Electric vehicles have been dominating the mobility and vehicle market for the last decade. It has gotten so bad that EV manufacturers are at their wit’s end trying to cope with the increasing demand.
Several companies have joined the EV bandwagon after Tesla showed them how well it performs. However, there is debate on why electric cars are not the future. You can bet that EVs will be the get-go vehicle for the foreseeable future.
Let’s dive into the world of electric vehicles and find out why these marvels may not be the future we anticipated.
Drawbacks of Battery Electric Cars: Road to Sustainable Electricity or a Dead-end?
When Tesla first introduced the original Roadster, a pure electric car back in 2010, many were skeptical.
Most people who bought the Roadster quickly realized that it was not it. It needed lots of modifications to be able to compete with the abundance of petrol-diesel engine cars.
Here are some drawbacks of BEVs that:
Purchase Price and Maintenance
Compared to gas-powered vehicles, EVs are relatively pricey when transitioning from gas-powered to electric.
The price is not just confined to just the price of the car itself. You need to get a garage set up with charging equipment as a start. To do that, you will need outlets and circuits that are rated for enough power to juice these cars.
On top of that, there is hefty electricity bill considerations. Even with a fully solar-powered house, charging the car will take up the most amount of electricity that you generate. Watch this video to understand the electricity considerations.
The maintenance cost for an electric car is also very steep. Quotes for minor upgrades or repairs easily go over $1000 if you do not have a warranty covering it.
Even with all the government incentives to reduce initial prices, it does not look like it will be available in every household any time soon. Read related articles.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Another big consideration is the EV batteries. These use lithium-ion batteries for the most part. Although lithium is abundant in the environment, the mining process is not very eco-friendly.
To add to that injury, building large, heavy lithium-ion batteries takes a huge amount of energy. Companies like Panasonic and LG Energy Solutions can not keep up with the increasing demand for these batteries.
They have been expanding manufacturing sites to meet demand and not every single one is catered to sustaining the green.
The counterargument for this is these batteries can be recycled after they are replaced. But in real-world scenarios, most batteries are not properly recycled which generates massive waste that is hard to dispose of.
EV Manufacturing and Environmental Footprint
The goal of EVs was to reduce the carbon footprint and emissions from petrol or diesel combustion. On the surface, it looks like the EVs are doing exactly that. But it creates a ‘Halo Effect’.
The determinant for eco-friendly cars is measured by whether it is emitting anything from the exhaust. Environmentalists are quick to put EVs on the pedestal because truthfully there is no emission in using the car.
However, they often overlook the huge amount of environmental footprint electric vehicles are leaving when they are manufactured.
At first glance, it seems like EVs reduce carbon emissions and help in reducing the greenhouse effect of gasoline-powered vehicles. Watch this video to fully understand the gravity of the situation.
But in truth that is not the case. EVs have been rapidly taking over market share over the last 2 years. Many companies like Ford and General Motors are committed to their vision of manufacturing only EVs by 2030.
The average consumer thinks they are helping the environment by going for electric cars and that is partly true. But the electricity that you need to drive the car is probably not coming from a green source.
So emissions might not come out of the tailpipe, but they are generated somewhere along the line.
Automotive Manufacturers
Gasoline and Petrol cars have a long history. Manufacturers are not simply going to rip out the ICEV roots they have built over this large period.
For example, Toyota, the world’s biggest automotive manufacturer does not wish to participate in the EV craze. They have been reluctant to go fully electric.
According to them, when every company in the automotive business shifts to only EVs it will create a massive shortage of metal resources used to make batteries for them.
It’s not only Lithium, but it will create scarcity and competition to hoard nickel, cobalt, manganese, and other vital metals. This might even cause a ripple effect on battery prices as they are just starting to come down.
Considerations for Third World Countries
EVs available today are mostly used in the US, UK, and other developed countries. They have been pushing for Zero Emission Vehicles to address the downward condition of our planet.
Automakers thought of EVs as the solution. However, the infrastructure to support it is not easy to build. Third-world countries do not have sufficient backing to develop an EV ecosystem.
These countries will have to tear down their existing road infrastructure and stations designed for ICEV vehicles to support a fully electric vehicle era.
A lot of these countries do not have the financial backing to break apart and rebuild their road system.
Most countries do not even have manufacturing plants. Import taxes of 200-500% on already expensive vehicles are but a pipe dream for them.
EVs are being applauded for their innovation and technological advancements. But are they proving to be the future of the automotive industry? These cars have a long way to go before they become the future of cars.
Read also: 20 Reasons Not to Buy an Electric Car: The Truth Behind the Hype
Battery Electric Cars vs Alternatives – A New Dawn?
