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ELECTRIFYING TRANSPORTATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH


There's no doubt that people are aware of the advantages of electric cars, and they're eager to buy one. But how many of us imagine what those benefits might look like in the long term? We often think about all kinds of things as short-term improvements—electric car batteries or charging stations or whatever else. At this point, let's broaden our scope and consider some of the longer-term changes to our world. In particular, we should think about electrifying transportation as an opportunity for growth. Electric vehicle use could lead to better distribution systems, cheaper costs for consumers, new jobs, and potentially even more space for renewable energy sources. Here's why you should care...

Benefits from Changing Distribution Systems

Image by Lee Rosario from Pixabay 

Electric vehicles can be charged at nearly any location, so the need for infrastructure can be eliminated or greatly reduced. One example is solar power. Solar panels on buildings provide electricity which then powers EVs. It creates lower energy costs for consumers because it does not require complex transmission lines or other major capital investments. Plus, solar panels are easy to install and maintain, and they can last forever without being replaced due to their high levels of durability. Another benefit of changing distribution systems is increased efficiency. Imagine having a system that charges everyone's home or business every day of the year, which is much easier than trying to charge every person's EV every few days or during peak-times. And finally—and probably most importantly—it's just safer. All the technology used for producing electric vehicles has been proven to reduce injuries from collisions. With so many options available, automakers don't have as much incentive to make reckless mistakes when designing and developing automobiles. When consumers see that their lives will be saved when swapping out a gas-powered vehicle for an electric one, they become less likely to drive themselves into a wreck. A great model of both economic and environmental efficiency exists: electric vans running exclusively on battery energy rather than gasoline.

Better Cost of Ownership

Image by Lee Rosario from Pixabay 

Electric vehicles do not cost anything except for range anxiety once you've made your purchase. They are still significantly cheaper to own and operate than standard gas cars. Consider taking out the monthly lease payment of an older automobile (or something similar), since owning any type of electric car requires far less attention than its gasoline equivalent. Then add on maintenance payments and insurance costs, and compare that to a traditional vehicle. If you prefer driving your car to work—and if that's possible in your neighbourhood area—you can save hundreds of dollars per year. Since these savings are not tied to the overall price of the vehicle. And since electric cars have already been developed and tested, automakers are unlikely to make massive manufacturing changes. Even so, those savings will only continue to increase over time, leading manufacturers to create ever greater varieties of vehicles to appeal to different customer groups. So the next time you need a cheap alternative to the old tank, go ahead and replace your current one with an electric one. That way you'll experience the convenience of less time in traffic jams and more time in the air. You could also take advantage of discounts offered for buying second-hand through various websites like Car snap. Or perhaps even finance an electric vehicle yourself by signing up with a company like Fetcher, who help sell you a "vehicle" free of charge if you trade someone else's credit in. Either way, whether you're looking for a way to reduce your pollution footprint or eliminate the stress of constantly paying for fuel, you can now benefit from the improved performance of electric vehicles.

More Space for Renewable Energy

Image by Mudassar Iqbal from Pixabay 

Energy use around the globe has risen steadily since 1990. This has caused a significant amount of congestion on our planet, primarily due to the dramatic increase in demand for industrial processes. However, sustainable alternatives such as wind and solar have provided alternatives to fossil fuels for centuries. Not surprisingly, the primary forms in which modern electric vehicles use clean energy include powering internal combustion engines such as hybrid cars; using renewable electricity from rooftop photovoltaic arrays and geothermal heat pumps; or fueling themselves with nonrenewable fuels. As the number of electric vehicles continues to rise as well, the automotive industry will soon be forced to build new facilities for renewable energy. Manufacturers have responded to this with increasing efforts to produce large amounts of electric charging infrastructure for drivers to plug into. These developments are occurring across Europe, particularly in Germany where authorities have begun converting large swaths of public roads and parking lots into publicly accessible green spaces for residents of surrounding communities. By offering a park-like environment, cities and municipalities could significantly cut down on their carbon footprints. 

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

Aside from making the move a lot easier for local residents, building these parks will allow companies operating within them to increase revenues. While it isn't clear yet how lucrative these types of development projects will be, existing research suggests that there could potentially be $7 trillion worth of investment in sustainable energy worldwide over the next 10 years, according to the International Energy Agency. Furthermore, given the potential of growing interest in the emerging greener future, it's certainly feasible that demand for these sorts of initiatives could cause utilities companies to raise prices in order to attract customers looking to pay lower rates. Of course, this would also incentivize them to invest even further into renewable energy technologies and resources. If solar and wind power continues to expand in popularity and reach across the nation, electric vehicles may also need to consider locating in areas where there is reliable renewable energy generation. Until then, though, consumers must start thinking seriously about creating positive change in the world around them. Why settle for inferior? Electric vehicles offer substantial environmental advantages that extend far beyond saving money by cutting emissions. Many people have bought them because they're environmentally friendly, but now they've found a reason to want to live cleaner. More simply, it's good for our health and the planet.

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