Creating a World of Electric Vehicles
Learn more at www.oerproject.comCreating a World of Electric VehiclesBy Molly Sinnott, research by Beverly BrownElectric vehicles are critical to reducing transportation emissions, but there are obstacles they must overcome. What will it take to create a world of EVs?
2Creating a World of Electric VehiclesBy Molly Sinnott, research by Beverly BrownThe state of vehicles todayWhen I got my first car, an old hand-me-down hatchback, none of the gauges on the dashboard worked. That meant I was often missing some important information... like how close the gas tank was to empty. Unsurprisingly, I misjudged once or twice how far $5 worth of gas would get me. But looking back, some of my favorite memories from high school are of a few generous friends or strangers helping me pushing that car to the nearest gas station. People love their cars, and for good reason. Not only do they get us around to sports practice and family visits, school, and work for example, but they’ve revolutionized our international networks of trade, politics, and culture. The fuel that drives 99% of our cars is gasoline. When it comes to fuel sources, gas is both powerful and cheap. But burning gasoline is part of the reason transportation is the number-one source of carbon emissions in the United States. Fortunately, there is an alternative to burning gas to get around. Electric vehicles use—you guessed it—electricity as a fuel source. When that electricity comes from renewable sources, electric vehicles, or EVs, can seriously reduce our transportation emissions. But for them to do that, we need to get people to buy them, which means electric vehicles need to have roughly the same performance, cost, range, and fueling time as their gas-powered counterparts. Let’s look at a few of the promising innovations that will help achieve that. Obstacles and costsIn a future of electric cars, nobody will be pushing their cars into a gas station. But they’ll still have to fuel up – with electricity and batteries instead of gas. Right now, however, the new electric systems still have some disadvantages. For example, it takes less than 10 minutes to fuel up at a gas station, but even the fastest charging stations don’t come close to that. Plus, these fast-charging stations are more expensive to install than standard charging stations. This also means they’re less common. The price of lithium-ion batteries has declined dramatically in the last decade, but there are still obstacles to overcome to get more EVs on the road. © Getty Images.
3Creating a World of Electric VehiclesBy Molly Sinnott, research by Beverly BrownFurther, many gas-powered cars have an average range—or the distance they can travel before running out of fuel—of about 400 miles. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, can travel only about half that distance on average before needing to recharge. Another drawback is that minerals are an essential part of EV batteries, and traditional mining practices are expensive and harmful to the surrounding environment and communities. A small number of countries control nearly all the mining and processing of these minerals. This makes the global supply vulnerable to things like natural disaster and war. Since 2010, the cost of batteries has declined by 87%. That’s an incredible price drop—an EV battery that sells for $4,500 today would have cost about $35,000 just over a decade ago. And yet batteries are still the most expensive part of electric vehicles. As a result, EVs continue to cost more than their gas-powered counterparts. That cost difference makes many consumers reluctant to purchase an EV, especially if they already have a working gas-powered car.Finally, many people are still skeptical of electric vehicle technology. While most EVs meet the daily demands of the average driver, many consumers are uncertain about whether the cost, charging logistics, and range can meet their needs.Creating a world of electric vehiclesOne way we might be able to get greater distance out of a single battery charge is by building better batteries. Right now, most electric cars use lithium-ion batteries that transport a charge using a liquid. But some companies are developing batteries using a solid-state design that replaces that liquid with a solid material. These batteries are twice as dense, meaning you might get twice as many miles on a single charge. Plus, solid-state batteries are typically safer—the liquid in traditional batteries is flammable! Other batteries are being developed using alternative materials like lithium-sulfur. These batteries are cheaper and weigh less than the current design. A lighter battery means an EV can go farther on a single charge. Scientists and companies are also looking at ways to improve the charging systems so you can fill up your battery in the same time it takes to fill up a gas tank. But this will be difficult, because moving that much power really rapidly can be quite dangerous– just think about that flammable liquid mentioned above. Currently, most at-home and public charging stations fully charge an EV battery in about 5 hours. Fast-charging stations, on the other hand, can safely charge an empty battery in as little as 30 minutes. Many areas are growing their networks of these kinds of charging stations to make them more convenient and efficient for drivers. Companies that make electric vehicles and batteries are also studying ways to get their costs down. Much of the cost of an electric car is in the battery, and most batteries are made with minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. As demand for EVs has increased, the supply of these minerals has struggled to keep up. To meet this need, new techniques are being developed to mine minerals more efficiently. To get more mineral from the same amount of raw material, one company extracts lithium using a process called ion exchange. This process is commonly used to treat water and process metal. When applied to lithium, it can yield up to twice as much as standard methods. Battery recycling could also lower costs by keeping the supply of minerals stable. Batteries are often taken out of use when they become less efficient at powering a car. It’s very difficult and expensive to recycle the minerals in those old batteries, and right now hardly anyone does it. Research into battery recycling will probably be very important for keeping the cost of minerals – and batteries and electric vehicles – from climbing too high. The batteries themselves can also be repurposed for less intensive jobs like renewable energy storage.
