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The Future Is Electric

We plug in our phones and computers. Before long, we all may be plugging in our cars too.

April 24, 2023
By Jasmine Ting

As You Read, Think About: What are the benefits and drawbacks of electric vehicles?

Like many kids, Garret Blayney is used to hearing the rumble of his school bus each morning. But when a new bus arrived last month, he heard a much different sound. 

“I was shocked. It pulled up and played music!” recalls Garret. He’s a fifth-grader at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon. The bus was so quiet that it played a cheerful tune to let kids know it was coming. 

Garret was about to ride on the Bend-La Pine School District’s first electric bus. It runs on electricity from a battery instead of the diesel fuel that powers most school buses. 

Electric buses aren’t just quieter—they’re also better for the environment. Garret’s school district is one of nearly 500 across the country that have committed to using more electric-powered buses. 

The switch isn’t happening only with buses. Last year, more than 800,000 electric vehicles, or EVs, were sold in the U.S. That’s about four times the number sold in 2018. Still, only about 1 out of every 100 cars on America’s roads today is electric. 

Though many experts predict that EVs will one day rule the roads, a lot of people wonder why the change isn’t happening faster. 

Like many kids, Garret Blayney is used to hearing the rumble of his school bus each morning. But when a new bus arrived last month, he heard a much different sound. 

“I was shocked. It pulled up and played music!” recalls Garret. He’s a fifth-grader at Silver Rail Elementary School. It’s in Bend, Oregon. The bus was so quiet that it played a cheerful tune to let kids know it was coming.  

Garret was about to ride on the Bend-La Pine School District’s first electric bus. It runs on electricity from a battery instead of diesel fuel. Most school buses run on diesel. 

Electric buses aren’t just quieter than other buses. They’re also better for the environment. Nearly 500 school districts across the country have committed to using more electric-powered buses. 

The switch isn’t happening only with buses. Last year, more than 800,000 electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. That’s about four times the number sold in 2018. Still, only about 1 out of every 100 cars on America’s roads today are electric. Electric vehicles are often called EVs.

Many experts predict that EVs will one day rule the roads. But a lot of people wonder why the change isn’t happening faster. 

An Electric Past 

EVs may seem like a modern invention, but the first cars in the U.S. that ran on electricity hit the road in the 1890s. The first gasoline-powered cars arrived around the same time. Within a few decades, EVs had fallen out of favor. Their electric batteries needed to be charged frequently, and electricity wasn’t widely available outside cities. 

By 1920, millions of gas-powered cars were on U.S. roads, and gas stations were popping up nationwide. For the past 100 years, nearly all cars and trucks driven around the globe have run on gasoline or diesel fuel. 

That’s caused big problems for the environment. Cars that run on gasoline release greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2). These emissions trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. 

EVs may seem like a modern invention. But the first cars in the U.S. that ran on electricity hit the road in the 1890s. The first gasoline-powered cars arrived around the same time. Within a few decades, EVs had fallen out of favor. Their electric batteries needed to be charged frequently. Electricity also wasn’t widely available outside cities. 

By 1920, millions of gas-powered cars were on U.S. roads. Also, gas stations were popping up nationwide. For the past 100 years, nearly all cars and trucks driven around the globe have run on gasoline or diesel fuel. 

That’s caused big problems for the environment. Cars that run on gasoline release greenhouse gases. The main one is a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2). These emissions trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. This contributes to climate change. 

Making a Change 

Electric vehicles, on the other hand, don’t release greenhouse gases while being driven, so they’re considered a cleaner option. But they’re far from perfect. 

For one thing, there’s the cost. In general, EVs are more expensive than gas-powered cars of the same size—often by more than $10,000. Some areas of the country don’t have many charging stations, so it can be difficult to drive an EV on long trips. Plus, even though EVs release no emissions, the electricity needed to run them usually comes from power plants that release pollutants like CO2. 

