EVs: The Drive to Sustainability
Amid the worsening of climate change, the focus has shifted to using sustainable alternatives. Transportation industries worldwide are switching the gears from petroleum-driven vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). Many companies are now developing EVs, including airplanes and buses. EVs are on the rise for being the cleaner and greener choice.
Fuelled by Petroleum
For decades, petroleum, a fossil fuel, has served a great purpose in different industries. However, like many other resources, it is limited and will eventually run out. With the current consumption rate, statistics show there are about 47 years of oil left in the world. As a matter of fact, the Philippines has only 1 year of oil reserves remaining.
Petroleum is one of the top pollutants, disrupting and destroying the lives of many living organisms. In fact, even a thin layer of oil can poison and suffocate many plants and animals, as well as interrupt human activities. On top of that, the wide use of petroleum exposes humans to harmful vapours, damaging the nervous system and increasing the risk of cancer. The effect on human lives doesn’t stop there. Because oil spills are difficult to clean up, they can easily spread and contaminate other bodies of water, including the 3% of potable water on Earth.
Powered by Electricity
Switching to EVs not only slows down the depletion of petroleum but also protects both the environment and society. Instead of petroleum, EVs are “fuelled” by electricity. With technology advancements, even charging EVs can be sustainable as well as more affordable.
Photovoltaic (PV) systems, or solar power systems, are growing in popularity and are slowly being incorporated into EV charging stations, becoming the primary source of electricity. Despite concerns about increased demand, the use of PV systems allows for EV charging stations to be completely off-grid. Without the dependency on petroleum, humans can rest assured that they are safe from contaminated water and toxic fumes.
The Issue of Using Petroleum
Apart from oil pollution, gasoline-powered vehicles are notorious for contributing to air pollution. Like any other fossil fuel, using up petroleum also releases greenhouse gases (GHG), specifically carbon dioxide. In fact, the burning of petroleum from transportation makes up over 23% of the carbon dioxide emissions in the world. Each year, almost 50 billion tons of GHG are emitted worldwide, with carbon dioxide making up 70% of the GHGs.
Here is the issue: as GHGs continue to be emitted, climate change will worsen. The only way to stop this is zero emissions. In 2020, many human activities came to a halt when a pandemic happened. However, this only decreased GHG emissions by 5%.
The Future with EVs
By promoting the use of EVs, it is expected that GHG emissions will decrease drastically. Assuming it travels about 18,500 kilometers, a typical passenger vehicle can emit 4.6 tons of GHG per year. Although this number may seem small, there are over 4 billion vehicles globally, each releasing varying amounts of GHGs. Imagine how many metric tons of GHGs can be reduced per year if these vehicles are replaced with EVs.
On the opposite end, EVs do not release GHGs. Instead, they dissipate heat. Indirectly, charging EVs and manufacturing their batteries can emit GHGs. By promoting renewable energy or using PV systems, the use of EVs can be significantly better for the environment as well as human health.
At Solenergy, we can help you fast-forward a more sustainable future with our high-quality and affordable solar technology. Let’s work together in protecting the environment and our health.
Source: EVs: The Drive to Sustainability