Although there are alternatives to EVs, they do not have the infrastructure to support mass production.
Although marginal, electric cars are way ahead on infrastructure compared to some of these alternatives.
Here are some alternatives to BEVs:
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
There has been a lot of talk recently about making EVs based on Hydrogen fuel cells. When talking about FCEVs you can look at the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo.
These cars will not be storing energy like conventional EVs but generate it by converting hydrogen into electricity.
The major difference between BEVs and FCEVs is that hydrogen cars generate electricity inside the vehicle.
(Source: BMW)
Here are some advantages of FCEVs over regular BEVs:
- Extended Range: BEVs can go up to around 400 miles on a good day while FCEVs can go upwards of 600 miles using the same energy.
- Instant Refueling: While BEVs take whole nights to fully charge the vehicle, FCEVs take the same amount of time it takes to refuel a gas or diesel tank.
Where it falls short is:
- Hydrogen Production: Current processes to extract hydrogen are not very eco-friendly. It is heavily energy-intensive, almost to the point where it diminishes the good values.
- Development: Electric cars are already way ahead in this game and companies are already talking about making BEVs the new mainstream. Rough estimation on BEV sales will be over 14 million according to Canalys as there are not more than 15000 hydrogen cars in the streets of the US.
- Widespread Adoption: Another big concern is the consumers’ adaptability to new products. Right now you can only sustain a Hydrogen fuel cell car in the California area. Because this is the only state in the US with hydrogen fuel refill stations.
These shortcomings were also a big part of BEV development as well. They have negated many of these in recent years. One of the most notable milestones is the integration of Tesla superchargers into stations.
Slowly but surely Hydrogen cell vehicles will overcome what they lack. It is just a matter of time until more sustainable hydrogen extraction methods are available and FCEVs become the next big thing.
Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrid cars are nothing new. These combine the benefits of ICEVs and BEVs. These can significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions to unimaginable standards.
With synthetic fuel to back it in the zero emissions department, it has the best chance of bringing a new future for the automotive industry.
These cars are relatively cheaper to purchase than other electric vehicles. There is not much to do in the infrastructure department so it is plug and play.
Read more about the best hybrid cars for 2023.
However, since the batteries on these are smaller compared to regular BEVs it has limited electric-only range.
Synthetic Fuel on ICEVs (Formula 1 | Porsche)
Since the “Zero Emission” race started, all manufacturers ever want to talk about is a new type of car or engine. But Formula and Porsche have something different in mind.
What if you do not need to change the engine or how it works but rather work on the fuel to make it carbon-neutral? That’s exactly what they envisioned.
Enter Synthetic fuel. These are direct replacements for fossil fuel and you don’t even need to make any modifications to the engine.
Porsche has already declared at the Munich Motor Show that they will put this fuel on sale for mass consumption before the decade ends.
The business perspective of this e-fuel is also very interesting. Taxes on fuel are set depending on how much CO2 it emits.
Since synthetic fuel emissions are net zero, they can put this on the market at competitive prices to fight diesel, gasoline, and battery electric vehicles.
Another interesting thing about this fuel is that the waste material is Oxygen. So, Porsche just releases it into the atmosphere.
Synthetic fuels seem to be the best alternative so far to electric vehicles.
How Can EVs Become the Future – Potential Ways to Do it Right
The path electric vehicles are taking is not an easy one. On one hand, they produce zero emissions while driving. However, it is somewhat nullified by the huge amount of carbon footprint the manufacturing process leaves.
Creating a balance to discard the negative effects of manufacturing is a must if BEVs want to stand out as the pinnacle of automobile innovation.
They may have to rethink their scheme and follow some of these tips for a better future:
- Lower Purchase Costs: They can start by reducing the upfront cost of owning an EV.
- Expansion: They will have to rebuild and expand infrastructures both in urban and rural areas to increase accessibility of EVs.
- Collaboration: manufacturers need to come together to create the ultimate EV or fuel source that is not in any way harmful to the environment.
- Incentives for preowned EVs: Offer incentives to people who buy electric vehicles so it does not get thrown away in a junkyard and build up waste.
- Range Improvement: BEVs are still far behind FCEVs and ICEVs in terms of range. They need to do something about it if they want to stay competitive when hydrogen cars.
Read Also: Everything About Tesla Battery Preconditioning: When, Why, How?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What will replace electric cars in the future?
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCEV) and Synthetic Fuel ICEs.
What is the biggest problem with EVs?
Battery waste and climate considerations of manufacturing EVs.
How long do electric cars last?
An EV will last upwards of 10-15 years if you take good care of it.
