EH1020
Electric Cars Help Save the Environment
Columbia Southern University
EH1020-15I-5A21-S5, English Composition II
Electric Cars Help Save the Environment
For decades now the race to eradicate perceived global warming has been at the forefront
of the world stage. From the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement emissions of greenhouse
gasses are of the greatest concern for nations globally. Besides major industry, emissions from
conventional internal combustible engines (ICE’s) are seen as a major contributor, and the need
for cleaner transportation has been pushed to the forefront. Can electric cars (EV’s) be the
solution? While many believe they eliminate the destructive nature of fossil fuels, are they truly a
savior, or just a devil in disguise?
The Controversy
While it may be true that EV’s reduce vehicle emissions to zero, at what cost to the rest of
the environment is necessary to achieve this result? Proponents for this technology will argue the
immediate differences between the EV and ICE’s but fail to consider the impacts of
producing the “cleaner” alternative. It is not only the impact to the environment that must be
considered, but the economic impact as well, including the tremendous job loss that would occur
from eliminating conventional transportation altogether.
Pro Side of the Controversy
One of the chief arguments for electric vehicles is the perceived notion of a reduction in
the use of raw materials (Batteries vs oil” A comparison of raw material needs, n.d.). Supporters
look at the total amount of materials used by a vehicle over its lifetime using a battery as opposed
to the amount of oil necessary to keep an ICE on the road. The idea of renewable energy grids to
recharge the EV are also at the forefront, to ultimately eliminate the need for any type of fossil
fuels in the future. A global energy network, or positive energy district (PED) would create
Electric Cars Help Save the Environment
Columbia Southern University
EH1020-15I-5A21-S5, English Composition II
Electric Cars Help Save the Environment
For decades now the race to eradicate perceived global warming has been at the forefront
of the world stage. From the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement emissions of greenhouse
gasses are of the greatest concern for nations globally. Besides major industry, emissions from
conventional internal combustible engines (ICE’s) are seen as a major contributor, and the need
for cleaner transportation has been pushed to the forefront. Can electric cars (EV’s) be the
solution? While many believe they eliminate the destructive nature of fossil fuels, are they truly a
savior, or just a devil in disguise?
The Controversy
While it may be true that EV’s reduce vehicle emissions to zero, at what cost to the rest of
the environment is necessary to achieve this result? Proponents for this technology will argue the
immediate differences between the EV and ICE’s but fail to consider the impacts of
producing the “cleaner” alternative. It is not only the impact to the environment that must be
considered, but the economic impact as well, including the tremendous job loss that would occur
from eliminating conventional transportation altogether.
Pro Side of the Controversy
One of the chief arguments for electric vehicles is the perceived notion of a reduction in
the use of raw materials (Batteries vs oil” A comparison of raw material needs, n.d.). Supporters
look at the total amount of materials used by a vehicle over its lifetime using a battery as opposed
to the amount of oil necessary to keep an ICE on the road. The idea of renewable energy grids to
recharge the EV are also at the forefront, to ultimately eliminate the need for any type of fossil
fuels in the future. A global energy network, or positive energy district (PED) would create
