Electric vehicles and sustainability

This report evaluates the contribution of electric vehicles to environment sustainability and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. It also provides ideas for complying with sustainability ideals in daily life. The report includes a reflective document on sustainable living and ways to reduce carbon footprints. Subject: BSO 21, Course Name: Not mentioned, Course Code: Not mentioned, College/University: Not mentioned.

Electric vehicles and
sustainability

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
PART A...........................................................................................................................................1
Evaluation of Electric Vehicles regarding contribution to the Environment sustainability...1
PART B............................................................................................................................................4
Examine the current life style and write a reflective document in how to comply with the
sustainability ideals?...............................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Electric vehicles are those vehicles which are operated or run with the help of electric
motor instead of any fuel or gases that are filled in combustion engine for generating power to
run the vehicles(Ghasemi-Marzbali, 2022). Therefore, such types of vehicles are seems to be
perfect replacement for current generation auto mobile in order to reduces the problems related
to the pollution, global warming, decreasing of the natural resources. The concept of the electric
vehicles has been arising since earlier days so that the rising carbon footprints and other issues
which have great impact on the environment due to the fuel based vehicle can be reduced. In this
report, it will be demonstrated how the electric vehicles are truly sustainable for the environment
and reducing carbon emission. Further, it will discussed the ideas that may help in complying
with the sustainability.
MAIN BODY
PART A
Evaluation of Electric Vehicles regarding contribution to the Environment sustainability
Now a days, most of the people prefer to buy electric vehicles due to their low
maintenance costs and for avoiding high fuel prices as in case of fuel vehicles. Also, electric
vehicles have low running costs that attract people to buy them. Electric cars help in
environment sustainability by ensuring the low emittance of greenhouse gases and air pollution
as compared to diesel or petrol cars. Although EVs ensure almost zero emissions but due to the
charging requirement from electricity grid, they produce greenhouse gases but not as much as in
case of fuel cars(Zhang and et. al., 2022). EV or automotive industries contribute to sustainable
development while ensuring renewable electricity tariffs. Here are some of the advantages and
disadvantages of electric vehicles regarding environment sustainability :
Advantages :
 No CO2 emissions : Electric cars produce no carbon dioxide emissions and thus
ensures improved air quality in cities. On an average, a single electric car saves almost 1.5
million grams of CO2 every year. They are 100% eco-friendly because of electrical engines.
Because of electrical source, it does not produce any toxic gases. EVs ensure healthy and green
climate as compared to petrol or hybrid cars. One of the best advantage of automotive industry
is that it gets several government subsidies due to its contribution to environment sustainability.
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 Low noise pollution : EVs are more quiet leading to low noise pollution. They provide
high acceleration for covering longer distances. Also, they provide safe driving
experience. Many users of Electric cars confirmed savings of thousands of dollars every
year(Xie and et. al., 2022). Big companies in automotive industry include Tesla and
Nissan that offer effective electric models with great benefits to environment as well as
user.
 Safe and Easy Driving : Automotive industries ensure easy driving methods. They do
not have stalling problems as in case of petrol cars. It ensures avoidance of clutch mechanisms.
So, one can ensure easy driving by operating with only steering wheel, brake and accelerator
pedals. Also, in electric cars, kinetic energy is used to charge the batteries that in case of normal
cars is wasted entirely on brakes by releasing frictional heat. Electric cars ensure safety of the
users by providing lower center of gravity to make them stable while collision. This can save
the owners from any injury in case of any accident as it ensures electricity cut from the battery.
 Cost Effective : With the technological advancements, the prices as well as cost of
maintenance of electric cars have reduced. As it ensures environment sustainability and social
safety, government also provide incentives in the form of subsidies and incentives regarding
reduced taxes to the automotive industries like Tesla. It helps in reducing costs of the electric
vehicles. Also, the heavy production of batteries has led to reduced costs.
 Battery life : Battery is the most important part of electric vehicles. The cost of lithium
batteries are improving day by day. An effective battery can provide advantage upto 10 years.
With the technology advancement, it is estimated that the cost will reduce more in the future.
So, with good battery life, users enjoy the benefit of electric cars by maintaining costs over the
years.
