Electric Vehicles Have Many Benefits Gas Vehicles Do Not – CleanTechnica

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There is a surplus of online electric vehicle misinformation and disinformation, enough that EV truths may not be as evident as they could or should be. Electric vehicles have many benefits, as demonstrated below. Many of them have to do with the fact they don’t directly generate toxic air pollution that harms human health and contributes to premature human fatalities. This fact one might think would be of the greatest significance, but somehow, electric vehicles have been referenced regularly in the context of their environmental benefits with far less focus on their public health benefits. Of course, they also have environmental benefits, in addition to those related to human health.

One of my favorite EV benefits is regenerative braking, because the ability to add electricity back into an EV battery while driving is both sensible and efficient. The last section in the following list is regenerative braking. It should also be mentioned this list is not exhaustive. There are probably many more EV benefits.

Economic

EVs Are Good For The Environment And Electricity Rates

The researchers concluded that EVs have increased utility revenues more than they have increased utility costs, leading to downward pressure on electric rates for EV owners and non-EV owners alike.

EV Savings: States in the Northwest Have Highest Potential for Fuel Cost Savings

Argonne National Laboratory estimated fuel cost savings potential for replacing a gasoline vehicle with the same size electric vehicle on a ZIP code level. Their estimates showed that the states in the Northwest region, led by Idaho and Washington State, had some of the highest potential for fuel cost savings when switching to electric vehicles.

Electric Vehicles & The US Economy — A Win-Win Situation

New research indicates that EVs are going to be really, really good for the US economy — for a variety of reasons.

EV Charging Stations DO Benefit Local Businesses

An MIT study, focused on California and now published in the journal Nature Communications, found that “opening a charging station boosted annual spending at each nearby business by an average of about $1,500 in 2019 and about $400 between January 2021 and June 2023.”

Health

Switching To Electric Vehicles & Clean Electricity Could Result In 89,300 Fewer Premature Deaths In The US

The report says that switching to 100% zero-emission new passenger vehicles and clean, non-combustion electricity generation by 2050 could result in about 89,300 fewer premature human deaths by reducing air pollution.

Car Exhaust & Alzheimer’s — Thank You, Mickey Mouse

New research from Australian and Singaporean scientists has found a link between car exhaust and Alzheimer’s.

$500 Million For Electric School Buses That Reduce Pollution, Save Money, & Protect Health

This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of at least $500 million in funding from the Clean School Bus rebate competition that is transforming school bus fleets across America and protecting children from air pollution.

Volvo, Alison Seek To Clean Up Diesel Truck Emissions With Electric Drivetrains

Replacing the engines in diesel trucks with electric components is an easy and efficient way to reduce harmful emissions.

Safety

The Safest Truck in the USA is the Rivian R1T

As it turns out, there is only one pickup truck in the country that is in that tier. Following a recent upgrade from Top Safety Pick (a little confusing, I know), the Rivian R1T is now the safest truck in the USA, according to the IIHS.

The EV Safety Advantage — New Report

It’s highly ironic — electric vehicles are much safer than gasoline-powered vehicles, yet there’s constant media coverage hyping up the opposite idea (that electric vehicles are not safe).

Another Electric Vehicle Benefit: No Exposure To Gas Station Crime  

EV drivers are not exposed to gas station crime because they don’t frequent gas stations. About 80% of American EV charging happens at home. 

Environment

A Small Electric SUV Produces 52% Fewer Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions than a Comparable…

In 2024, a small electric SUV with a range of 300 miles produces 52% fewer life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than a comparable gasoline vehicle. Electric vehicles (EVs) have no tailpipe emissions, but nearly three quarters of the GHG emissions from a gasoline vehicle come from the tailpipe (vehicle operation).

Cleaning Up The Oil In Parking Spots — Forever

One thing we notice in these well-used parking spaces is the blotches from oil and other fluids leaking out from gas and diesel vehicles. According to cleanwatercampaign.org, oil and other toxic fluids that leak from vehicles and onto driveways and parking spaces eventually are carried by stormwater to area rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.

Another Electric Vehicle Benefit: No Air Pollution From Idling

Idling a vehicle every day for a year could cost as much as $950 in wasted fuel, according to a document published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Driving On Electricity Is Now Much Cleaner Than Using A Gasoline Car

Replacing gasoline with electricity greatly reduces the carbon emissions from driving. Based on where electric vehicles (EVs) have been sold, driving the average EV in the US produces global warming emissions equal to a hypothetical 94 mile per gallon gasoline car, or less than a third of the emissions of the average new gasoline car.

100 Electric Trash Trucks, 150 Electric Buses, 30 Electric Graders — Commercial Electric Vehicles Report

The commercial world is showing a strong preference for electric vehicles, which have now proven themselves in many industries.

Vehicle to Grid/Bidirectional Charging

Kia & Wallbox Partner For Bidirectional EV Charging

In this article, Jennifer shares some news from Kia and Wallbox about their plan to offer bidirectional charging, but she also takes the opportunity to give readers unfamiliar with V2X technology a quick primer on it.

California Has A Chance To Ensure EVs Get Even Better With Bidirectional Charging

We are well on our way to an electric transportation future, and that’s a good thing. Electrification is a key strategy to reduce climate warming and local air pollution emissions from the transportation sector.

Polestar Trims Delivery Forecast, Begins V2G Charging Program

Polestar is planning to take part in a major V2G experiment and add Lidar to the Polestar 4.

Political/Social

The War In Ukraine, Fossil Fuels, & Petro-Dictators

The damage caused by fossil fuels does not end there. Some nations that have become wealthy by extracting and exporting fossil fuels have also developed their militaries and weapon inventories and become overly aggressive.

Racism In The Oil & Gas Industry?

“On a scale not always appreciated, the Texas oil billionaires nurtured the growth of America’s radical right, financing Senator Joseph McCarthy’s witch-hunt, a string of extremist newsletters (devoted to attacking such hidden dangers as the Jewish Gestapo) and even setting up an openly white-supremacist third political party, the Texas Regulars.”

Regenerative Braking

How Does Regenerative Braking Work On The Chevy Bolt? (Video + Interview)

Eric Way recently uploaded a review video of the Chevy Bolt’s regenerative braking to YouTube. It contains many comments and insights about how the regenerative braking system works, so it seemed natural to reach out to him for more details.

Porsche’s Approach To Regenerative Braking

Porsche Group engineers are developing advanced concepts of brake force distribution to ensure optimal recuperation without compromising comfort for electric vehicles.