Electric Car Research Paper PDF

The Future of the Car Industry

Steven Teitelbaum

Writ Lit II 5th hour

Kopitz

4/8/12

Cars are used by many people all over the world to get them wherever they need

to go. Most of these cars are powered by gasoline, some are powered by alternative fuels,

and some are powered by electricity. Many people consider electric cars to be the future

of the car industry. Electric cars simply use an electric motor to power the car instead of

an engine, and to increase the range, the owner simply recharges a battery inside the car

to power the motor (Debatepedia 1). According to Tesla Motors, an electric car company,

“Tesla possesses a high powered wall connector, which completely recharges the car in

under 4 hours, and at max power, the high powered wall connector charges at a speed of

56 miles range per hour”(Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental

Benefits” 6). While electric cars do not have as much range as gas-powered cars, zero

emissions are created by the electric battery, which notably benefits the environment

(Tesla Motors “Go Electric” 1). Electric cars constantly evolve, and will eventually reap

the same capabilities as gas-powered cars, and may one day even surpass the capabilities

of gas-powered cars.

The controversy over whether the car companies should increase production of

electric cars began when electric cars were compared to gas-powered cars as viable

solutions to global warming, or the gradual rise in temperature on the planet, which was

first theorized in 1983 (Collins English Dictionary 1). Believed to be the result of the

accumulation of greenhouse gases, which trap heat in Earth's atmosphere, global

warming, mainly contributed to by human activity, has gradually increased over time

(American Heritage Science Dictionary 1). Humans can release greenhouse gases by

driving because their gas-powered cars emit harmful pollutants (National Academy of

Sciences 1). According to the Environmental Protection Agency's website, “In 2006, the

EPA proclaimed their plan to establish numerous specifications to cars, to limit emissions

and increase mpg, or mileage per gallon, and produce additionally energy efficient

cars”(EPA 2). Specifications set by the EPA, such as a minimum of 54.5mpg by 2025, are

an effort to fulfill President Obama's request to “produce a new generation of clean

vehicles” (Fimrite para 2).

People opposed to a transition of the car industry from gas-powered to electric

cars claim that although electric cars are beneficial to the environment, they are not worth

the purchase because electric cars are not as powerful as gas-powered cars. However,

companies such as Fisker and Tesla do produce powerful electric cars, which are more

powerful than many gas-powered cars, but the high cost of these powerful electric cars

are an unfortunate disadvantage. “Fisker produces an electric car called the Karma, which

features a base price of $96,895 and Tesla offers the Model S at a base price of about

$49,900” (Sherman 2 and Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental

Benefits” 7). Some electric car critics state, between a powerful electric car, and a gas-

powered car for the same price, the gas-powered car would reign supreme in a contest of

capability. Also, electric cars are required to be plugged in every night to run the next day,

but as long as the driver remembers to plug their car in, then that does not pose as a

problem. “We think the time has come when car drivers can finally start to have an

impact on the kind of cars that are produced,” Felix Kramer, the founder of the California

Cars Initiative, says (Moore para 1). While some may argue that gas-powered cars still

dominate the car industry, research indicates that electric cars will ultimately prevail over

gas-powered cars because electric cars are convenient to their drivers, they are cost

effective, and they reduce global warming.

To begin, electric cars should replace the production of gas-powered cars because

electric cars are convenient to their drivers. Electric cars provide many benefits to their

drivers that gas-powered cars do not, such as the unrestricted use of HOV lanes, less

maintenance than gas-powered cars, and no need for gas stations. While some owners of

gas-powered cars overlook these benefits, some will transition to electric cars. Electric

cars are overall much more convenient to their drivers than gas-powered cars, which

should be taken into consideration by people and car companies.

A benefit that electric cars provide consists of the unrestricted use of HOV lanes.

According to the Ministry of Transportation, “An HOV, or High Occupancy Vehicle lane

serves as a purpose to slow down, or prevent congestion of traffic on roads. Gas-powered

cars with at least two people can drive in HOV lanes, as well as all electric cars, even if

only one person is in the car” (Ministry of Transportation 1). According to Jeffery F.

Paniati, the Associate Administrator for the Office of Operations of the Federal Highway

Administration, in America, HOV lanes are currently located in Washington D.C. plus

nineteen states, such as Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Utah,

Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts (Paniati 6). HOV lanes are also

located in the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal (Paniati 6).

