Energy Production and Transportation
The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024
In the first `100 days of 2024 we will explore 100 climate solutions that may “empower you to evaluate, engage, and act” to address on-going climate change as an individual on your terms.
I was raised by a father who had the “drive them into the ground” philosophy: you buy low mileage used cars, take good care of them, and keep them until they are no longer reliable. I am facing having to replace aging vehicles in the next few years, and a new part of that equation (that my father did not face) is the decision to buy an electric vehicle (EV).
When I was considering the installation of my solar panels, the original (albeit a bit naïve) vision was to have the solar array, battery storage and at least one EV. In this way I could connect the solar array to the battery and charge a commuter electric vehicle from it overnight, thus having solar fueled commuter solution. Given the costs and incentives, that is not the way it worked out. My solar panels are grid tied, battery storage is expensive, and I continue to drive vehicles that run on gasoline.
In 2019, 58% of the emissions from the US were produced by the typical gasoline powered vehicles you see on the road everyday. This makes the transportation sector key to meeting net zero emissions goals by 2050. The expansion of the adoption of EVs and continued technology innovation means that it projected that over 50% of the vehicles on the road globally will be EVs by that time. If this is made real, it will be an offset of over 1.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide that would have been emitted annually from fossil fuels.
With technology advances, mainly focused on efficiency and range, EVs are becoming more popular and prevalent on the road. Given their range on a single charge, EVs are suitable for the transportation needs for many and as the US Government is giving incentives for states to install convenient and widespread charging infrastructure, the reasons to choose an EV for your next purchase are even more compelling. Soon it will be possible to drive the long distances we like to in an EV without worrying about being stranded with a dead battery.
“A 2020 study projected that by the year 2050, about half of the cars on the road around the world could be electric, saving around 1.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions per year”
Heidi Roop
Radical change comes with challenges. In particular, given the requirements for batteries, safely and equitably securing sufficient minerals and metals (such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt) are key to the widespread adoption of battery powered EVs. Taking everything into account, “driving an electric car is better for the climate than conventional vehicles”.
The transition needs to start now. In order to make a difference, the sales of conventional vehicles will have to be phased out completely by 2035. The good news is that many car companies are pledging to converting their fleets to meet this deadline. This can be accelerated if consumers signal a desire to make the switch. However, in 2021 only 39% of US adults polled showed a willingness to purchase an electric vehicle.
So for your next vehicle, consider an EV. I am. I will definitely be a smart consumer and keep an eye out for incentives at the federal, state, and local level. And when I decide to buy one, I intend to become a resource and advocate in my community to convince others to do the same.
I highly recommend the 2019 Long Way Up series where Actor Ewan McGregor and his mate Charley Boorman drive prototype Harley Davidson Livewire motorcycles from the tip of South America to Los Angeles, CA supported by a prototype Rivian EV.
Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 13: Drive Efficiently
Howard Creel
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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com