Vehicles powered by electricity are steadily taking over the world and becoming more popular. As more people push to fight climate change, electric vehicles (EVs) should be seen on the road more and more. EVs are a net win for the planet, helping people adapt to machinery-heavy commuting and work needs with far less reliance on fossil fuels.
However, the electrification of the automobile industry encompasses more than cars for individual consumers. The extent of the push for electrified vehicles reaches into the construction industry, warehousing, and bicycle commuting, too. Learn more about the extent of electric vehicles in the market today.
What Defines an Electric Vehicle?
An electric vehicle is, at its core, a vehicle of any kind powered by electricity as a renewable resource rather than fossil fuels or physical exertion. If it runs on electricity and can carry you from place to place, it counts as an EV.
Unfortunately, electric cars are notorious for being expensive. But as time goes on, you should expect prices to drop – and you may be able to find other EVs to suit your needs.
EVs are a worthwhile substitute for cars that run on fossil fuels. Because electricity is a renewable resource, having the majority switch to EVs for their personal cars can lower carbon emissions in the transportation sector immensely, as around 60% of that pollution originates from passenger cars. The presence of EVs on the road has been growing for the last few years, although the United States lags behind Europe in adoption.
Right now, one thing that may be holding people back from purchasing EVs is the lack of chargers. In the near future, as the push for transitioning to EVs becomes stronger, people can expect EV chargers to be installed in more areas, like supermarkets and apartment complexes.
Different charging stations are better for different environments. Level 2 outlets, which charge a bit faster than Level 1 but aren’t as powerful as Tesla’s superchargers, would be ideal for public spaces or living areas.
Electric Vehicles Worth Considering
Understandably, most people will think of cars when they think of EVs. As these vehicles change the world, people will start to branch out and realize the value of EVs that are not personal-use cars. These are just some EV alternatives that can help people out no matter where they are in life.
1. E-bikes
If electric cars aren’t your speed, you can try out an electric bicycle. Many cities already have favorable opinions of or have started using electric scooters. An e-bike takes an E-scooter’s power up a notch. Some people want a greener method of travel for their commute but don’t want to get sweaty before they get to their destination. That is precisely where e-bikes fill the gaps that personal cars cannot.
Alternatively, a great reason to switch to an e-bike is to have a pleasant commute while avoiding the traffic caused by other vehicles on the road. The more people who use bikes, the fewer traffic jams there will be. They are a great substitute for any car, and while they may not offer all the health benefits of regular bikes, e-bikes can get you to your destination swiftly and without much effort on your part.
2. Fleet Vehicles
Sometimes, EVs for personal use aren’t feasible – but companies may want to make an effort to stop climate change in their own way. In that case, they may use EVs for their fleet vehicles. While still technically electric cars, fleet vehicles are different from EVs for personal use in that they are company cars.
For a larger company, it can pay off to use EVs as employee cars, as they’re better for the environment and all around more affordable to maintain and drive. Plus, the experience may just encourage employees to buy an EV for their personal use.
3. Heavy Machinery
Vehicles on the road aren’t the only machinery that can benefit from renewable energy. Those in the construction industry know just how vital heavy machinery is to daily activities, but they could be that much more efficient if they were powered by electricity.
Currently, EVs in the construction sector are uncommon, especially because of their current cost and the sheer amount of power it takes to run heavy machinery.
One of the issues that may stand in the way of widespread implementation, for now, is the lack of chargers in job site areas. Without a reliable charger that can work to the extent that heavy machinery would need, electric heavy machinery may have some trouble taking off.
As EVs become more popular, watch for more incentives to crop up for the construction sector. With enough time, EVs for construction work should become commonplace on job sites.
The Future of EVs Is More Than Just Cars
While personal electric cars are excellent alternatives to gas-guzzling vehicles, they’re not the only transportation machinery powered by electricity. As more incentives are released to convince people to switch to renewable energy resources, you may see electric fleet cars being built in bulk to hand out as company cars. You might see more people using e-bikes or even having a house built by electric heavy machinery.
As the world looks toward a greener future, you may notice more of the vehicles around you running on renewable resources and helping to fight climate change in their own ways.
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Electric vehicles are incredibly broad and it’ll be interesting to see how they develop beyond cars, bikes, and the like. Great insight shared here!