The history of the automobile emphasizes luxury, comfort, and aesthetics over performance, power, speed, and safety. This is true for your original need: transportation and transportation. However, if we consider buying a car with more horsepower that is safe for daily use and provides more mileage, gasoline-powered cars are the better choice, both for highways and racetracks.
The theory isn’t just wild speculation or a desktop projection, it’s a simulation of the real world. UC Davis recently launched the “EV Project” which allowed car users to simulate their commute in an EV (Electric Vehicle) compared to a gasoline-powered vehicle. The project found that a 50-mile round trip could save an owner of an electric 2014 Chevrolet Volt about $1,000 in annual fuel costs compared to driving a gas-powered 2014 Ford Focus. However, pure electric cars are more expensive than their gasoline-powered counterparts. For example, a 2018 Ford Focus costs less than $18,000, while the 2018 Chevrolet Volt will cost consumers more than $34,000 and the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt will cost more than $38,000. Solving the equation in this hypothetical scenario, it would take a Chevy owner more than 17 years to recoup the additional costs of purchasing an electric. In other words, electric vehicles are not suitable for users who plan to keep the vehicle for a long period of time. Electric vehicles also cost more up front than gas-powered cars. They need supportive charging infrastructure, socket accessibility and specialized maintenance workshops, which are not yet adequate to meet growing consumer demand.
The added concern is heightened when it comes to mileage and range. On a single charge, most elite electric vehicles like the Tesla Model X, Model S, Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt, and 2018 Nissan Leaf can go just 225 miles on average in an ideal scenario. This number can be as low as 170 on hot or cold days with the heater or air conditioner running on full blast. Hybrid and gasoline cars are better options in this case. To harness the full potential of hybrids, some car buyers are turning to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). A 2018 Chevrolet Volt, for example, has 53 miles of electric range and one tank of conventional gas for longer trips of up to 420 miles.
It is true that electric vehicles are environmentally friendly, but they are not necessarily clean, since the electricity is generated in some way. It’s comparable to using the same fossil fuel, only cleaner. Electric vehicles are powered by a lithium-ion battery, which must be dug out of the ground. Chemically, lithium is a corrosive alkali metal that releases dangerous gaseous derivatives when it comes into contact with moisture, resulting in increased environmental contamination. In application, this can cause electric vehicles to emit dangerous gases or even catch fire if they are stored in cold weather or if they are not properly maintained. The current electrical infrastructure for such technology does not provide for reuse of batteries or recalibration for disposal costs. Fuel-powered cars can be easily rebuilt, their engines changed, and their fuels filtered; but not so currently with an electric.
The technology of “Transports of the Future” is still young and expensive than its gas-powered cousins. Electric vehicles may be easier to charge, but they cost more in the medium to long term. Even the most advanced EV batteries wear out over time and need frequent replacement. For such a replacement, the Tesla Model 3 battery pack costs $190 per kWh and the Chevy Bolt battery pack costs $205 per kWh. Charging stations are another link to EV livelihood. In a state of euphoria, consumers can skip gas stations and ‘recharge’ their EV either from a charging station on their way to work or via an additional solar panel located at their home. In reality, while gas stations can be found every 1 mile on a regular highway, EV battery charging stations may not be found that often. People who live in apartments or condos may have a hard time getting charging add-ons. At a high cost, plugins are now available only in the most advanced countries, such as the US and Western Europe. Not to mention, this becomes a deal breaker for many new buyers and gives car owners in developing countries a headache.
The perennial debate gains a lot of traction on the topic of car safety. In theory, electric vehicles are less fuel-efficient than gasoline-powered cars. However, once they catch fire, electric vehicles are difficult to put out. In October 2017, a Tesla Model S caught fire after crashing into a concrete barrier on the Ahlberg highway in Austria. The incident took 35 firefighters to extinguish the fire. Most recently, on March 23, 2018, a Tesla Model X crashed headfirst into an unprotected median on Highway 101 in California and caught fire. The fire closed the road for 5 hours, which turned into a nightmare for the firefighters. EV engines are not responsible for such disastrous accidents. Powerful villains are lithium-ion batteries that can power hotter fires and release intense heat and are more difficult to extinguish. Battery fires also generate a variety of fumes, smoke, and toxic gases that pose a greater danger to daily commutes and the environment. Currently, only a handful of EV manufacturer personnel have the expertise to address such electrical emissions and hazards. State firefighters and general travelers are not always aware of this “tech savvy” as EVs do not come with a detailed ‘101 to put out your EV fire’ manual!
Recent accidents are bringing back the debate on whether electric vehicles are safer than diesel and gasoline vehicles when it comes to safety. In black and white, the Tesla Model X may have a perfect score in the crash test safety rating. But practical experiences and records always prove stronger than rainbow promises and whitewashed lab results. With a technological breakthrough, electric vehicles may be the harbinger of the transportation revolution in the coming decades. The replacement cost of battery packs may drop to as low as $73 per kWh after 2030 and current range anxiety may become a thing of the past. Hybrids and electric vehicles can offer greater choice and convenience for the discerning end-consumer and new business setup. But at this point, if we consider road safety to travel without stress, it is easier to bet on ‘combustion’ engines than on battery ones.