There is a concern in today’s society of the negative environmental impact humans play in the world. Concerns of being more “green” are looked at more today than ever before. Harmful emissions from vehicles, drilling for oil and gas, and hydraulic fracking are just some of the ways humans are harming the environment. How much punishment can Mother Nature take? How long until there are irreversible effects to the environment? What if there were no harmful emissions put out by vehicles? What would happen in a world where oil and gas prices only have a small impact on today’s society? With all the wars waged to control oil and gas, and all the lives lost to support that cause, why does society still rely on oil and gas for its everyday commutes
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2304). When looking at the environmental impact of these vehicles, it is important to consider their whole life cycle: whether it is the increase in battery production to supply the electric cars or the impact of extraction of natural resources to make the fuels for the internal combustion vehicles (Hawkins et al. 997). One study showed that Lithium-ion batteries do not have as great of an environmental impact as internal combustion engines as far as emissions from every day use; however, they have the same impact as far as maintenance and disposal of the vehicles (Notter et al. 6552). Electric vehicles can have an even lower impact on the environment if the source for the electricity comes from a renewable energy source such as wind or solar power (Granovskii 1189). As far as drilling for natural resources, there have been reports of drinking water being contaminated possibly by the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing: water from kitchen faucets catching fire and streams that bubble with flammable gas. Hydraulic fracturing procedures were not being regulated due to their exemption from The Clean Air Act, The Clean Water Act, and The Safe Water Drinking Act, making it hard to prove hydraulic fracking is the cause of the contaminated water. Aside from that, nearly all drilling rigs are …show more content…
Many individuals may be deterred from purchasing an electric vehicle based upon the lack of consumer information available. GM offered the EV-1 electric car in the late 1990’s. GM has since reclaimed all the EV-1 vehicles and destroyed them due to what was said as a lack of consumer interest. Even when the public stated that they were willing to buy the vehicles, GM refused to offer them as a purchasing option (Paine “Who”). One must wonder if there is a bigger picture involved. With billions, if not trillions of dollars at stake in the oil, gas, and automotive industry, is it money or the greater good that is the priority for vehicle manufacturing companies? Why are electric cars still resisted so much to this day? Mankind now has the option to use a car that runs on a renewable energy source and does not put out any harmful emissions. They have just as much, if not better performance, and are more convenient and as safe as most of the cars in use today. Finding alternatives for unrenewable fossil fuels is eventually inevitable. The change from fossil fuel powered internal combustion engines to electric engines is already underway. It is important for consumers to not only examine the positive impact that electric powered vehicles will have but also the impact these choices will have on the lives of future
2304). When looking at the environmental impact of these vehicles, it is important to consider their whole life cycle: whether it is the increase in battery production to supply the electric cars or the impact of extraction of natural resources to make the fuels for the internal combustion vehicles (Hawkins et al. 997). One study showed that Lithium-ion batteries do not have as great of an environmental impact as internal combustion engines as far as emissions from every day use; however, they have the same impact as far as maintenance and disposal of the vehicles (Notter et al. 6552). Electric vehicles can have an even lower impact on the environment if the source for the electricity comes from a renewable energy source such as wind or solar power (Granovskii 1189). As far as drilling for natural resources, there have been reports of drinking water being contaminated possibly by the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing: water from kitchen faucets catching fire and streams that bubble with flammable gas. Hydraulic fracturing procedures were not being regulated due to their exemption from The Clean Air Act, The Clean Water Act, and The Safe Water Drinking Act, making it hard to prove hydraulic fracking is the cause of the contaminated water. Aside from that, nearly all drilling rigs are …show more content…
Many individuals may be deterred from purchasing an electric vehicle based upon the lack of consumer information available. GM offered the EV-1 electric car in the late 1990’s. GM has since reclaimed all the EV-1 vehicles and destroyed them due to what was said as a lack of consumer interest. Even when the public stated that they were willing to buy the vehicles, GM refused to offer them as a purchasing option (Paine “Who”). One must wonder if there is a bigger picture involved. With billions, if not trillions of dollars at stake in the oil, gas, and automotive industry, is it money or the greater good that is the priority for vehicle manufacturing companies? Why are electric cars still resisted so much to this day? Mankind now has the option to use a car that runs on a renewable energy source and does not put out any harmful emissions. They have just as much, if not better performance, and are more convenient and as safe as most of the cars in use today. Finding alternatives for unrenewable fossil fuels is eventually inevitable. The change from fossil fuel powered internal combustion engines to electric engines is already underway. It is important for consumers to not only examine the positive impact that electric powered vehicles will have but also the impact these choices will have on the lives of future