HOV lanes are located all over America, which means that drivers of electric cars can put

their unrestricted use of HOV lanes to use. “The supplementary benefits provided by

electric cars are remarkable,” says David Leonhardt, a business and economics columnist

for the New York Times (Leonhardt para 1). HOV lanes reduce the time of daily

commutes, and are another reason to buy an electric car.

In addition, electric cars don't need as much maintenance as gas-powered cars.

While all cars need maintenance, electric cars need far less than gasoline cars. Tom Barry,

a writer for a monthly magazine, called Georgia Trend, claims, “Electric cars do not

require frequent maintenance” (Barry para 1). Inexpensive maintenance for electric cars,

versus costly maintenance for gas-powered cars, in accumulation to the fact that electric

cars require maintenance less frequently than gas-powered cars, showcases an area where

gas-powered cars fall short (Sallings 2). Electric cars only need check-ups on their

brakes, steering, and battery in comparison to a gas-powered car's maintenance, which

includes replacements of broken parts such as belts, hoses, and cooling systems, as well

as oil changes and check ups on brakes and steering (Barry para 10). Electric cars do not

require many check-ups because electric cars are more energy efficient than gas-powered

cars. Some of the energy needed to propel a vehicle is lost due to resistance (Tesla Motors

“Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” 2). When a car loses energy,

the car diligently works to recover from lost energy, which causes the car to need more

maintenance. Many electric cars use regenerative braking, which harnesses energy from

when the car brakes, and stores the energy into the battery, but regenerative braking also

makes brakes last longer (Sallings 2). “Drive efficiency for a Tesla Roadster is 88%, and

when contrasted to a gas-powered car, electric cars nearly triple the energy efficiency of a

gas-powered car”(Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental

Benefits” 2). Energy-efficient vehicles are not as stressed as inefficient vehicles, which

results in less maintenance (Sallings 2).

Next, electric cars never have to go to gas-stations. Electric cars allow their

owners freedom from the need to refuel at gas-stations, owners of electric cars can

replenish their cars in their garage (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive

Environmental Benefits” 6). Electric cars are built to give their owners the independence

to charge “wherever and whenever they want” (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide

Attractive Environmental Benefits” 6). The freedom bestowed upon electric car owners

to decide when and where to charge their cars gives a significant advantage to electric

cars. Tesla's chargers will plug into a common household outlet (Tesla Motors “Tesla

Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” 6). Electric cars can be plugged-in

before their owner goes to bed, and will be completely replenished by the next morning

(Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” 6). With one

of Tesla's high powered wall connectors, a Tesla owner can put a few miles on their car in

a matter of minutes (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental

Benefits” 6).

Electric cars are designed to be sufficiently more convenient to their drivers than

gas-powered cars.

As a second argument, electric cars should replace the production of gas-powered

cars because of their cost efficiency. Many people conclude that electric cars are

overpriced, but in reality, electric cars are more cost efficient than gas-powered cars

(Moore para 10). Electric cars are more cost efficient than gas-powered cars because they

cost less over time, offer tax credits, and the electricity that powers an electric car is

much cheaper than gasoline.

Although electric cars display higher initial costs than many gas-powered cars,

electric cars are not necessarily more expensive. The gradual cost of an electric car

compared to the gradual cost of a gas-powered car proves the electric car to be

undoubtedly more inexpensive (Moore para 10). Tom Barry, says, “Although electric

cars are costly, improved technology along with heightened demand will diminish

costs” (Barry para 1). This means primary expenses for electric cars are high, but the

price would only decrease with increased demand, so in the future, overall cost would be

cheaper for electric cars, as well as their initial costs. According to Georgia Power, “Fuel

costs for an electric vehicle are $18.75 per 1000 miles, in contrast to $36 for a

comparable gasoline-powered vehicle (Barry para 10). The fuel costs for gas-powered

cars are almost double the fuel costs for electric cars. According to Felix Kramer, “An

EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) study affirmed, throughout the duration of an

electric car's life, the entire cost would be less than a gas-powered vehicle” (Moore para

10). The information gathered exhibits that overtime, gas-powered cars cost substantially

more money than an electric car.

