The Mycenaean

Over the past decade, electric vehicles have surged in popularity. Automakers promote these vehicles as more environmentally friendly, safer, and more practical than their internal combustion counterparts. However, some argue that their impact may be less revolutionary 

The car market is robust, and manufacturers constantly try to revolutionize their products to tailor to varying customer requirements.  Electric cars gained initial popularity among the public in the early 2010s, with cars like the all-electric Nissan Leaf serving as an affordable and new alternative. With rising concerns about carbon emissions and skyrocketing gas prices, many consider electric cars as the future of transportation.  Tesla, a new company at the time, emerged as the first brand focused exclusively on electric vehicles and is now widely recognized as a pioneer in the mainstream electric car industry. 

Electric cars are also known for their unique speed and comfort, often outweighing their gas counterparts in acceleration and customizability.

“My dad owns a (Tesla) Cyber Truck, and they are really quiet, they have a lot of torque and can get to speed quickly which is nice,” said Max Farzanegan, junior.  Tesla has recently been testing new autopilot systems in select models of their new cars, a piece of technology which is only applicable in electric vehicles.

As of 2024, nearly 40 million electric cars are on the road globally. EV production continues to ramp up, with traditional automakers like BMW, Dodge, and Nissan introducing their electric models to meet the growing demand in the expanding market. The biggest selling point throughout electric vehicle manufacturing is the promise of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as combustion-powered cars contribute roughly 10% of global CO2 emissions. However, electric vehicles have recently proven to be nearly as damaging to the environment due to the manufacturing process of the cars.  

Electric cars are powered primarily by lithium-ion batteries. Lithium, an energy-dense mineral, is essential in forming the core structure of electric vehicle (EV) power systems when combined with other electrical components. Lithium is extracted either from rock or lithium-enriched brine (saltwater). However, lithium extraction has significant environmental impacts, contributing to soil erosion, air contamination, and harm to local ecosystems and communities. As a non-renewable resource, lithium has often been referred to as “the next oil” due to its critical role in powering modern energy solutions.

Electric cars have also been touted as dangerous.  The aforementioned lithium batteries are notoriously flammable and are extremely difficult to extinguish.  Cases of electric vehicles catching on fire have been documented, and driver fatalities have sadly been a product of these failures. “I honestly feel like electric cars are worse for the environment because of the lithium mining for the batteries, and when they catch on fire they are basically impossible to put out,”  said Nathan Trendowicz, Sophomore.  A lot of people also raise concerns over the artificial intelligence inputted in these vehicles, many find it hard to trust the various “self-driving” features implemented into these cars.

Another common concern about electric vehicles is their limited range. EVs require specialized charging stations, which, as of 2024, are not as widely available as gas stations. Infrastructure in many less-developed areas is also less compatible with EVs than with gas-powered vehicles. Significant improvements in charging accessibility and practicality are needed before widespread EV adoption can become a realistic expectation.

Overall, every type of vehicle has its benefits and disadvantages.  While electric cars have a host of advantages over conventional cars, improvements in safety, practicality, and sustainability need to be considered before we truly see an all-electric future.