By 2035, all new cars will be electric. It’s the most seismic shift in the transportation landscape since, well… the car itself. And as we strive to reduce our carbon emissions, electric vehicles will play a pivotal role in protecting the planet.
You’ve likely heard that electric vehicles are the future. But you’ve probably not heard why.
That’s where we come in.
Join us as we unpack why electric vehicles are the future of transportation.
What are electric vehicles?
Electric vehicles (EVs) are vehicles that run solely on electricity, usually in the form of electric motors or fuel cells. While electric cars make up the majority of EVs, they also include trucks, bikes, buses, and even planes and boats. (More in that later,)
But not all electric vehicles are identical beneath the bonnet. There are several types of EVs. Including:
All-electric vehicles - The battery is the only source of power.
Hybrid vehicles – Powered by a combustion engine coupled with an electric motor that charges the car while travelling.
Plug-in hybrids - Also combines a combustion engine with a rechargeable battery, which must be plugged in to be recharged.
Fuel-cell vehicles - Uses onboard fuels like hydrogen to generate electricity. As a result, they don't need to be plugged into an outlet to recharge.
Electric vehicle technology
Fun Fact: the first electric car was produced in 1884. You read that right. It was built by English inventor, Thomas Parker in Wolverhampton.
Electric vehicle technology has developed considerably since then, with carmakers constantly innovating to produce more efficient, more dependable EVs.
And these vehicles aren’t limited to your daily commute. EVs are embedded in a range of industries, including:
Logistics
As companies commit to lowering their emissions, many firms are switching their fleets to electric. As such, electric logistics vehicles - from trucks to freight-handling vehicles - are an increasingly common sight on UK roads.
Despite initial concerns regarding cost and practicality, logistics companies have flocked to EVs, with many firms going completely electric in recent years.
Public transport
Electric buses are already extremely popular in China, and European adoption is accelerating. You’ve likely seen green buses on the roads, and their numbers are set to increase in the coming years.
But it’s not just the vehicles themselves that are getting an electric makeover. At present, 38% of the UK rail network is electrified, with plans to expand the initiative.
It’s also worth noting the rise in electric trams, which have become a ubiquitous sight in major cities in the past decade.
Aviation
That’s right. Electric aircraft. (Feeling futuristic yet?)
Electric aircraft technology is still in its nascent stages, but developments are being made each year.
There’s much debate about the potential for electric aircraft, however.
You see, a modern passenger plane requires batteries weighing 30 times more than its current fuel intake. According to some, this problem is unsolvable, but progress is being made each year and some predict that electric planes will grace the skies by 2026.
Boats
Much like their airborne cousins (see above), electric boats require significant battery power to function, which presents problems for longer excursions and larger vehicles.
That said, working prototypes do currently exist, and considerable time and money is being spent on cracking the electric boat conundrum.
How sustainable are electric vehicles?
About one-fifth of the world's CO2 emissions are related to transportation, and road vehicles are responsible for almost 75% of these pollutants. As such, it’s vital that more eco-friendly transport solutions are implemented. Electric vehicles play a central role in reducing carbon emissions on a larger scale.
But how?
First and foremost, electric vehicles give off zero emissions, drastically reducing noxious gases and particulate matter in the air. No combustion process means no fossil fuels, slashing CO2 emissions.
That said, the batteries that power electric vehicles still need to be charged, and how this electricity is produced plays a factor in the sustainability of the vehicles.
Solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable energy sources produce clean electricity. However, burning fossil fuels is a common method of generating energy in many parts of the world.
It’s worth noting that environmental issues regarding EVs stretch beyond just emissions. For example, making lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles can be energy-intensive. Research has suggested that the energy used to manufacture an electric vehicle accounts for roughly a third of the vehicle's lifetime CO2 emissions. The manufacturing process and battery recycling facility requires improvement, too.
However, a 2018 analysis from the UK government found that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) "had much lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional automobiles, even when taking into consideration the electricity source and the electricity utilised for battery manufacture.”
So, there’s still much work to be done, but on the weight of balance, the benefits of electric vehicles far outweigh the drawbacks, making them the safest bet for a greener future.
Are electric cars the future of transportation?
In a word, yes. Electric vehicles are high on the agenda for several global superpowers, including the UK, the USA, and China. As you’ve likely read, green transportation policy factors heavily on political agendas, with science guiding the way.
Additionally, according to Wood Mckenzie experts, sales of electric vehicles are predicted to exceed 45 million annually by 2040, adding 323 million EVs to the world's stock.
There is no doubt that electric cars lower emissions and help combat climate change. And by 2035, we'll see them usurp petrol and diesel models as the default new car option.
Building a sustainable future, though, requires work in a variety of fields. And sustainable energy sources must power electric vehicles to be fully effective.
The future of electric vehicles is bright. As more drivers make the switch to electric and carmakers innovate to deliver efficient zero-emission vehicles, the curtain is falling on combustion engines and electric vehicles are taking centre stage.
Need more electric vehicle info?
Check out our Electric & Hybrid Car Guides. Eager to go electric? Browse our electric car lease deals now.
