Why to shift towards EV?
EVs are the innovation of this century. Not so long ago during the 20th century, we had a second industrial revolution that used electronics and information technology to automate production and now it’s the time for the third industrial revolution which focuses more on the integration of technologies such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, etc. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution states evolution is constant in nature, hence, technology is an important aspect of human civilisation and they too evolve.
New Zealand has always been a land of adaptation And we lead the world by example. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s mandate for all government departments, agencies, and ministries to exclusively buy EVs, to help make the entire public sector carbon neutral. The government currently has 15,870 vehicles in its fleet which will be replaced over 2021-2025.
A big technical achievement for humans is to shift from combustion engines to electrical motors. There are many reasons to shift towards EV but there are three main aspects that make a big submission in support of EVs and they are technological, social, and environmental. These aspects always make a big impact in the decisions making when a person is thinking to shift towards EV. These aspects break down into factors like running cost of the EV, maintenance, safety, eco-friendly, etc.
Here are some convincing factors that represent the benefits of switching to EVs:
No more GAS
Fossil fuel is an exhaustible natural resource and the price of the fuel is monopolised by a few countries that making the fuel prices unpredictable. Fuel prices have gone all-time high and are making a deep hole in the pocket.
On average, Kiwis are spending 2.5% of their income on fuel which is highest in comparison to other countries. We are among the highest consumers of fossil fuels in the world per capita, burning ‘around 672 liters of fuel around a year which also is a serious concern to New Zealand’s clean and green image. New Zealand’s net emission rose by 57% between 1990 and 2018, making us among the poorest performers in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). The amount of carbon emission into the environment is so high that in 2019 the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, ushered through legislation that set a target of net-zero by 2050 for CO2 emission.
EV’s are the solution to the GAS problem, they use electricity that is renewable energy, emit zero CO2 in the environment, and are the cheapest source of energy.
Cost-Efficient
Charging an EV costs the same as paying 30c per liter for gas if you drive an average of 25-30km each day (as most Kiwis do). Depending on the type, you can charge your electric vehicle while you sleep for around $3.00 per 100 kilometers. A quick charge for 100 kilometers can cost up to $10 and takes roughly 20 minutes. Because you won't be using all of your battery power on a typical everyday journey, it may cost $1.00 to recharge.
EVs are exempt from road user charges (RUC), saving their owners $600 a year on average. The incentive is part of a government program that aims to see 64,000 EVs on New Zealand roads by the end of 2021.
Nissan Leaf one of the most famous EVs in New Zealand has a 40 kWh battery and gives a range of 400 km which is more than enough to drive and come back from Auckland to Hamilton. New Zealand has one of the fastest-growing networks of public chargers, every major town of New Zealand has a public charger and every single person who owns an EV does look forward to having an efficient EV home charging facility.
Low Maintenance & Long-lasting Batteries
There are just about 20 moving parts in a completely electric vehicle. It doesn't require any oil or grease, and it just requires minor maintenance. A car with a comparable combustion engine (one that runs on fossil fuel) has around 2,000 moving components, all of which require oil and/or routine maintenance.
EV manufacturing companies have started using solid state batteries, with their solid ion-conducting material instead of the liquid electrolyte found in most lithium-ion batteries, which can store more energy. This expands the vehicles' range from the same-size battery or allows for smaller batteries.
A lithium-ion battery cell's full capacity should last 300 to 500 cycles. A good battery can endure for ten years or more. The cost of these batteries is projected to drop even further as technology improves.
High-tech & Safe Transport
Most of the EVs come with sate of the art technology, some of the most innovative companies in the global economy are EV manufacturers. The whole car comes electronic from engines to braking systems and safety airbags. The EV comes with remote applications that allow us to lock unlock, locate, and sometimes self-driving and self-parking features. There are models like Tesla 3 that have gone way beyond the standard behind-the-wheel instrument cluster in favor of one massive screen in the middle of the dash which shows speed and controls all functions of the car and the gear selector is the right-hand stalk.
Electric vehicles are more powerful, economical, safe, and dependable than ever before. EV technology is being pursued by nearly every automotive manufacturer in the world, and many other businesses are exploring methods to adapt the science for their products. The era of modern EVs is just getting started.
EVs must fulfil the same minimal vehicle safety standards as petrol and diesel vehicles in New Zealand. The highest possible ANCAP rating a car can get is 5-stars. The high-voltage electric system of an EV is designed to disengage immediately in the event of a collision. In a collision, they are less prone to catch fire than petrol or diesel vehicles. EVs also have a lower center of gravity due to the weight of the battery packs easier to control at a higher speed.
Environmental Friendly
One of the main reasons for the automobile industry to go electric was the environmental concerns. The main cause of Climate Change is burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. When burnt, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide into the air, causing the planet to heat up. .A typical passenger gas vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Road travel accounts for three-quarters of transport emissions. Most of this comes from passenger vehicles – cars and buses – which contribute 45.1%. The other 29.4% comes from trucks carrying freight.
Electric vehicles emit 80 percent less CO2 than a gas-run vehicle because electricity is normally at least 80 percent renewable (mostly from hydro, geothermal, and wind). EVs generate 60% fewer climate-changing pollutants than gas vehicles during their entire life cycle even after accounting for raw material extraction, battery manufacture, car manufacture, and shipping and battery.
Not only air pollution but EV have come to the rescue in Water and noise pollution. EVs are run by electric motors and they don’t make any noise because there is no combustion going on there. Also, car companies like Cupra are working with the Seaqual Initiative to make the upholstery for the seats in its upcoming Born EV from “upcycled” materials found in the Mediterranean Sea.
Even the New Zealand government is coming up with feebates and schemes such as Clean Car Standard that are designed to reduce the carbon emissions of the country’s vehicle fleet by 2023. The standard will initially set a limit of 139 grams of carbon per kilometer traveled on the average emissions of imported new and used light vehicles. That limit is set to drop to 128g/km in 2024 and will be tightened again to 105g/km in 2025. Even legislation targeting zero CO2 emissions by 2050 will significantly reduce carbon footprint in New Zealand and make a clean and green environment for Aotearoa.
Conclusion
Finally, it comes down to individual choice, whether owning an EV is beneficial to the individual or not. After looking at the technological, social, and environmental aspects of EV, it has superior benefits to ease human life as well as it is responsible towards the environment.
EVs are a gift from humans to themselves and the best thing that could’ve happened to the 21st century!
