The transition to EVs and the decarbonization of transportation continues its unstoppable progress, but we mustn’t let our guard down; there are still any number of arguments and downright lies floating around that need to be brought down to Earth with facts.
For example, Spain’s reluctance to embrace EVs is in large part due to the widespread belief in erroneous arguments about a technology that will not only improve the country’s quality of life and the dependency on foreign oil, but also aid the fight against the climate emergency at the same time. Meanwhile, Norway has recently passed legislation requiring all taxis in the capital of Oslo to be electric as part of a broader decarbonization strategy.
In the transition to a more sustainable future, EVs are simply a superior technology over internal combustion engine vehicles. A combination of new technologies, economic benefits and environmental advantages has hit the traditional automotive industry hard. While companies like Ford and Volkswagen face a range of problems as they desperately try to adapt to new realities, the future of the automobile lies somewhere between the company that changed everything, Tesla, and a thriving Chinese auto industry that already offers competitive vehicles in all price segments. Auto makers that do not go fully electric, radically redesign their factories and their value chain, including distribution, will go to the wall. Many luxury vehicles will soon be unaffordable, with dying brands behind them.
Hybrids have done nothing to improve things, and will soon be a thing of the past; all they have done is allow the industry to provide more complex, more expensive cars that require significant maintenance to drivers who believed that they were solving a non-existent problem, or who cynically took advantage of tax breaks and parking perks that will soon end.
First, the obvious: EVs do not generate direct emissions, which significantly reduces air pollution, especially in cities. In addition, they convert a much larger proportion of their stored energy into motion, while combustion engines waste much of it in the form of heat. Kilometre by kilometre, electricity is much cheaper than petrol or diesel, especially if it is charged at home, which together with the fact that it has far fewer moving parts, means that many of the common services and breakdowns in combustion engines are eliminated. Second: EVs perform better, with faster acceleration, none of the inertia of traditional engines, generate less pollution and handle better due to the placement of the batteries, which provides a low center of gravity. In addition, EVs and their batteries last much longer than has been claimed, significantly longer than an internal combustion vehicle, as anybody could have worked out for themselves before that misleading, false and self-serving argument appeared.
Current models already offer more than four hundred kilometers per charge, more than enough for most daily uses and to travel perfectly comfortably. Batteries are designed to last twenty years, and advances in recycling are already closing the gap. Finally, another myth: battery fires are extremely rare compared to the risks associated with the combustion of gasoline or diesel.
With the evolution of charging infrastructure and the steady reduction in production costs due to economies of scale, the barriers to the mass adoption of EVs are being removed, as proven by sales in more and more countries. With a global focus on sustainability, EVs are the transport of the future. Sure, you can try holding out, but soon you and your car will be relics in a world of declining emissions, and what’s more, a dangerous and uncomfortable relic, a sad vestige of an obsolete technology. And soon you won’t be able to park your car, EV or otherwise, on the street, as more and more cities are reclaiming those spaces for the greater good.
The solution to the climate emergency is not simply to replace our current fleets with EVs. Decarbonization means improving public transportation and greater availability of autonomous vehicles; again, a reality in more and more places.
In short, EVs are not only a viable alternative: they are an imminent necessity. The industry is rapidly pivoting toward full electrification, driven by a mix of market demand, government regulation, and environmental awareness that is increasingly marginalizing oil (link in Spanish). Is it time for change? Everything indicates that it is. So let’s counter those outdated arguments, abandon outdated technologies and embrace a cleaner future.
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(En español, aquÃ)
And if podcasts are your thing, here’s a nice deep dive into my article in a nice AI-generated conversation:
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This post was previously published on Enrique Dans’ blog.
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