4Creating a World of Electric VehiclesBy Molly Sinnott, research by Beverly BrownInstalling more safe and efficient charging stations like these is an essential step to getting more EVs on the road. © Getty Images.Electric cars may also become desirable because they can do more tasks than gas-powered vehicles. Some EV owners are making their cars work for them by using vehicle-to-grid systems. With this technology, electricity can flow both ways between a car and the power grid. A vehicle can pull electricity from the grid when there is excess energy, store it in the car’s battery, and then sell it back to the utility when demand is high. This technology helps cities deal with the challenge of intermittency in renewable energy sources and offers a way for EV owners to make money by selling reserved energy. It also provides an emergency source of energy in case of power failures and natural disasters.Action opportunities and careersAs we work toward a world of electric vehicles, we’re relying on scientists, innovators, and educators to getus there. One important role you can play is to advocate for government policies that promote the spread of electric vehicles. For example, government funding can help build large-scale public charging infrastructure, especially in places like low-income communities and rural areas that are often overlooked. Local governments can require new buildings to have parking areas that support EV charging. They can also mandate that city vehicles like buses and police cars be electric. Governments might also provide funding for companies developing new battery and charging technologies.Of course, lots of funding is already available for communities. Some of it is made possible by government policies like the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This act helps provide grants to communities to support the purchase of electric and other clean vehicles for city services. But many communities don’t know about these grants or how to apply for them. Working to help your community discover such opportunities is one big role you can play.
5Creating a World of Electric VehiclesBy Molly Sinnott, research by Beverly BrownIt’s also important to make sure people are aware of their options when deciding what car to purchase. You can share information in your community about government subsidies that exist to make EVs more affordable, the location of local charging stations, and the potential for long-term cost savings from electric vehicles.Electrical engineers like this one checking an EV truck at a plant in in Stockton, CA, are important experts who will help speed the adoption of EVs. © Getty Images.Or you might want to become an expert in one of the fields needed to improve electric vehicle technology. Scientists like chemical engineers can help find ways to use and reuse battery minerals efficiently. Geologists and environmental scientists are needed to find ways to extract these minerals safely and efficiently. You might choose to become an electrical engineer working to improve battery and charging-station technology. Our gas-powered cars have served their purpose well, but the future is electric. How will you help get us there?
6Creating a World of Electric VehiclesBy Molly Sinnott, research by Beverly BrownMolly Sinnott and Beverly Brown Molly Sinnott is a member of the Climate Project editorial team. She was previously a classroom reading and writing teacher, specializing in supporting students in executive-function skills development. She focuses on building approachable and inclusive content for a diverse range of students. Beverly Brown is a member of the Climate Project team living and working in Washington DC as a college administrator and adjunct lab instructor. She is a graduate student studying mechanical engineering and has a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics and government. She uses her interdisciplinary background to create informative and accessible science writing for broad audiences. Credit: “Creating a World of Electric Vehicles”, By Molly Sinnott, research by Beverly Brown / OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/Image credits This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0 except for the following: Cover image: Various e-vehicles roll off the production line at Volkswagen’s plant in Zwickau. In addition to VW vehicles, vehicles from the Group’s Audi and Seat brands also come off the production line at the plant. The vehicles are based on the Modular Electric Toolkit. Volkswagen has converted the site, which employs around 9,000 people, into a purely electric vehicle factory at a cost of 1.2 billion euros. © Jan Woitas / picture alliance / Getty Images.The price of lithium-ion batteries has declined dramatically in the last decade, but there are still obstacles to overcome to get more EVs on the road. © Zhang Peng / LightRocket Getty Images.Installing more safe and efficient charging stations like these is an essential step to getting more EVs on the road. © Bloomberg / Getty Images.Electrical engineers like this one checking an EV truck at a plant in in Stockton, CA, are important experts who will help speed the adoption of EVs. © Bloomberg / Getty Images.OER Project aims to empower teachers by offering free and fully supported history courses for middle- and high-school students. Your account is the key to accessing our standards-aligned courses that are designed with built-in supports like leveled readings, audio recordings of texts, video transcripts, and more. Offerings include a variety of materials, from full-year, standards-based courses to shorter course extensions, all of which build upon foundational historical thinking skills in preparation for AP, college, and beyond. To learn more about The OER Project, visit www.oerproject.com