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What are the Environmental Benefits of an Electric Vehicle? There are many environmental benefits of an electric vehicle. Some benefits are more obvious than others. These benefits are: cleaner air, cleaner water supply, a reduction in global warming, less environmental damage, and less dependence from imported oil. The WF-R High School Technology Transportation Class has been asked to join in a mission to promote environmental awareness in the world and to protect the quality in the environment we live in and depend on.

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Cleaner Air About two thirds of our air pollutants come from automobiles. According to the Electric Power Research Institute, electric vehicles are considered to be 97% cleaner than gasoline powered cars. This difference even takes into account the emissions from the power plants that generate the electricity to recharge EV batteries. Replacing gasoline-powered cars with electric vehicles is where we can make the largest advances in the health of our environment. Gas powered vehicles produce more emissions than electric vehicles as shown in the graphs.

"The World Health Organization reports that 3 million people now die each year from the effects of air pollution. This is three times the 1 million who die each year in automobile accidents. The fact that air pollution fatalities substantially exceed traffic fatalities worldwide suggests the need to broadly redefine notions of safety to include the goal of decreasing air pollution. While only some motorists contribute to traffic fatalities, all motorists contribute to air pollution fatalities."

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Cleaner Water Supply Gas-powered vehicles contribute to air pollution, which collects in the atmosphere. When it rains, this acid rain damages the land, contaminates the water supply, and causes other various environmental problems. EV's do not use oil. There is no chance of accidental spillage or improper disposal of these harmful petroleum products. Much of the pollution in our rivers, bays, and ground water is due to automobile waste fluids being dumped or spilled into storm drains.

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Global Warming Driving an EV instead of a conventional car for a year reduces the amount of air pollutants released by: 17 pounds of hydrocarbons 14 pounds of nitrogen oxides 200 pounds of carbon monoxide 12,000 pounds of carbon dioxide These "Greenhouse Gases" are known to absorb infrared radiation, which affects the earth's climate. "Carbon dioxide is expected to be responsible for about half of future global warming because of the sheer volume of its emissions - the United States leads the world in the carbon dioxide released category with 5.8 tons per person per year." The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that internal combustion engine vehicle emissions accounted for 24% of the hydrocarbons, 34% of the nitrogen oxides, and 54% of the carbon monoxides released in the United States in 1987.

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Less Environmental Damage Vehicles used now require gasoline, made from oil, in which over 50% comes from overseas. We consume an average of 750 million gallons of gas each day, multiplied by 50%, which is over 300 million gallons of fuel per day. That is approximately how much oil is in route to us every day in the hull of a ship like the Exxon Valdez or more recently, the Prestige. When and where will this environmental time bomb go off?

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Independence from Foreign Oil About half of the oil we use in our vehicles today comes from foreign countries. Conservative estimates predict that by the year 2010, we will be importing over 60% of our oil. We are spending upwards of $200,000 a minute on foreign oil. This equates to OVER $100 TRILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR that we are sending overseas. The Federal Trade Commission wants the American Public to consider the alternatives. They state that "Driving alternative fueled vehicles could reduce the level of vehicle emissions, and choosing domestically produced alternative fuels - instead of imported oil - could help reduce the trade deficit, create jobs, and promote economic activity". Another positive aspect of driving electric vehicles is that they can be refueled through a cost effective and emission-free source, solar energy.

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Threat to our National Security "The cost of oil dependence has never been so clear. What had long been largely an environmental issue has suddenly become a deadly serious strategic concern. Oil is an indulgence we can no longer afford, not just because it will run out or turn the planet into a sauna, but because it inexorably leads to global conflict." Our country now faces an ominous threat: reliance on foreign oil. Our government must take action to the influence of foreign oil by making energy independence a national priority. The horror of 9/11 changed forever the assumption that America's oil addiction was primarily an environmental issue. When one considers the cost of sending troops overseas to defend our oil interests, the cost of weapons used and lost, and, of course, the loss of human life, can we really afford to act as a slave to our oil indulgence?

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References 1.  "Air Pollution Fatalities Now Exceed Traffic Fatalities 3 to 1", Bernie Fisholitz-Roberts, Earth Policy Institute, Sept. 17, 2002. 2.  United Nations Environmental Summit, Nairobi, Africa, 1991. 3.  "National Air Pollutant Emission Estimates, 1940-1987," Environmental Protection Agency, 1989. 4.  "Consider the Alternatives: Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Alternative Vehicle Fuels", Federal Trade Commission, 2002. 5.  "How can Hydrogen Save America", Schwartz, Peter and Doug Randall, WIRED Magazine, April 2003.

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Graphs

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Environmental Links

US Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Council for Automotive Research

U.S. Department of Energy

D.O.E. Fuel Economy Site

D.O.E. Office of Environmental Management

ECO World

Environmental News Network

Environmental News Service

Air & Waste Management Association

Environmental Expert

Environmental Working Group

Colorado Air Quality Control Testing

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