Sustainability and Electric Vehicles: A Critical Evaluation

This report critically evaluates the concept of sustainability in the current era and the electric vehicles industry. It identifies the positive and negative aspects of electric vehicles and provides a personal reflection on current lifestyle and sustainability ideals.

Individual case study analysis

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART- A..........................................................................................................................................3
Detailed research and critical evaluation of electric vehicles (EV) industry...............................3
PART-B...........................................................................................................................................6
Reflection on current lifestyle and sustainability ideals..............................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Sustainability is defined as ability of something to maintain or sustain over period. Also,
the present report is based on research that will be conducted to identify significance of
sustainability concept in the current era where there is lot of environmental damage and
pollution. Moreover, the study will also do critical evaluation of electric vehicles' industry in
identifying whether they are truly sustainable or adding more harm to the environment. Also,
report will identify whether these vehicles have reduced the carbon emissions and slow down the
climate change or not. Moreover, growth of this industry through one of the business example is
also provided under this report to get clear understanding of the concept. Furthermore, detailed
reflection on current lifestyle along with the best sustainable practices that will be adopted in the
future will also be discussed so that better environmental practices and well-being of might be
ensured for the existing and future generations.
PART- A
Detailed research and critical evaluation of electric vehicles (EV) industry
The EV industry is most popular nowadays where people are ready to use more of
environmental friendly products and services to make more sustainable planet in the future. Also,
electric cars are ones that runs on electricity or battery pack rather than on fuel. Hence, it causes
minimum air pollution and are much better for the environmental use. Moreover, according to
Hermundsdottir and Aspelund (2021) these are the best human inventions till date as EV do not
exhaust fumes and are especially useful in highly populated urban areas where count of vehicles
are more than villages. Furthermore, Fischer and Riechers (2019)stated that as these vehicles do
not use any kind of oil and source of power is purely from the renewable resources such as wind
turbines or solar panels thus creating less demand of fossil fuels in the market. However, Brown
and et.al. (2019) argued that these vehicles are charged form the electric outlets that are not
widely spread in most of the areas that creates the hindrance success of this concept. Also, said
that these vehicles have high charging time as compared to other options and it is no use when
the user is in hurry or any kind of emergency.
On above all Vogt, Andereck and Pham (2020) stated that electric cars' maintenance cost
is very less over period as these cars do not need any kind of changes in air filters, oil changes, or
spark plugs thus saving lot amount of money compared to the petrol vehicles. Thus, it can be
said that no matter in which are the people are living this concept of EV have brought drastic

change in the society and among people as due to increasing petrol prices and service charges
people are now ready to purchase quality products that have the guarantee to work longer with
minimum costs and prices. Moreover, some people are not interested in purchasing these types of
vehicles because these cars have limited range compared to all the gas vehicles and people that
are more concern in buying fancy items will not purchase it any costs. Also, such types of cars
are not great success especially in village areas where electricity is not easily available.
Furthermore, manufactures are finding it very difficult for making it cost effective so that
larger segments of people are able to buy these cars. Moreover, to promote more use of these
vehicles in various areas the UK government had introduced voucher scheme so that it might
help the EV industries firms to install electric rechargeable charge points at various points to
provide comport to people for easy access (Martins and Pato, 2019). Also, to build green
environment in the current era it is good step that industries are taking initiatives to save the
natural resources and building machines that are future of the next generation. Furthermore, yes
it is truly sustainable as upcoming of various industries that are emitting lot of fuels in the
environment and major reasons of global warming and climate change EV vehicles would help
in creating positive environment on reducing the green house gas emissions and improving the
air quality to larger extent.
However, among most of the positive aspects some of them argued that EV vehicles are
the major reason for the carbon footprint not because of the vehicle itself but due to the way the
batteries are manufactured and process through they are been charged. Furthermore, if systematic
measures or research are conducted by the industry itself than there is high possibility that
operational energy of the batteries is reduced and also batteries that are of no use must have the
option to be recycled so that better use and environmental protection might be ensured in any
particular country (Asmelash and Kumar, 2019). Furthermore, EV is the future for most of the
people but some of them thinks that use of EV vehicles is limited due to its overpricing and it's
charging problem. Also, people find that gas station are easier to find and hence in case when
there is any kind of emergency than chances of finding charging points are very less. Thus, this
industry need to make certain awareness programmes so that selling of these vehicles is
increased and more charging stations might be developed. Moreover, manufacturers must try to
do intense market research so that the vehicles could be more innovative and creative in reducing
the carbon emissions to large extent.

Also, if together whole community tries to join hands in reducing the use of old
technologies and suggest ways to the EV industry in making certain changes in the features of
the product than together greener environment could be made in the future. Moreover,
sustainable development is long term future concept and not immediate results are derived out
from it (Martins and et.al., 2019). Moreover, total energy production requirement for the
manufacturing one electric vehicle need to be compared with that of fuel operated vehicle so that
better comparison might be done and changes than could be made accordingly. Further, in the
recent times newer concept of hybrid cars had also been developed that means that vehicles that
is combined with electric motor and traditional fuel engine to produce fewer emissions during
the time of driving. Thus, with the introduction all these types of fuel cars means that people
would have the opportunity to have the benefits of both the fuel cars and electric cars. Moreover,
this type of invention is good for both industry and electric cars people.
Moreover, in the current era it has been seen that there is drastic climate change due to
excessive bad human practices. Also, such type of climate change is worsening over the years
that is impacting both well-being and health of the planet(Exactly how sustainable are electric
cars?, 2022). Furthermore, government are also taking various initiatives to help those firms that
are introducing new products or services in the market for making the planet more sustainable .
Thus, emergence of new concept of electric vehicles will create major impact in ending or
reducing the environmental pollution and promoting safer and liveable future for all the coming
generations. Furthermore, being sustainable is not only good for the overall society but has it
own benefits for the electric vehicles company such as it will help in improving efficiency and
thus would cause less wastage at the workplace which would later become selling points when
the firm is discussing or advertising facility or processes.
Also, electric industry would get extra opportunity to explore into newer markets where
the people are less known about this concept and its uses and thus will create awareness about
new products and increase the sales of the business. Further, having such type of forwards
thinking industries gets and additional advantage as more number of investors are attracted
towards making quality investments in such types of sustainable business thus creating more cost
saving opportunities for the business. Also, sustainable concept is based on three pillars
economy, society and environment and with this concept most of the electric vehicles nowadays
work smoothly. For example : The new car launched by Tesla model Y is electric car that is