 Maintenance : As the electric cars are run with electrically powered engines, the
engines are not required to be lubricated. They do not have to do anything with the combustion
engines. In case of electric cars, users are not required to send the vehicles to service stations
very frequently as in case of conventional or hybrid cars that are required to be sent for
maintenance very often.
Electric cars provide several sustainability advantages and other advantages that contribute to
the economy of the nation(Wassiliadis and et. al., 2021). The automotive industry enjoys
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various subsidies and incentives provided by the government for its contribution in environment
sustainability.
Disadvantages
 Recharge : Electric cars are required to get charged which require existence of more
electric fuelling stations. If anyone is planning a long tour with their electric cars, they have to
ensure availability of recharge points for smooth driving that they would not be able to get at
every place. So, availability of recharge points is disadvantage for the users of electric cars.
 Electricity consumption : Electric cars require heavy charge to function in an
appropriate manner. This increases the expenses for paying electricity bills. So, the users need
to conduct an effective research while making decisions regarding the purchase of electric cars.
 Low range and speed : EVs do not provide high range or speed. They provide a limited
range of 50-100 miles. They need to be recharged again after covering a long distance.
Although, with the technology advancement, it is being improved. But for now, individuals
cannot plan for long journeys with the use of electric vehicles.
 Minimum pollution : Electric cars are not fully emission free. They also cause pollution
because the requirement for batteries and electricity for charging the electric cars are not
produced from renewable sources of energy.
 Shortage of power : The cities that have shortfall of electricity may not be able to use
electric cars due to its recharging requirement(Roshandel and et. al., 2022). As EVs
require more power, it could hinder the other daily requirements for power of these cities.
Although electric vehicles have several disadvantages, it highly contributes to environment
sustainability by reducing air pollution due to carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. It causes
lower noise pollution due to its quietness. However , silence is not sometimes good as it could
not signal the other running vehicles on its backside. Electric vehicles produce very low lifetime
emissions. For example, it is explained by a research conducted by IFO that Tesla (a company
in automotive industry) has lifetime emission between 90% and 100% of Mercedes. Many
countries have increased the use of solar and wind power and stopped the coal plants for
enhancing the use of electric vehicles. So, it is clear from the above explanation that electric
vehicles contribute to social safety as well as environment sustainability and ensures healthy
environment.
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PART B
Examine the current life style and write a reflective document in how to comply with the
sustainability ideals?
Sustainable living is the lifestyle which help in understanding the use of natural and
renewable resources in order to protect and improve the environment. Although, we all know
that the change of climate, global warming, reduction in ozone layer and decreasing of other
resources have a devastating impact on the human beings as well as animals(Ibrahim, Abba-Aji
and Vi, 2022). Therefore, the people have a huge opportunity to opt for the actions for
sustainable environment which help in reducing the carbon footprints and impact which can
affect the life style of the human beings. This can be happen when the public transportation are
reduces to the extent to reduce the energy consumption and becoming more ozone-friendly to
reduce the destructive impact over the environment. Hence, there are some ways to improve the
life style of the people in order to provide the safe and clean environment which are depicted a
under:
Save energy: When the people use less energy so it may help in reducing the carbon
emission. However, there are number of ways to save the energy such as turn off the lights wile
living a room or the appliances which are not in use can be unplugged. Further, cooking can be
done without the use of oven, stove or microwave and dry clothes by hanging instead of using
any drier.
Go paperless: People can avoid the wastage of paper by using email to receive letter or
message and print only important documents when it seems to be necessary(Trewern,
Chenoweth, and Christie, 2022). Further the people can shop and take inventory of their personal
products in cloth bags instead of using packaging Therefore, by using less paper people can
avoid loss of paper and use washable clothes in place of paper towel.
Recycle and reuse: The material can be reused by citizens in order to avoid the
accumulation of the waste. They can use products or items as many times as possible like refill
of deodorants, toothpaste and mouthwash tablets, shampoo and conditioners bars and so on. The
reusable water can be used to make the environment plastic free. These plastic products are
causing harm to the society as well as wildlife. To prevent the use of this, the products should be
reusable to be eco-friendly.
