges of traditional
gasoline-powered vehicles. With the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles, there has been a
growing interest in the social and environmental impact of these vehicles. This chapter
explores the social and environmental impact of electric and hybrid vehicles, including their
potential to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and promote sustainable
transportation.

Environmental Impact

Electric and hybrid vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions,
which are a major contributor to climate change. According to the International Energy
Agency (IEA), the transportation sector accounts for approximately 24% of global energy-
related carbon dioxide emissions, with passenger cars contributing to a significant portion of
these emissions (IEA, 2019). Electric and hybrid vehicles can help reduce these emissions by
relying on electric power instead of gasoline, which results in lower emissions. Additionally,
electric and hybrid vehicles can take advantage of renewable energy sources, such as solar or
wind power, which can further reduce emissions.

One study found that electric vehicles emit significantly less carbon dioxide than gasoline-
powered vehicles, even when accounting for the emissions from producing electricity
(Cackette, 2012). The study estimated that electric vehicles emit 54% less carbon dioxide on
average than gasoline-powered vehicles. Furthermore, as the electricity grid becomes cleaner
over time, electric vehicles will become even more environmentally friendly.

Another environmental benefit of electric and hybrid vehicles is improved air quality.
Traditional gasoline-powered vehicles emit pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, particulate
matter, and volatile organic compounds, which contribute to air pollution and can have
negative health impacts. Electric and hybrid vehicles do not emit these pollutants, which can
help improve air quality and reduce the negative health impacts associated with air pollution.

Social Impact
Electric and hybrid vehicles also have the potential to positively impact society in a variety of
ways. One benefit of electric vehicles is their potential to reduce noise pollution. Electric
vehicles are significantly quieter than gasoline-powered vehicles, which can have a positive
impact on communities that are impacted by noise pollution.

Another potential social benefit of electric and hybrid vehicles is the potential for increased
energy independence. By relying on electricity instead of gasoline, countries can reduce their
dependence on foreign oil and increase their energy independence. This can have significant
economic and political benefits.

However, there are also potential social challenges associated with the rise of electric and
hybrid vehicles. One challenge is the impact on jobs in the automotive industry. As electric
and hybrid vehicles become more popular, there may be a shift away from traditional
gasoline-powered vehicles, which could have a negative impact on jobs in the automotive
industry that are associated with traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

Conclusion

Electric and hybrid vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions,
improve air quality, and promote sustainable transportation. The environmental benefits of
electric and hybrid vehicles are clear, and as the electricity grid becomes cleaner over time,
these vehicles will become even more environmentally friendly. There are also potential
social benefits of electric and hybrid vehicles, including reduced noise pollution and
increased energy independence. However, there are also potential social challenges
associated with the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles, including the impact on jobs in the
automotive industry. Overall, electric and hybrid vehicles have the potential to play a
significant role in achieving a more sustainable future, but it is important to consider both the
environmental and social impacts of these vehicles.
Conventional Cars vs. Electric Cars: Costs and Benefits Analysis

While we have previously covered all the ways an electric vehicle can save you
money when compared to a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle,
there are additional costs and benefits of purchasing in electric cars vs. conventional
vehicles. Whether you’re looking to lower your carbon footprint or you’re interested in
finding the best vehicle for your needs, we’ve broken down the most common
differences between conventional cars vs. electric cars.

Comparing Conventional Cars vs. Electric Cars

Easier Maintenance

Obviously, vehicles of any sort require maintenance and upkeep. However, when it
comes to conventional cars vs. electric cars, conventional ICE vehicles end up
needing more maintenance over time for a few reasons.

First, the mechanical parts within an internal combustion engine and the drivetrains
require lubrication to keep them from creating friction as the pieces rub against each
other. For this reason, engines require oil changes every 3,000 to 12,000 miles
depending on the vehicle, and the drivetrains should be serviced with new fluids
every couple of years. Even if you don’t drive often, these fluids need to be changed
out because they can break down over time. 
Then there’s buildup that can occur because of the nature of the fluids themselves.
Debris in gasoline can coat fuel injectors, decreasing their ability to deliver gas to the
engine. This can lead to poor engine performance and the need to clean or replace
the fuel injectors.