made available in appropriate range so that most of the people might buy. Also, this car has
impressive performance and can travel more than 300 miles (ca. 483 km) on the full charge
capacity.
Although it is an electric car but it has all additional features that makes it look more
attractive and similar to that of other normal cars. However, this model was later claimed by
most of the users that it charges really fast only for the while and lack of physical buttons is not
good thing in this model (Bilan and et.al., 2020). Thus, in the end it can be said that this concept
of electric cars is only effective when electric supply that is used for making these electric cars
come from renewable sources. Also, it cannot be said that this concept might be made 100%
clean. Moreover, electric vehicles also bring down the noise at lower speed and hence results in
less noise pollution.
PART-B
Reflection on current lifestyle and sustainability ideals
This part of report is based on reflection on current lifestyle that is followed by me in
carrying out certain daily routine work activities in various area. Also, my current way of living
is that I don't think much of sustainability before buying certain goods or services from different
sellers as I need to fulfil certain demands or services. However, after learning much from the
internet now I have understood that being socially responsible and adopting sustainable practices
is responsibility part of every Human being living on this planet so that future generations are
better. Thus, in my current lifestyle I purchase goods from the sellers even in the plastic bags but
now I have pledged myself to purchase products only in paper bags that could be easily reused
and recyclable and cause no harm to the environment (Sodiq and et.al., 2019). Moreover, now I
have started growing my own produce at my homes that is promoting more healthy lifestyle and
have ensured that pesticides are not used that contribute more in air and water pollution. Also,
based on my knowledge I have never though of saving the water or utilizing the used water in
most effective ways. In-spite of this I have now complied that I would try saving water in homes
and other places through adopting various water saving practices. Also, in the busy lifestyle I
have never got the idea of looking at the products whether they are fair-trade certified or not.
However, now pledging to become sustainable I would buy only those products that have the

commitment of sustainable production that is usually shown through the mark or logo on the
products.
Furthermore, in order to buy fashionable clothes according to current trends I never
thought that fashion industries are main reason for causing pollution in the environments.
Hence, following the sustainability ideals now I will buy clothes from sustainable clothing
outlets and charity shops. Moreover, with more research I have found that there are various other
ways that might be adopted by me to take one more step in becoming more sustainable in daily
life such as using eco friendly cleaning products, not wasting the food, using more renewable
energy sources and much more. Hence, using all these methods and encouraging other to do the
same would together bring the drastic change in the environment to meet the current needs
without compromising needs of the future generations.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that sustainability in the current era only
improves the living of the human beings as well as protect the environment and natural resources
to large extent. Also, present report had conducted a detailed research on the new concept of
electric vehicles that are introduced in the market to reduce the pollution in the environment.
Moreover, the study had highlighted both positive and negative aspect of this type of concept on
the overall society and planet in becoming eco friendly. Also, the report had identified whether
this new product in the market had actually reduced the carbon emissions of not through
providing one business example that is currently working on this concept. Lastly, the report had
provided personal reflection on current lifestyle that is been followed over the years and what
comply would be taken to bring the sustainable practices in daily life routine.

REFERENCES
Books and journals.
Asmelash, A. G. and Kumar, S., 2019. Assessing progress of tourism sustainability: Developing
and validating sustainability indicators. Tourism Management. 71. pp.67-83.
Bilan, Y. and et.al., 2020. Sustainability and economic performance: Role of organizational
learning and innovation. Engineering Economics. 31(1). pp.93-103.
Brown, K. and et.al., 2019. Empathy, place and identity interactions for sustainability. Global
environmental change. 56. pp.11-17.
Fischer, J. and Riechers, M., 2019. A leverage points perspective on sustainability. People and
Nature. 1(1). pp.115-120.
Hermundsdottir, F. and Aspelund, A., 2021. Sustainability innovations and firm competitiveness:
A review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 280. p.124715.
Martins, C. L. and Pato, M. V., 2019. Supply chain sustainability: A tertiary literature
review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 225. pp.995-1016.
Martins, V. W. B. and et.al., 2019. Knowledge management in the context of sustainability:
Literature review and opportunities for future research. Journal of cleaner production. 229.
pp.489-500.
Sodiq, A. and et.al., 2019. Towards modern sustainable cities: Review of sustainability principles
and trends. Journal of Cleaner Production. 227. pp.972-1001.
Vogt, C. A., Andereck, K. L. and Pham, K., 2020. Designing for quality of life and
sustainability. Annals of Tourism Research. 83. p.102963.
Online
Exactly how sustainable are electric cars?. 2022. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.thinkingreener.com/technology/exactly-how-sustainable-are-electric-
cars/>.