Plugging in the Consumer Case Analysis Essay

Ever since their invention, cars have been powered by gasoline. Over the years as gas prices fluctuated and supplies continue to dwindle, motorists have started looking for a more reliable and cost effective alternative. As a result car companies have begun producing a new type of car to meet the demands of consumers; the electric car. In recent years the electric car has been a source of great controversy, some seeing it as the future of personal transportation, while others see it as the inefficient and unreliable dream of environmentalists. Currently, the United States has been supporting this growth and development of electric cars. The U.S is showing this support by providing tax benefits to consumers who purchase electric vehicles, along with providing government subsidies to companies such as Tesla who are fueling the growth of these electric cars. The United States should continue to promote the use and development of electric cars because they are beneficial to consumers, the economy, and the environment. The promotion of these electric cars will also lead to the continuing developments of technology. These improvements to technology will only further benefit society in the United States.

In light of the constant rises in petroleum prices, climate changes and an economy recovering from the effects of the recent economic downturn, consumers have started to reconsider the usage of electric cars (Global EV Outlook, 2013). Electric Vehicles [EV] have been around since the 1830s, yet it is only recently that countries have experienced an increase in their production thus redefining tomorrow’s automobile and transportation industry. This year, the global production of EV is predicted to rise by 67% (IHS, 2014).

The Nissan Leaf is a Zero-Emission electric vehicle manufactured by Nissan and was launched in Japan, the USA and Europe on August 2, 2009, (Mulcahy, 2013) though it has been a proponent of green technologies since after the Second World War and the oil price fluctuations. However, until 2012, only seven, of their more than 20 introduced concepts, went into production and only one, Nissan Leaf was successful. The car is sold in over 15 countries and has received many awards for excellence and Nissan claims that the car is over 90% recyclable. (Dekhordi, Yonekura and Kohnepushi, 2013)

The dependency on transportation in today’s society is quite remarkable. There are many forms that people take advantage of everyday including: planes, trains, and automobiles. Unfortunately, these diverse varieties of transportation do not run on imagination. For automotive vehicles, the most prevalent material used to operate are fossil fuels. There is a popular concern with the abundant reliance on these fossil fuels, which are a nonrenewable resource. The controversial usage has opened the discussion to alternative opportunities for fuel sources that, potentially, can replace the current fossil fuel being used in automotive vehicles. When considering the current market of cars, many have complaints in gas powered automobiles. There are many problems, commonly discussed, with emissions. Cars have a tendency to be harmful to the environment, and expensive to use frequently. This is where the alternatively powered cars are introduced into the conversation. There are multiple vehicles that can replace the prevalently operated, gas powered cars. However, alternatively powered vehicles must be considered in the same aspects a consumer would think about when buying a normal car. The buyer of automobiles, in the current market, look at the necessities that come with the maintenance and upkeep the car requires. Price, maintenance costs, insurance, incentives, and quality of life are

In this article “Why the Gasoline Engine Isn’t Going Away Any Time Soon,” Joseph B. White states that alternative energy cars could be the start of a revolution in the automaker world, however, complications interfere with the outcome. Although the author suggests different ideas on alternative vehicles, he contradicts himself numerous times while also lacking credibility of any sources.

Electric vehicles began taking the market by storm when Nissan introduced its mass-production Leaf model in 2011. Since then, nearly every manufacturer has brought its own EV to the market. The future appears bright for EVs, especially as engineering improvements make them more efficient and cost-effective. That said, we will examine the good, the bad and the ugly of electric vehicles to help you make an informed decision about this emerging technology.

