Name:
T.A.: Alison Doniger
8 p.m., Wednesday
2 February 2011
CT Paper #2
Analysis:377 (not incl. citations)
Total: 542
Don’t Be Shocked … Go Electric!
Interpretation
America’s love affair with cars is facing the end of the road unless BIG changes can be made by both producer and consumer. Society’s dependence on oil will end; the question that remains is whether or not transition toa viable alternative will take place. Electric vehicles can accommodate the majority of people’s transportation needs and serve as a solution to climate change.
Analysis
Transition to a ‘sustainable alternative’ references two ideas: (1) energy sustainability and (2) lifestyle sustainability. The United States has 249 million passenger vehicles of the 912 million globally and “consumes more gasoline than the next 20 countries combined” (Brown, 2009: 96). Car reliance in the U.S. resists any movement that calls for a change of lifestyle in terms of transport and automobile use. Therefore, the most logical alternative is to drive a car that does not use fossil fuels. Electric vehicles (EVs) are a developing technology but they are not new; in 1900, the EV was the most sold vehicle of any type (Deal, 2010: 6).Today, EVs are a rarity but manufacturers are testing the market with releases of the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Roadster, REVA and many more. These EVs rate five times better than the average gasoline-car in terms of energy cost per 100 km traveled (MacKay, 2009: 127-138). Shifting to electric cars would “not only save drivers money and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, it would also provide the grid with a distributed, high-capacity storage system for electricity” (Tollefson, 2008: 436).
A successful transition to EVs hinges on battery technology. Current EVscan travel up to 200kilometers before recharging; however, long-distance trips and the lifetime of the battery are points of concern for consumers. Research shows that 80% of U.S. drivers commute less than 60 kilometers a day meaning a single charge at night would suffice (Tollefson, 2008: 437). Also, Nissan estimates the Leaf operating cost to be less than a third of that for a gas-powered car (Carpenter, 2011: paragraph 12). Efforts have been made by automotive giants, albeit a total commitment to EV mass production is lacking, as manufacturers scramble to increase profit margins during the economic crisis (Tollefson, 2008: 436). Support for EVs needs to come from the consumer as well. A sustainable alternative has been provided that does not drastically alter their lifestyles and a favorable response is required if significant changes are to be made. The younger generation needs to head this movement toward sustainability. An article in the Harvard Kennedy School Review highlights a group of young Indians and Americans who have taken their role seriously and are driving their EV 3,500 kilometers across India to raise awareness and stress the need for scale up of green technology (Parker, 2009: 56). A combination of leadership locally and globally by producers and consumers alike is required.
Evaluation
Deal overseestechnology programs and Tollefson is a science journalist covering energy and climate change. Both suggest a positive bias toward technological innovation away from harmful environmental practices.
Inference
With the U.S. making a concerted effort to end their dependence on oil, the rest of the world will not only feel pressure to follow suit but will have a platform and methodology to pursue.
Explanation
EVs provide a feasible alternative that is environmentally sustainable and does not majorly impact the greater population’s present lifestyle.
Self-Regulation
The writer has a background in chemical engineering and supports sustainable, environment-friendly technologies even at the cost of personal convenience.
Sources
Brown, Lester R. Plan B 4.0. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2009. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
Carpenter, Susan. "Nissan Leaf - Nissan Leaf's Promise: An Affordable Electric - Los Angeles Times."Featured Articles From
The Los Angeles Times. 30 Mar. 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. <
Deal III, Walter F. "Going Green with Electric Vehicles." Technology & Engineering Teacher 70.3(2010): 5-11. Academic
Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
MacKay, David JC. Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air. Cambridge: UIT Cambridge, 2008. Print.
Parker, Priya. "ON THE ROAD TO ENERGY SOLUTIONS IN INDIA." Kennedy School Review 9.(2009): 56-57. Academic
Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 1 Feb. 2011.
Tollefson, Jeff. "Car industry: Charging up the future." Nature 456.7221 (2008): 436-440. AcademicSearch Premier. EBSCO.
Web. 31 Jan. 2011.