This can be one of the leading costs and benefits of investing in electric cars vs.
conventional vehicles, as the regular services required by ICE vehicles aren’t required
in electric vehicles. Because EVs don’t use gasoline or have an internal combustion
engine, they don’t have fuel injectors and don’t need regular oil changes. EVs
typically have about two dozen fewer moving parts than an ICE vehicle, decreasing
the amount of lubrication needed throughout the car. This doesn’t only save money—
it also saves you time. No more realizing you’re overdue for an oil change and
wondering how long you can go before you absolutely need to make time for the
shop.

Air Quality

Similarly, electric cars have shown to have a positive impact on air quality vs.
conventional cars. A study released in February 2020 looked at the impact of EVs on
air quality in northern, central and southern Taiwan. They found that not only did EVs
reduce air pollutants that are commonly associated with ICE emissions, but the
health benefits of better air quality would be more than $43 billion USD annually.

Although the engineers of ICE vehicles are actively working to decrease the amount
of emissions caused by conventional cars and local ordinances can require proof of
emissions testing, the levels are still higher than electric cars. And if you do opt to
lower emissions for your conventional vehicle, it’s likely you’re adding one more
piece of maintenance you wouldn’t need for an electric vehicle. 

Safety

EVs generally have increased safety precautions in the event of an accident. For one,
they’re tested for safety across the same metrics as ICE vehicles, so they must pass
the same requirements for the road. But because EVs run on a battery, the power is
able to cut out when the airbags are deployed, cutting the power and decreasing how
far it will continue to travel after a crash. Plus, because they don’t run on gasoline,
there is little possibility of a car fire in the event of a collision. 

Environment

We cannot discuss conventional cars vs. electric cars without discussing the impact
on the environment. While EVs aren’t at the point where they don’t have any impact
on the environment, they have much less effect on climate change. 
EVs do have an affect on the environment through their dependence on electricity
and the need to recycle the batteries. However, research and innovations are
ongoing, continuously lowering EVs carbon footprint to zero. As Jessika Trancik,
associate professor of energy studies at M.I.T., said to the New York Times, “The
reason electric vehicles look like an appealing climate solution is that if we can make
our [energy] grids zero-carbon, then vehicle emissions drop way, way down. Whereas
even the best hybrids that burn gasoline will always have a baseline of emissions
they can’t go below.” Similarly, ICE vehicles will also have a baseline of emissions
that are impossible for them to surpass because of the nature of fossil fuels.

Noise Pollution

Noise is something most people don’t notice until the neighbor’s dog won’t stop
barking or the garbage truck comes by, but noise pollution is a serious issue. Studies
have shown noise pollution not only increases the likelihood of damaged hearing, but
can raise blood pressure, increase stress, and decrease sleep.

If you have a conventional vehicle with a good muffler and a well-maintained engine,
you may not notice your car’s noise, especially from the inside where the sound is
dampened. But even the newest vehicles are going to make more noise than EVs due
to the way combustion engines work and with all of the gears and mechanical pieces
required to keep the car moving. 

While the quietness of EVs have been a running joke since they first were introduced,
the reduced sound decreased noise pollution, leading to healthier, happier
communities. When it comes to the comparison between conventional cars vs.
electric cars, electric cars have the upper hand in combating noise pollution.

Whether you’re concerned about the financial, physiological or social costs and
benefits of investing in electric cars vs. conventional vehicles, EVs provide plenty of
reasons to get behind them. And with the future of automotive technology looking
towards electric vehicles, getting in on the ground floor now can help impact your
company or fleet in positive ways.

If you’re looking to add EVs to your fleet, we have top-tier EVSE systems that will help
elevate your charging experience. View our charging and cable management
solutions or contact us today to discuss your company’s EVSE needs.