Gas Cars vs Electric Cars

By: Campbell Cromer

While electric cars are often said to be the future of transportation, there are several reasons why they may not be the best choice for everyone or even the environment. First, electric vehicles are often advertised as zero-emission, but this doesn’t tell everything. The electricity required to charge electric vehicles is still largely produced by fossil fuels, so while they may not emit pollutants directly, they still contribute to the carbon emissions indirectly. Also, the production of the high powered batteries, which power electric vehicles relies on mining rare metals like cobalt and lithium. Mining these resources is harmful to the environment and often raises issues around labor practices.

Electric vehicles are also greatly less convenient than their gas-powered parts. While the number of charging stations is expanding, it still falls in comparison to the accessibility of gas stations. Charging an electric vehicle takes significantly longer than filling up a gas car, even with the newest fast-charging stations . For people who drive long distances or don’t have access to home charging setups, this can be a major challenge to the owners of electric vehicles. There is something called range anxiety where people are scared to run out of charge while on the road. Range anxiety is real, and running out of charge is a larger problem to solve than running out of gas.

The upfront cost of an electric vehicle is often higher than the price of a traditional gas car. While people argue that electric vehicles save money on fuel and maintenance, these savings are generally seen over a long period of time, and not everyone drives enough to see the benefits.

Finally, gas cars have just a little over a century of engineering on them. They are efficient, reliable, and adaptable. Electric vehicles might be new and what everyone wants, but their effects, hidden environmental impact, and high cost make them a questionable option when buying a new car for the average driver today. Gas cars on the other hand, remain a practical and dependable option no matter what.