Go Green: Electric Vehicles and America’s Dilemma

By Tom Last

Last May, my wife and I made an important decision to purchase an electric vehicle (EV). After significant research on the matter, we selected the highly rated Hyundai Ionic 5. So far, we are very satisfied with the new car. It is extremely quiet, has a smooth ride, is very roomy inside and comes with many intrinsic features that make for an enjoyable ride overall. Maybe, my favorite feature is not having to stop at a gas station because we can power up right in our driveway. However, longer car trips do involve a certain amount of planning due to the limited supporting electric charging infrastructure and time required to re-charge.

Why did we switch from a gas vehicle to an electric vehicle? Well, electric vehicles drive cleaner under nearly any conditions and require fewer natural resources compared to gasoline vehicles. Because of their lower carbon footprint, EVs are better for the environment, as the elimination of tailpipe emissions reduces air pollution. However, EVs do have a ‘carbon footprint’ and driving one doesn’t mean you are going completely green. The power grids that supply EVs are still using fossil fuels, in many cases, and therefore we still need major upgrading to the electric charging infrastructure using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. This upgrade is essential for meeting the growing electricity charging demand from EVs and will help make using EVs a better-quality green solution.

EV sales are increasing worldwide, and the U.S. should be at the forefront of the EV revolution. However, according to a recent article (NY Times, why doesn’t the U.S. have five-minute EV charging?) China is dominating the EV market, accounting for more than 70 percent of global manufacturing in 2024. Its EV manufacturers have pulled ahead of the U.S. car companies on both price and technology. EVs in China are much more affordable and for now only high tariffs keep these EVs out of the U.S. market. Chinese companies currently offer five-minute charging that will allow EVs to drive hundreds of miles before recharging.  As I mentioned earlier, one of the drawbacks of using an EV is the time it takes to re-charge and the lack of infrastructure to support charging.  China’s largest EV producer has developed a battery with greater capacity (1,000 kilowatts), while most EVs in the U.S. charge at peak rates of 400 kilowatts or less. A five-minute charger in the U.S. would be a huge boost to the U.S. EV industry.

Why will the U.S. not have five-minute EV charging soon? In the U.S., an effort to speed the build-out of EV charges was paused this year by the federal government and then reinstated after protests from the states and the automobile industry. The Transportation Department has said there are now plans to make it easier for states to use federal money to build EV charges. Besides the infrastructure slowdown, a $7,500 tax rebate for the new E.V. purchases will expire next month, and California’s ability to mandate a transition away from the sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035 is being challenged by the administration in D.C. We are already so far behind the Chinese in EV technology; therefore, it is extremely important to build our infrastructure quickly, if we want the U.S. EV market to flourish in this country.

Although I am happy with my EV purchase, I am concerned for the future of the EV market and our ability to compete against the Chinese in this most important market. Currently, without the full support by our administration in D.C. to develop the EV infrastructure, support tax credits for new EV purchases, and support overall development of the EV industry, we will continue to lag far behind the Chinese in the industry and offer a limited EV solution here in the U.S. Let your voice be heard and advocate for more support of the EV industry. Contact your local representative and tell them you support the EV industry and its benefits of a cleaner, more energy-efficient future.

Remember, buying and using an EV is better for the environment than using a gas-powered car. However, when possible, we should attempt to use truly green solutions such as walking and biking (use mass-transit when those options are not practical). Walking and biking are not only better for the environment, but they help improve our health too.