Also, electric cars save money with the benefit of tax credits. According to the

IRS (Internal Revenue Service), a $7,500 tax deduction is currently the most bountiful

amount of money credited for the purchase of an electric car, but the amount depends on

the power of the battery inside the car (IRS 1). The United States Government offers a

$2,500 tax credit for the purchase of a Nissan Leaf (Nissan 1). The United States

Government rewards $7,500 as a tax deduction for the acquisition of any Tesla (Tesla

Motors “Go Electric” 1). Since Tesla's cheapest car starts at $49,900, the tax deduction

consists of 15% of the cost (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive

Environmental Benefits” 7). The plentiful tax deductions offered by the government on

electric cars are fantastic opportunities to save money.

Next, gas-powered cars have the disadvantage of running on gasoline. Many

people do not enjoy lengthy lines to get gas, gasoline costs are expensive, and the price

constantly rises. According to ABC news, “Gas prices in London, England were $8.17

per gallon in March, and in Istanbul, Turkey the price was $9.63 at one point, according

to DailyFinance” (Kim 1). Other countries also hold high gas prices, such as Japan,

where people often pay about $6.77 per gallon, and in Germany, German people can

expect to pay around $8.35 a gallon (Kim 2 and 3). On average, Americans pay $3.72 for

their gasoline, but one gas station in Long Island, New York held prices which topped

$5.00 per gallon (Dahler 1). Many believe that $5.00 a gallon prices are just a sign of

things to come (Dahler 1). “Petroleum resources are limited, and are predominant sources

of price spikes,” says Tesla Motors (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive

Environmental Benefits”1). According to Tesla Motors, “The less the amount of

petroleum, the more the price of petroleum exceeds” (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles

Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” 1). Debra A. Miller, an editor for “The Green

Movement” states, “Many car buyers anticipate the day when their cars are energy-

efficient electric cars, which do not require paying for gasoline at capricious

prices” (Miller para 1).

The cheap prices of electricity in comparison to high gas prices, are indeed

sufficient. In electric cars, batteries can be replenished for pennies to the mile with a basic

110-volt power outlet (Moore para 6). For example, electric vehicles such as the Toyota

RAV4 EV, can be driven at fewer than two cents a mile (Moore para 9). According to

EPA estimates, “A typical Chevy Volt driver would pay roughly $2.75 for electricity in

order to travel one hundred miles, or fewer than three cents a mile (Miller para 2). While

gas-powered cars are consistently refueled at outrageous prices, electric cars can be

recharged for a couple of cents per gallon (Moore para 6). Since people have the option to

charge their electric cars overnight while they sleep, electric car owners pay even less for

their cars due to cheaper nighttime electrical rates, which are offered by energy

companies, which means that electric car costs would be incredibly cheap (Moore para

9). According to DTE, “DTE offers a 40% abatement off their regular residential rate if

charging an electric vehicle at night (DTE Energy 1). Most electric car drivers charge

their cars at night, which means that owners of electric cars receive discounted rates for

something in which they would do regardless (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide

Attractive Environmental Benefits” 5). The cheap cost of electricity does not compare to

the high, unstable, costs of gasoline.

The high initial costs of electric cars bamboozle people to believe that electric

cars are more expensive, when in actuality, they save vast amounts of money to their

consumers by having lower overall costs than gas-powered cars, offering tax credits, and

because electricity prices are much cheaper than gasoline.

As a final argument, electric cars should replace the production of gas-powered

cars because electric cars reduce global warming. Gas-powered cars have been polluting

the Earth ever since the first gas-powered car was created in 1855, by Karl Friedrich

Benz in Germany (Library of Congress 1). In 1997, a study was conducted to find what

global warming's cause was, and the results found that transportation was the largest

contributor, second to industry (National Academy of Sciences 1). In 1997, transportation

accounted for 470 million metric tons carbon dioxide launched into the atmosphere,

which consists of about 26% of all carbon dioxide emissions (National Academy of

Sciences 1). The amount of pollution caused by gas-powered cars exceeds tolerable

levels, and humans must take an initiative to fight global warming. Electric cars can

reduce global warming with the conservation of nonrenewable resources, being powered

by renewable energy, and no release of pollutants into the atmosphere.