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Use renewable energy: the renewable resources should be used in order to save the
environment from carbon emission(Lim, 2022). This can be happen when the petrol and diesel
fuelled cars are replace by with an electric cars. The solar panel should be used at home and the
work pace as well to use the renewable energy.
Grow own produce: By growing own fruits and vegetables, the citizen ensure that they
are not using the pesticides that are generally used by the farmers that lead to cause of air and
water pollution. This also assist in reducing the amount of fossil fuels that are usually used to
transport the produce to the super market(Puspita and Chae, 2021).
Donate unused items and save water: The items or products which are not in use can be
given for the charity shop or someone who can help in reducing the waste. People should avoid
the wastage of drinking water by installing water butt and use of grey water. Therefore, it can be
saved by making small changes at the homes in order ton avoid the wastage.
Drive less: The persons should ride less bike or drive less cars in order to avoid pollution
that is caused due to more use of the public transport(Sameeroddin and et. al., 2021). So in order
to reduce the green house emission the people should consider walk for near by destination but
the location is far so the train may be taken into consideration.
Thus in this way the people can make the environment sustainable by changing their
lifestyle which help in reducing the pollution, carbon emission and make the environment ozone
friendly. In context to the electric vehicles so it has a great impact on the environment and
society for making it clean and safe(Ransom, 2021). It may help in reducing the pollution and
reduction in natural resources.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it has been concluded that electric vehicle furnish great
importance in reducing the pollution that is generally causes due to the use of petrol and diesel
filled vehicles. The report has stated the information about the use of electric vehicles and the
advantage it provides to the society and the environment. It removes the devastating impact on
the atmosphere and provide clean and polluted free environment. It also increase the funding of
government and reduce the noise pollution as well. Further, the report explains the different ideas
of making the environment sustainable. Even the sustainable environment provide the reason to
the employees to feel more good about there job and boost their morale also. Apart from this, it
assist in reducing the carbon footprints and number of toxins released that may impact the
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atmosphere badly. Therefore, person should adopt such ways so that the environment can be
saved in order to prevent the troubles that may occur in future.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ghasemi-Marzbali, A., 2022. Fast-charging station for electric vehicles, challenges and issues: A
comprehensive review. Journal of Energy Storage, 49, p.104136.
Zhang and et. al., 2022. A review on thermal management of lithium-ion batteries for electric
vehicles. Energy, 238, p.121652.
Xie and et. al., 2022. Thermal energy storage for electric vehicles at low temperatures:
Concepts, systems, devices and materials. Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Reviews, 160, p.112263.
Wassiliadis and et. al., 2021. Review of fast charging strategies for lithium-ion battery systems
and their applicability for battery electric vehicles. Journal of Energy Storage, 44,
p.103306.
Roshandel and et. al., 2021, September. Propulsion System of Electric Vehicles. In 2021 31st
Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
Ibrahim, A.M., Abba-Aji, N.M. and Vi, P.T., 2022. Strategic Communication for Sustainable
Environmental Development in the Northern Nigerian Arid Zone: Toward Mitigating the
Impact of Climate Change. In Handbook of Research on Sustainable Development Goals,
Climate Change, and Digitalization (pp. 115-137). IGI Global.
Trewern, J., Chenoweth, J. and Christie, I., 2022. Sparking Change: Evaluating the effectiveness
of a multi-component intervention at encouraging more sustainable food
behaviors. Appetite, p.105933.
Lim, W.M., 2022. The Sustainability Pyramid: A Hierarchical Approach to Greater
Sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals With Implications
for Marketing Theory, Practice, and Public Policy. Australasian Marketing Journal,
p.18393349211069152.
Puspita, H. and Chae, H., 2021. An explorative study and comparison between companies’ and
customers’ perspectives in the sustainable fashion industry. Journal of Global Fashion
Marketing, 12(2), pp.133-145.
Sameeroddin and et. al., 2021. Renewable energy: Fuel from biomass, production of ethanol
from various sustainable sources by fermentation process. Materials Today: Proceedings.
Ransom, E., 2021. Impossible solutions: Competing values in marketing alternative proteins for
sustainable food systems. Journal of Rural Studies, 86, pp.694-701.
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