The United States of America is one of the biggest automobile markets in the world. This trend has also created awareness for environmentalist to bring attention to rising level of pollution and emission within the cities and metropolis. As response, the U.S. Government is encouraging the automobile manufacturers to produce clean and renewable alternative vehicles that will drastically reduce pollution and emission. Subsequently, the automobile industry has witnessed a gradual introduction of environmental friendly vehicles that use clean and renewable energy to encourage less pollution and safer environment. The manufactures of these vehicles have introduced into the market three categories of electric passenger car

Cars and truck account for 20% of all U.S. global warming emissions, where more than 24 pounds per gallon of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases come right out of the car’s tailpipe (“Union of Concerned scientists”). This frightening statistic is part of the reason why the federal government has put in place many policies and incentives such as the Clean Air Act, The National Program for greenhouse gas emissions, Catalytic Converter Federal Laws, and incentives of $12,000 in California to get people to upgrade to more fuel-efficient cars. With such programs and incentives put in places, it is also important that car companies such as Toyota and Ford also take action to further cut pollution rates. They have done so by

The United States is one of the large fossil fuel consuming country. Most of the automobile vehicle in the country run on the fuels like gasoline and diesel. These fuels are responsible for the increase in pollution. The demand for this fuel is increasing day by day. It is necessary to find alternative fuels because at some point these fuels are going to end. To encourage users to use cleaner vehicles to avoid pollution federal and state governments provide users significant incentives.

In 2016, there were 17.55 million cars sold in the US and electric vehicles (EVs) made up less than 1%, accounting for 150,000 vehicles, – up from 17,500 sales in 2012. EV’s have been slow to capture market share, although their growth may allude to a tipping point in the near future.

The United States burns about a quarter of the world’s oil, half of which the gasoline powered automobile is responsible for (Lovins, 2004). For this reason, efficient, electrical forms of transportation are one of the key factors to limiting America’s oil dependence. Dating back to the late nineteenth century, the idea of the electric car is nothing new, however, in just recent years it has finally made significant progress. Innovations have enabled the electric vehicle to be portable and more attractive in recent years causing more people to make the switch from gas to electric. The transition from gasoline cars to electric vehicles projects significant breakthroughs for American energy including low dependence on oil and a cleaner future.

In the article, “ Why the Gasoline Engine Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon,” Joseph B. White writes about the reality of the old school, yet productive ways how the internal-combustion engine is going to stay in the competitive market. While at the same time he describes the change for the industry is coming just at a gradual slow pace. For years environmentalists and energy saving specialists could not accomplish what high oil prices did in just a couple years. Changing the game of auto makers focus to make improvements to their engines. The idea of changing from oil to electricity is possible but there is few chances of it succeeding until the future. The author states that cars powerful enough to serve more than one function are the basic need

In 1996, General Motors released the first mass produced electric vehicle, the EV1. This was a 2 door passenger vehicle that was 100% electric. This was a direct effect of the California Air Resources Board, which required the top 7 automobile manufactures (at the time) to produce an all-electric vehicle to combat vehicle emissions. This was a new requirement to continue selling cars in California, so GM naturally was on board, but not without its own doubts. At the hesitation of GM, the EV1 was available for lease only in California and in a select few areas of Georgia. For unknown reasons, GM never made the EV1 available for purchase to consumers. Though many loved the car, many did not like its restrictive nature when it came to

When the automobile was introduced to the public, they immediately fell in love with it. It was a welcome miracle of science, clean, efficient and a reliable machine compared to the horse and carriage which required constant cleaning and a large place for storage. As more and more people acquired these machines, no one noticed the changes it made to the environment. The term smog was first used in California around the 1940’s to describe a yellow-brown haze that caused eyes to water, and headaches. It was found that the exhausts of the combustion engine brought forth this poison cloud that caused not only mild irritations but also had long lasting effects such respiratory problems and lung cancer. It wasn’t until 1965 when congress finally decided to do something about it and passed the vehicle air pollution and control act. Yet, it was not enough and so congress later decided that to further protect the environment and its citizens it needed to pass more laws. Laws that determined manufactures of the vehicle, safety, emissions and the use of any new technologies to help minimize the damage to the environment.

 There is a serious problem facing the world right now.  It is air pollution.  The number one contributor to this epidemic is automobile emissions.  We have all heard of the issues that are involved with air pollution including the depletion of the o-zone layer, the green house effect, and acid rain.  The problem has been scoped from every imaginable angle, and now it is time to solve the problem.  I propose that each of the ‘Big Three’ (Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler) car manufacturers be required to have 10% of their product line as EV’s By the year 2010.  I propose this because it will be the start of cleaner air, EV advancement, and awareness of EV’s and how they work.