Editor’s Note: Each composition class participated in a competition, choosing one guest editorial to be published in The Broadside. This essay was chosen to represent one of Ms. Barry’s classes.
Cars play a major role in our lives, we use them to go everywhere including places such as school, work, and the grocery store. Due to the rise of concern regarding global warming and pollution, electric cars such as Tesla replacing gas powered cars have been the question to be able to solve this emerging concern. Looking extensively on this topic, I believe shifting to all electric cars may not be the smartest decision due to many impacting environmental and economical factors.
According to authors Jack Ewing and Neal E. Boudette from The New York Times, they argue by saying that, “…but not everyone will benefit…Nearly three million Americans make, sell and service cars and auto parts, and industry experts say producing electric cars will require fewer workers because the cars have fewer components.” If we decide to go this route, then we will be cutting a lot of jobs and greatly decreasing the revenue. Another point to discuss is that these batteries contain lithium, nickel and cobalt, which may become more valuable than oil. As a result, prices for these materials are going to shoot up, which could restrain sales in the short term by driving up the cost of electric cars. The overall idea of using electric cars looks great on paper, but it causes more problems than trying to fix the original issue. The car industry has always been a lucrative business and it holds a major staple in our society. Therefore, replacing gas powered cars completely would take many jobs away and consume many valuable metals. When trying to buy a car right now, it can be affordable for many families. However, it may come to a point where many of the lower to middle class could not be able to afford one.
Environmentalists and politicians are claiming that turning to all electric cars is the best possible solution. They say that electric cars are eliminating pollution, and are more convenient than gas powered cars. However, they are not telling the whole truth. According to Alex Brown from Pew Trusts Org, “The average electric vehicle requires 30 kilowatt-hours to travel 100 miles — the same amount of electricity an average American home uses each day to run appliances, computers, lights and heating and air conditioning.” This is important information because it begs the question if we are actually doing anything beneficial? Again, electric cars seem great, but it is creating more problems than fixing.
Life without a car would be very difficult because of how our society has adapted to the pace of travel. I believe that we need to rethink a solution that is feasible, and could work around society without impacting the way we live.