Nonrenewable resources as substantial as petroleum, are significant sources of

fuel for the world, but also significant sources of pollution (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles

Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” 1). Nonrenewable resources cannot be

restored, which means that once a nonrenewable resource disappears, that resource

vanishes forever. Nothing can be done to completely stop the use of nonrenewable

resources, but humans can still conserve nonrenewable resources. Electric cars are an

ideal way to conserve nonrenewable resources because electric cars can be charged on

one-hundred percent renewable energy (Hawaleshka para 1 and 5 and Tesla Motors “Go

Electric” para 4). Petroleum resources are finite, and little has been done to find an

alternative. The United States controls roughly 2% of the world's petroleum resources,

but uses up 25% of the supply (Tesla Motors “Go Electric” para 6). Transportation uses

nearly two-thirds of petroleum, but the demand constantly rises (Tesla Motors “Go

Electric” para 6). Since petroleum will eventually run out, attenuated dependence on

petroleum now can be achieved by the ownership of an electric car, remains necessary.

Some may argue that electric cars do not reduce use of nonrenewable resources

because electric cars replace the use of petroleum with coal, but electric cars can actually

be powered from 100% renewable, pollutant-free energy (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles

Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” para 4). Many owners of electric cars reduce

pollution with the installation of residential solar power systems to charge their cars

completely emission free (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive

Environmental Benefits” para 5). Solar power, a form of renewable energy, absorbs

energy from the sun and converts the energy into electricity (Csaba 1). Even if the owner

of an electric car does not use renewable energy to charge their car, they still cut carbon

dioxide emissions in half (Tesla Motors “Go Electric” para 3). Germany has more than

quadrupled the amount of renewable energy used to power the country in less than a

decade, and in Europe, renewable energy should account for 20% of consumption by

2020 (Tesla Motors “Go Electric” para 2). Lessened reliance on petroleum results in

reliance on electricity, which means that if people want to conserve petroleum, then they

will first have to use electric cars (Tesla Motors “Go Electric” para 2).

Perhaps the evidence of electric cars to reduce global warming proves the most

compelling reason for why car companies should replace the role of the gas-powered car

as the dominant figure in the car industry, would be due to the zero emission production

of electric cars (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits”

para 5). A car that produces absolutely zero emissions could cut pollution tremendously,

and global warming would no longer be a worry. Tailpipe emissions from gas-powered

cars cause problems such as smog and haze (EPA 1). Lisa Caruso, an editor of education,

immigration and transportation for National Journal interviewed Thomas Carper, a

senator and chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on

Clean Air and Nuclear Safety. When Lisa Caruso asked, “Describe what your bill to fund

alternative modes of transportation would do?,” Carper replied,“Roughly thirty percent of

carbon dioxide emissions are due to transportation, such as the cars, trucks, and vans that

people drive. Increased funding in alternative vehicles to help resolve the problem of

pollution, is needed, and although we are currently receiving minimal funds, we will

hopefully receive more plentiful funds soon” (Carper 1). When Carper was then asked,

“Can biking or walking instead of driving make a difference at all in total emissions

emitted each year as a result of transportation?,” Carper responded, “If nothing happens

to change the way people travel, and there are no alternative vehicles to replace cars,

trucks, and vans, then by 2030, there could be a fifty percent increase in the vehicles

miles traveled” (Carper 1). Thomas Carper suggest that not only should funds for

alternative vehicles, such as electric cars be increased, but in order to reduce global

warming, small differences, such as to walk or to bike, can have a major impact on the

amount of emissions released every day. Vehicle exhaust from gas-powered cars contains

harmful chemicals such as NMOG, NMHC, or THC are types of carbon compounds;

N2O, or Nitrous Oxide contributes to smog; CO2, or Carbon Dioxide consist of

poisonous gas, and HCHO, or Formaldehyde, which consists of poisonous gas (EPA 2).

All of these chemicals are released into the atmosphere every day in immense amounts,

and scientists claim that those greenhouse gases will change the planet's climate (EPA 3).

A clean atmosphere with minimal pollutants remains a vision, because in reality, our

atmosphere consists of billions of metric tons of hazardous chemicals, which cause

global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere, and as a result, fills the sky with

smog and a dark haze (National Academy of Sciences 1). Electric cars undoubtedly

triumph over the gas-powered car in terms of which one pollutes less (Sallings 2). No

longer should gas-powered cars continue to ruin our planet with their pollutant filled

emissions.

People have to make the switch to electric cars in order to save our planet because

electric cars reduce global warming with the conservation of nonrenewable resources, by

running on renewable energy, and with no emissions.

