As India sees a greater number of people opting for electric vehicles over the past few years, both manufacturers and the market is stepping up to make the most use of this. Today we see electric vehicles being used not only for city commuting but also as delivery vehicles and public transport.
Whether you’re planning to buy an electric car or are simply curious about its technology, you probably are aware of the benefits electric cars have over conventional petrol or diesel engines. EVNI, however, has been more interested in understanding the exact problems solved by electric cars replacing internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles.
Controlling Environmental Pollution
In a country like India, urban cities house large populations with almost every house owning a petrol or diesel vehicle. The carbon and particle emissions from each of these vehicles can amount to dangerously toxic and hazardous AQI levels and are often the biggest reason for air pollution. Notably, of the 30 most air-polluted cities in the world, 21 are in India. This is testimony to the fact that India is lagging far behind the rest of the world in pollution mitigation. Replacing ICE vehicles with electric ones is, therefore, the prime need of the hour.
Conventional fuel vehicles produce a much larger percentage of carbon emissions along with other toxic gases and particles that have a severely detrimental impact on the quality of air as well as on public health. Prolonged exposure to such emissions can lead to conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, or even something as permanent as significantly decreased lung capacity. EVs operate on electricity and generate considerably lower emissions, making them an environmentally friendly driving option.
Implementation of EV technology in building a climate-positive, efficient and sustainable public transportation network can go a long way in addressing the issue of air pollution, both on a national as well as global scale.
Increased Energy Efficiency
Despite being around for over 100 years, conventional fuel vehicles have not been as successful as EVs in converting fuel into movement.
Our existing internal combustion vehicles have very little efficiency, where they use only about 17-21% of the energy stored in fuel to power the vehicle. This leads to a colossal waste of energy, where almost 60% is wasted in heat. EVs, on the other hand, use about 59-62% of electrical energy available at the grid to power their vehicles.
Reduced Complex Engineering
EVs use lesser movable parts and regenerative brakes that means that they are easier to maintain and have fewer mechanical failures, thereby calling for considerably lesser replacements. While upkeep is hassle-free for the owner, manufacturers are also under less pressure to develop complex engineering systems.
Conventional petrol and diesel engines use a large number of components and, in turn, necessitate periodic maintenance and repairs. Additionally, these vehicles are much more prone to wear and tear which demands a tedious process of servicing. The simple design the EVs come in proves to us that greater efficiency can be achieved with adequate planning and is possible in vehicles with a smaller footprint too.
Reduced Sound Pollution
While loud vehicles or noise pollution might seem trivial when compared to climate change or air pollution, it is still a major factor to consider. The amount of sound a vehicle makes does have an impact on both the driver as well as the people around.
Several studies have been conducted on this aspect and a fair few interesting insights have emerged. Noise pollution has been linked to increased anxiety, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even stroke. Among other factors, vehicular traffic is one of the biggest contributors to noise pollution.
EVs come with a very silent engine, so much so that they are fitted with noise generators to intimate pedestrians of a vehicle in the vicinity. Also, studies show that over 70% of motorists believe that a quieter engine would help improve their mood and reduce stress.
Ability to be Paired With Renewable Energy
EV technology holds immense potential for the maximization of the use of renewable energy to power vehicles. While electricity is still the standard way of charging these vehicles, many manufacturers have begun to deploy charging systems that use solar and wind energy to charge electric vehicles. Tapping into renewable energy sources and using them to power EVs can help achieve maximum emission reduction which can truly work wonders for the climate.
While it has been clear that the use of EVs positively impacts our environment, we need to dig deeper to maximize these benefits. With more data, decision-makers will be able to design better energy programs to improve our environmental footprint.
To Conclude
Though we have listed the exact problems the use of electric vehicles solves, the magnitude of these issues are more than we can express. For example, even though fossil fuels like petrol and diesel are affordable these days, oil is a one-time gift of nature and is going to get increasingly scarce and expensive over time. Battery chargeable cars help conserve these resources, making them available for many more years to come.