Meanwhile, the batteries that power EVs are made of lithium, a metal often found deep underground. Mining lithium can harm the soil and cause other environmental problems.

Electric vehicles are considered a cleaner option to gas-powered cars. They don’t release greenhouse gases while being driven. But they’re far from perfect. 

For one thing, there’s the cost. In general, EVs are more expensive than gas-powered cars of the same size. They often cost $10,000 more. Some areas of the country don’t have many charging stations. This makes it difficult to drive an EV on long trips. It’s true that EVs release no emissions while being driven. But the electricity needed to run them usually comes from power plants that release pollutants into the air. They include gases like CO2. 

Also, the batteries that power EVs are made of lithium. That’s a metal often found deep underground. Mining lithium can harm the soil. It can cause other environmental problems too.

Powering Ahead

Still, many experts agree that switching to EVs will be better for the planet overall. The federal government and some states are encouraging the shift. People who buy an EV can get up to $7,500 back from the U.S. government. It has also pledged billions of dollars to build more charging stations in all 50 states. In addition, seven states will no longer allow the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035. That includes California, which has the most car owners of any state.

Juan Matute works for the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. He says switching to cleaner vehicles is essential for the planet. 

“It’s not something that the government or people or even companies can do on their own,” he says. “It really requires everybody working together.”

Still, many experts agree that switching to EVs will be better for the planet overall. The federal government and some states are encouraging the shift. People who buy an EV can get up to $7,500 back from the U.S. government. It has also pledged billions of dollars to build more charging stations in all 50 states. In addition, seven states will no longer allow the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035. That includes California. It has the most car owners of any state.

Juan Matute works for the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. He says switching to cleaner vehicles is essential for the planet. 

“It’s not something that the government or people or even companies can do on their own,” he says. “It really requires everybody working together.”

Gasoline Cars vs. Electric Cars

Emissions While Driving

Gasoline Cars: Using 1 gallon of gas releases more than 8,000 grams of CO2.

Electric Cars: They release no emissions.

 

Range

Gasoline Cars: Many can travel 300 to 400 miles on one tank of gas.

Electric Cars: Most can travel 200 to 300 miles on a fully charged battery.

 

Refueling

Gasoline Cars: Filling the gas tank at a service station takes a few minutes. 

Electric Cars: Fully charging at a charging station takes about 30 minutes.

 

Maintenance

Gasoline Cars: Routine service is more expensive because of regular oil changes and maintenance to the engine.

Electric Cars: They’re generally cheaper to maintain because they have fewer fluids and moving parts. But repair costs can be high.

 

How They Work

Gasoline Cars (left): pump, tank, and engine

Electric Cars (right): electric motor, rechargeable batteries, and plug

Shutterstock.com

Gasoline Cars vs. Electric Cars

Emissions While Driving

Gasoline Cars: Using 1 gallon of gas releases more than 8,000 grams of CO2.

Electric Cars: They release no emissions.

 

Range

Gasoline Cars: Many can travel 300 to 400 miles on one tank of gas.

Electric Cars: Most can travel 200 to 300 miles on a fully charged battery.

 

Refueling

Gasoline Cars: Filling the gas tank at a service station takes a few minutes. 

Electric Cars: Fully charging at a charging station takes about 30 minutes.

 

Maintenance

Gasoline Cars: Routine service is more expensive because of regular oil changes and maintenance to the engine.

Electric Cars: They’re generally cheaper to maintain because they have fewer fluids and moving parts. But repair costs can be high.

 

How They Work

Gasoline Cars (left): pump, tank, and engine

Electric Cars (right): electric motor, rechargeable batteries, and plug

Shutterstock.com

1. What effect do gas-powered cars have on the environment?

2. How does the author show that EVs are “far from perfect”?

3. How are the U.S. and state governments encouraging people to buy EVs?

1. What effect do gas-powered cars have on the environment?

2. How does the author show that EVs are “far from perfect”?

3. How are the U.S. and state governments encouraging people to buy EVs?

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