However, many electric car critics claim that electric cars should not replace the

production of gas-powered cars because they suffer drawbacks such as a lack in

performance, lengthy time to recharge, and limited range.

Numerous people suggest that electric cars lack power, and do not perform well

(Barry 2 and Sallings 2). Speculation exist, in which an electric motor will never be able

to supply the same kind of power and speed as an internal combustion engine, but the

Fisker Karma, which is an all electric car, holds a top speed of 125mph, and can

accelerate from 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds, which is faster than many gas-powered cars

(Sherman 2). According to Tesla, the Model S can shoot from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds,

and can reach a top speed of 130mph (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive

Environmental Benefits” 8). Both the Fisker Karma and the Tesla Model S, are extremely

fast, especially for electric cars, but the Karma and the Model S are expensive luxury

cars. Cars such as the Chevy Volt, cost adequately less than electric-luxury cars, but the

Volt does not run solely on electricity. The Volt is a hybrid, which runs on gasoline and

electricity, but the Volt, and other hybrids similar to the Volt, serve as templates for the

future of low-priced, fully electric cars (Miller 2). According to Debra A. Miller, an editor

for the “Green Movement,” “The Volt boasts brutal acceleration, and production of

torque at any speed, and the Volt's drivers brag about how the Volt handles marvelously,

as well as incredible traction, in which the Volt acquires (Miller 2).

An additional drawback to electric cars is their significantly longer recharge time

contrasted to a gas-powered car's minimal time to refuel, which consists of a few

minutes. Tesla delivers three different types of chargers, a spare mobile connector, which

should only be used to charge the car for short periods of time to store enough energy to

survive a few miles; a universal mobile connector, which can fully recharge a car in six

hours, and a high power wall connector, which can charge the car entirely in fewer than

four hours (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” 6).

Drivers of gas-powered cars have the advantage to pull-up to a gas station whenever they

desire, and refuel their cars in a couple of minutes, when in contrast, drivers of electric

cars spend hours to completely recharge their cars. Although elongated time to recharge

seems to be strong evidence against electric cars, the time to charge is not not as dreadful

as many believe, because the Tesla Model S can retain 300 miles on one charge, and if

the driver predestinates their route, then electric car owners could travel without

depletion of the batteries (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental

Benefits” 8). As technology improves, so will the recharge time of electric cars.

One more disadvantage of electric cars consists of their limited range. Electric

cars do not receive plentiful range, and what they do receive remains affected by how fast

they are being driven (Sallings 2). That means, the driver must be careful about how fast

to drive, because if they speed too much, then their range will be compromised. Electric

cars are weak in the area of road trips, because if the distance of a trip exceeds an electric

car's range, then the car will not be able to survive the whole way on one charge, and with

few amounts of charging stations around the world, then the only way to charge the car

would be to stay overnight somewhere, and charge the car with a mobile charger (Tesla

Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” 5). In the future,

when more charging stations exist, then a road trip in an electric car will be more than

possible (Tesla Motors “Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits” 5). If

an owner of an electric car wants to take a trip across the country, then they can simply

take an alternative mode of transportation, such as an airplane as a solution.

Although electric cars face several drawbacks, the positive features exceed those

drawbacks, and with new technology, electric cars will soon exist with no defects

whatsoever.

In conclusion, although some people agree that gas-powered cars are, and will

always remain superior, research indicates that electric cars are the future of the car

industry because electric cars are convenient to their drivers, they are cost effective, and

they reduce global warming. Electric cars are convenient to their drivers because electric

cars allow their drivers the use of HOV lanes, require less maintenance, and electric cars

can be charged from an owners home. Electric cars are cost effective because they

maintain cheaper overall costs than gas-powered cars, offer tax credits, and electricity is

cheaper than gas. Electric cars reduce global warming because electric cars conserve

nonrenewable resources, can be powered by renewable energy, and produce zero

emissions.

