AbstractElectric cars have existed since the late 19th century. During their introduction, they aimed to solve the energy crisis caused by high oil prices. However, this idea will quickly disappear after the introduction of gasoline in internal fuel engines. In recent society, countries and other organizations are fighting global warming. Rising temperatures are the result of the accumulation of high levels of toxic gases in the atmosphere. These gases trap harmful amounts of heat that cause the atmosphere to warm. According to research, if the world could control greenhouse gas emissions into the air, the atmosphere would be about 33 degrees cooler. The largest contributor of these gases is the transportation sector. The combustion of diesel-powered vehicles. These are fossil fuels and release carbon dioxide into the air as a byproduct. This gas is harmful and its emissions must be reduced. Therefore, electric cars are made for this purpose. Several countries have been practicing renewable energy for some time now. The same countries have tried to introduce electric cars to their citizens. These include Swedish, Norway, New Zealand and Germany. There are several strengths and weaknesses in the adoption of electric vehicles. The fact that they need electricity and not petrol to run means there will be less gas emitted into the air as electricity doesn't need fuel to burn. It also does not emit harmful gases after combustion. However, they are limited by the fact that the electricity will be produced by burning fossil fuels. Therefore, this article concludes that an energy source with less carbon dioxide is needed to produce electricity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Strengths and Weaknesses of Electric Cars in Limiting the Greenhouse Effect Environmental pollution is an international disaster and various countries have joined together to fight its causes and limit its effects. Various environmental summits have been held in different countries. These summits are intended to establish methods to keep the environment safe for humans. The causes of environmental degradation are many, but the main cause is human activities. According to studies, human activities are the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions into the air. These activities include deforestation and industrialization through the use of fossil fuels. Levels of harmful gases in the atmosphere have increased enormously since the beginning of industrialization. Indeed, developed countries play a major role in this threat. For example, the United States alone contributes approximately 25% of the total greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere in a year (Chapman, 2007). In contrast, the United States contributes only 5% of the world's entire population. This percentage means that there is no connection between a country's population and air pollution. Developed states emit too many harmful gases into the atmosphere through transportation, heating and electricity production. These activities require the burning of fossil fuels which leave harmful gases rising into the atmosphere as byproducts. This paper focuses on environmental pollution caused by the transport sector by focusing on electric cars and their contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Electric cars are essential for limiting greenhouse gas emissions as they do not require fossil fuels to run. It is necessary to limit the release of these gases into the air as they cause problemsof health to the human population. The percentage of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere can be reduced by controlling the use of fossil fuels; these can be done by inventing an alternative fuel. Cars use fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel. Petrol and diesel fuels are not sustainable as they deplete the world of its natural resources. According to Chapman (2007), they contribute to 26% of the total gases emitted into the atmosphere. Finding an alternative would be essential to reduce these gases and the effects they cause. The alternative here is electric cars. Electric cars are not a new invention. The idea of electric cars came in the late 19th century, when the price of diesel had increased (Tate, Harpster & Savagian, 2008). Oil-importing countries found it uneconomical due to inflated prices by exporters. Oil was also in short supply during this period and affected their dreams of industrialization. As a result, they needed an alternative that was economically sustainable for them and would help them maintain their development goals. This alternative came in the form of electricity. However, this idea was quickly put aside after the introduction of petrol, which was cheaper and more easily available in eastern countries. Nonetheless, gasoline was a solution to inflated oil prices and not an option for worrying pollution problems. Furthermore, there is a need for sustainable development which can be achieved by reducing greenhouse gases. Scientists think electric cars are the most realistic option. Electric vehicles are operational in some countries. According to Boren et al. (2017), several countries such as Sweden and Norway have adopted the use of electric cars for their environmental benefits. Technological advancements in these countries and in most developed countries play an important role in making the idea of electric vehicles a reality. Boren et al. (2017) added that electrically charged vehicles have the advantage over diesel-powered vehicles as they have zero gas emissions into the air; this is an advantage as it is a primary problem facing today's world. The transportation sector is a leader in emitting harmful gases into the atmosphere, and this will no longer be the same after the full integration of electric vehicles into the sector. Norway knows the benefits of this idea and has been at the forefront of supporting the introduction and adoption of electric vehicles (Holtsmark & Skonhoft, 2014). According to Holtsmark and Skonhoft (2014), an average electric vehicle can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost a ton of carbon dioxide. Bradley and Frank (2009) argue that electric vehicles, particularly plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 84%. Therefore, the Norwegian government has provided some subsidies in terms of tax relief for people who own an electric vehicle. New Zealand is another country that has played an essential role in measures against climate change. The country is particularly suited to the use of electric cars as it is one of the leading countries in the use of renewable energy sources (Ross, 2015). New Zealand has identified the transport sector as the main cause of gas emissions and has adopted walking and cycling as an alternative to diesel vehicles. However, this is not enough because it limits the distance that citizens can travel on foot or by bicycle. Therefore, they are considering the adoption of electric vehicles, as they rhyme with the country's renewable energy policy. Electric cars have great potential in improving sustainability and limiting greenhouse gas emissions. They are efficient as far asconcerns the emission of greenhouse gases. Diesel cars are found in large numbers in urban areas. Coincidentally, these areas emit the highest percentage of greenhouse gases. Replacing gasoline or fossil fuel vehicles with electric-powered vehicles can decrease the rate of air pollution by a huge margin (Bradley & Frank, 2009). These cars rely on a system of strategically placed charging areas for propulsion. Cars have batteries that are charged before an individual begins a journey and during the journey; this means they operate in the same way as fuel-powered internal combustion engine cars. These are refilled after some time at petrol stations located along the roads and in residential areas. However, they differ from gasoline vehicles in that they do not emit gases while burning fuels. Instead, they work like a cell phone where the batteries are charged before the power runs out. With them there will be no energy crisis or any other type of crisis associated with fossil energy. According to Hawkins et al. (2013), electric cars can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit exposure to tailpipe emissions. These benefits increase when the car uses a low-carbon electricity source. An example of a low-carbon electricity source is wind or solar energy. In other words, the idea that electric vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions can best be applied when combined with a renewable energy source. This source will be used to charge the batteries. The other strong point of electric vehicles is the cost of maintenance. Since these cars are not powered by diesel engines or other forms of fossil fuels, the maintenance costs are very low, as they will only focus on the car's battery compared to internal combustion engine vehicles which require maintenance of the entire engine. A combustion engine is delicate as it runs on various liquids such as oil, lubrication and water for system cooling (Tate et al., 2008). It also needs fuel or gasoline to run the engine system. After some time these fluids run out and must be replaced. The process of exhaustion of these liquids occurs through their combustion which releases carbon dioxide into the air. This carbon dioxide gas is in the form of smoke. Engine maintenance is also essential to reduce these gases. Therefore, a poorly maintained gasoline engine or vehicle releases more gas into the air than a properly maintained one. However, the cost of maintenance is high and depends on the car model. However, maintenance will not be a problem for electric vehicles, as they will only need a battery and a charging system to operate. The only problem that will affect the vehicle is a poor battery that will discharge after a short time but not the emission of gases into the air. Even electric cars have limitations or weaknesses. The purchase of electric cars will depend on the individual's level of understanding and willingness (Larson et al., 2014). An individual can only purchase these cars if they know the environmental benefits associated with them. Although automobiles are gaining popularity in countries such as Norway, they have yet to reach purchase levels as high as those witnessed by domestic fuel-engined automobiles; this is after the government provided tax subsidies to electric car owners. Another limitation is that they use electricity to charge the batteries. Electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. Therefore, fully adopting the idea of electric cars means that a large number of them will be purchased.
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