In order to achieve the replacement of gas-powered car production with electric

car production, individual steps must be taken. Many say that in order to transition to an

electric car based industry, one must first transition to a hybrid car industry. A hybrid

based car industry would be a way to ease into an electric car based industry, and a hybrid

based car industry would offer people the chance to get use to the idea of ownership of an

electric car. As people switch to hybrids, car companies should conduct more research on

electric cars until they develop an electric car with minimal limitations. Once advanced

technology improves electric cars, car companies should then advertise the new and

ameliorated electric car. The new electric cars should then start to be sold by car

companies. With advertisements of new electric cars, people will begin to look at, and

buy electric cars, thus progressing towards an electric car industry. The Federal

Government should constitute laws for car companies, to enforce the increased

production of electric cars. When electric cars gain popularity, and many people concur

with an electric car based industry, then car companies should gradually begin to reduce

the production of gas-powered cars. In the end, the car industry will revolve around the

inevitably dominant electric car.

Works Cited

Barry, Tom. "Electric Cars Can Reduce Air Pollution." Www.energyalternative.com.

Opposing Viewpoints, May 1999. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. <http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/

ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?

displayGroupName=Viewpoints&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&acti

on=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE

%7CEJ3010220227&mode=view&userGroupName=lom_lahserhs&jsid=b08344

cf6051d2bc2c8e6ac4fd59a85a>. This website article is written by Tom Barry, a

writer for a monthly magazine, called Georgia Trend. Tom Barry contends in the

following viewpoint that electric cars do not pollute the atmosphere the way

gasoline-powered vehicles do. In addition, Barry claims that electric cars are fast

and require little maintenance. He explains that although electric cars are

expensive, new technology, and increased demand will lower cost and improve

their traveling range. The main drawback to electric vehicles has been their

limited range (60-70 miles without recharging), few recharging stations and

relatively high cost. Manufactured by General Motors, the EV1 comprises about

one-half of the Georgia Power fleet. Drivers expect sluggish and get quick, for the

137-horsepower, 2,970-lb. EV1 can go from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. "The

internal combustion engine will be around for a long time, and until the prices on

electric vehicles get a little lower, you won't see much demand," he says. "But

with the air problems we have today, people are starting to look at alternatives.

And if more limitations are put on gasoline vehicles or gas taxes go up, they'll

look even more." Barry supports these things by talking about how people are

taking steps to helping the environment..This article contains detailed information

on capabilities and prices of electric cars, which would be good for me to talk

about throughout my essay.

Carper, Thomas. "(Don't) Start Your Engines." Interview by Lisa Caruso. National

Journal 20 Nov. 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 11 Feb. 2012.

<http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/AcademicJournalsDetailsPage/

AcademicJournalsDetailsWindow?

displayGroupName=Journals&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action

=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE

%7CA212589174&mode=view&userGroupName=lom_lahserhs&jsid=a97d07e2

02e0de732529cd064d6dc295>. This interview was done by Lisa Caruso, an editor

of education, immigration and transportation for National Journal. She

interviewed Senator of Delaware, and chairman the Senate Environment and

Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Thomas Carper,

and gathered statements about why he feels so strongly about reducing

greenhouse-gas emissions from vehicles. Carper states, " If we do nothing about

trying to change the way people travel and use alternatives to our cars, trucks, and

vans, by 2030 [we could see] a 50 percent increase in the vehicle miles traveled."

More mileage traveled means even more emissions released into the air. Carper

believes people should walk around to where they need to go. Carper supports

himself by stating, "The idea is to take some of the money generated from our

climate-change legislation and use it to provide, among other things, bikeways,

pedestrian walkways, sidewalks, and so forth," and saying that it is very easy to

cut down on pollutant emitting vehicles by walking or riding bikes to get around.

This article contains information that I could use as logos and pathos information

because the article provides statistics, as well as arguments from Thomas Carper's

emotion.

Collins English Dictionary, Douglas Harper, and The American Heritage Science

Dictionary. "Global Warming Facts and Our Future - Causes of Change - Human

Activity and Greenhouse Gases." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, 2010. Web. 8

Apr. 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/global warming?s=t>.

Csaba, Nilgesz. "Solar Energy Live." SolarEnergyLive.com. SolarEnergyLive.com, 2008.

Web. 8 Apr. 2012. <http://solarenergylive.com/>.

Dahler, Don. "A Sign Of Things To Come? Gas Prices Top $5 Per Gallon On Long

Island." Newyork.cbslocal.com. Cable News Network, 28 Feb. 2012. Web. 8 Apr.

2012. <http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/02/28/gas-prices-around-5-00-on-long-

island/>.

Debatepedia. "Debate: Electric Vehicles." Debatepedia. Debatepedia, 10 Aug. 2011. Web.

8 Apr. 2012. <http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/

Debate:_Electric_vehicles>.

DTE. "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Rates." DTE Energy. DTE Energy Company, 2012. Web.

8 Apr. 2012. <http://www.dteenergy.com/residentialCustomers/billingPayment/

electricRate/pevRate.html>.

Environmental Protection Agency. "About the Ratings." About the Ratings.

Environmental Protection Agency, 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. <http://

ofmpub.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Aboutratings.do>.

Fimrite, Peter, ed. "Even Carmakers Back New EPA Mileage Requirements." San

Francisco Chronicle 25 Jan. 2012, C4 sec. Http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/.

Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. <http://

ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/NewsDetailsPage/NewsDetailsWindow?

displayGroupName=News>. This newspaper article is written by Peter Fimrite, a

staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper. He states in his

article,"EPA mileage requirements are being touted as the most ambitious attempt

yet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money on gas, spur innovation and

create what the president called "a clean energy economy." Fimrite believes that

people should buy electric cars because it is a small change in for people, but it

makes a big difference. Peter Fimrite backs up his information with statements

from car companies such as Tesla, Toyota, and Chrysler saying that the new EPA

mileage requirements will be good for their businesses. This article contains

thorough information that I could use as Logos information, because it provides

many statistics. This article also has information from what the car companies had

to say, so this article provides a different perspective on electric cars.

Hawaleshka, Danylo. "Alternative Vehicles Should Replace Gasoline-Powered Cars."

Editorial. Macleans 20 Nov. 2000. Opposing Viewpoints® Series. Web. 12 Feb.

2012. <http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/

ViewpointsDetailsWindow?



%7CEJ3010220225&mode=view&userGroupName=lom_lahserhs&jsid=5aeb000

2ab09ba7ad863fd5d87f35e69>. This online magazine article was written by

Danylo Hawaleshka, a writer for Maclean's magazine. Danylo Hawaleshka claims

that it is important to develop alternative vehicles because the oil used to produce

gasoline for traditional cars is running out. Ford will offer its Escape sport-utility

hybrid in 2003, and General Motors expects to release its full-size Chevrolet

Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in 2004, improving fuel economy by nearly 15

per cent. DaimlerChrysler is developing its Durango SUV hybrid for 2003, saying

it will boast 20-per-cent better mileage than the gas-powered version. Hawaleshka

supports himself by stating, "gas-electric hybrids and natural gas vehicles are

currently being used to cut oil consumption, and in the future, fuel-cell vehicles

may provide a permanent solution to the oil shortage," and these claims are

backed up by research in fuel cell vehicles and various studies that have been

done on the use of electric cars. This article contains information that is extremely

helpful to me because it is more closely related to my research question, than any

of my other articles, and talks about what not switching to electric cars could do

to the planet.

Internal Revenue Service. "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Credit (IRC 30 and IRC 30D)."

Internal Revenue Service. Internal Revenue Service, 24 May 2011. Web. 8 Apr.

2012. <http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=214841,00.html>.

KIM, SUSANNA. "5 Shocking Gas Prices Around the Globe." ABC News. ABC News

Network, Apr. 2011. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. <http://abcnews.go.com/Business/

shocking-gas-prices-globe/story?id=13349235>.

Leonhardt, David. "Gasoline-Electric Cars Do Not Reduce Fuel Use." The New York

Times 8 Feb. 2006, P. C1 sec. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 8 Feb.

2012. <http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/

ViewpointsDetailsWindow?



%7CEJ3010426233&mode=view&userGroupName=lom_lahserhs&jsid=795b54

20611dab6923c35b90d2685e22>. This newspaper article is written by David

Leonhardt, a business and economics columnist for the New York Times. He

states, "Hybrids have the most overblown mileage ratings in the auto industry,"

which means he is against hybrids because they do not reduce fuel use, even

though car companies say they do. David Leonhardt firmly believes, "Hybrids are

an expensive symbol that they're worried about our planet, rather than a true

solution." The Prius gets 55 miles to the gallon, but Consumer Reports says, the

car really goes 44 miles on a gallon of gas, which means that hybrids are not quite

as good as they really seem. A typical driver of a Prius will use about 250 fewer

gallons of gasoline each year than somebody would in a Toyota Corolla, which

gets 29 miles a gallon. David Leonhardt supports his information from personal

experience, stating, "When I used a Prius... —and there is no denying that it's a

great car to drive—I got 45mpg in Manhattan and on local highways," which

agrees with the consumer reports. Because the author wrote part of this article

from personal experience, this article is a primary source. This article is useful

because it includes information on the pros and cons of electric cars, which are

helpful because it helps me think from two perspectives.

The Library of Congress. "Who Invented the Automobile?" Who Invented the

Automobile? (Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of

Congress). Everyday Mysteries, 29 July 2011. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. <http://

www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/auto.html>.

Miller, Debra A., ed. "Preface to "Is Going Green Worth the Extra Costs to Consumers?"

The Green Movement. Greenhaven Press, 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://

ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?

displayGroupName=Reference>. This reference article is written by Debra A.

Miller, an editor for "The Green Movement." She believes electric cars are good

for the environment, but they are too expensive. GM estimates that pricing will

start around $40,000, although government rebates of $7,500 may get the actual

purchase price down to $32,500. Information in this article is supported by GM

claims and the EPA, because GM provides information on the Chevy Volt's

features, while the EPA provides estimations on the Chevy Volt's mpg rating. This

article contains information on the "pros" and "cons" of electric cars, which will

be useful to me in my article because it creates unbiased information.

Ministry of Transportation. "High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes." Ministry of

Transportation. Ministry of Transportation, 2007. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. <http://

www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/hov/>.

Moore, J. William. "Plug-in Gasoline-Electric Cars Are Efficient." Evworld.com.

EVWorld.com, Inc., 1 May 2004. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. <http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/

ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?



%7CEJ3010426229&mode=view&userGroupName=lom_lahserhs&jsid=24f4959

30b2c8b6c5c46ad116f28149c>. This website article is written by J. William

Moore, the editor of EV World, an online journal promoting hybrid vehicles. He

states, "The goal of the initiative is to encourage the development of plug-in

hybrid-electric cars." He also points out, "The batteries would be recharged for

essentially pennies to the mile from the local power grid using common 110-volt

household current, or even from the homeowner's wind generator or solar electric

panels." The point is to shift the energy inputs from gasoline, 60 percent of which

is now imported into the USA, to electric power stored in a larger battery bank on

the car. J.D. Powers and Associates reports that 35% of car buyers are interested

in hybrid cars and 85% of hybrid car owners would pay more for their cars.

Unlike today's hybrids, which don't require recharge from the electric power grid,

plug-in hybrids could be plugged in, an option usually not seen as an advantage,

until you start to consider the potential operating cost-savings to consumers, as

well as improvements to the local environment. The energy to run the car would

come from indigenous, even renewable sources rather than increasingly costly

imported petroleum. This article contains a surplus of information that I will be

able to use in my introduction, because it provides background knowledge.

National Academy of Sciences. "Global Warming Facts and Our Future - Causes of

Change - Human Activity and Greenhouse Gases." Marian Koshland Science

Museum of the National Academy of Sciences. National Academy of Sciences,

2012. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. <http://www.koshland-science-museum.org/exhibitgcc/

causes03.jsp>.

Paniati, Jeffery F. "US DOT Congestion Initiative Urban Partnership Agreements."

Ops.fhwa.dot.gov. FHWA Office of Operations, 7 Sept. 2007. Web. 8 Apr. 2012.

<http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/speeches/ntoc2007/index.htm>.

Sallings, Lee. "Electric vs. Gas Cars." EHow. Demand Media, 24 Sept. 2009. Web. 8 Apr.

2012. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5456046_electric-vs-gas-cars.html>.

Sherman, Don. "2012 Fisker Karma." Car and Driver. Car and Driver, Feb. 2011. Web. 8

Apr. 2012. <http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-fisker-karma-test-

review>.

Tesla Motors. "Go Electric - The Benefits of Driving an Electric Car." Teslamotors.com.

Tesla Motors, 19 Jan. 2010. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. <http://www.teslamotors.com/

goelectric>.

Tesla Motors. "Tesla Vehicles Provide Attractive Environmental Benefits." Environmental

Benefits of Driving an Electric Car. Tesla Motors, 22 Dec. 2009. Web. 8 Apr.

2012. <http://www.teslamotors.com/goelectric/environment>.

Documents

Electric Car Research Paper PDF