Category: Electric Cars Blog Series

The lyrics of Carrie Underwood’s ‘Something In The Water’ talk about faith, but the title can also be used to describe the way in which cars can actually be better for the environment. As she becomes ‘changed’ and ‘stronger’ through being baptised, the world can become the same through hydrogen cars growing in popularity.

The Australian government has indicated that hydrogen cars are an emerging technology and something that can be used in the future of car manufacturing. Hydrogen converts fuel into energy, and takes less time to recharge, whilst also emitting zero greenhouse gases. This is definitely a better alternative. Brands such as Hyundai and Toyota have started to emerge in the hydrogen field and are in works of making a Hydrogen model.

A stat that is intriguing is that there are 15,000 hydrogen cars in the USA all in California, but a million electric cars are racing through the country. There is momentum but it is radically decreasing as people are still yet to see the pros of hydrogen. Toyota are hoping to release the Toyota Mirai once a few more charging hydrogen stations get installed and it will be intriguing to see how they will appeal to the car market.

Another reason hydrogen cars can be a better alternative to the ugly Prius or downright awful Tesla is that hydrogen is cheaper and can be mass produced more dramatically. There is also the fact that electric cars take longer to charge, are heavy, and are not reliable for those who need to travel long distances, so the market is thinner. It is said that hydrogen makes for a smoother transition from a petrol or diesel car.

What is needed is investment, companies delving into this market and providing more stations so that hydrogen cars can be massed produced. The growth of electric cars has overshadowed the better and more productive system in hydrogen, which should take the market by storm with a proper marketing plan.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

D, W, Keith, A, E, Farrell, 2003, Rethinking Hydrogen Cars, Science, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.1084294?casa_token=h2Xv4oEziWgAAAAA:cSLmA88g6qAz6Pld9CqPUuOO6uOIhoONcuL8uiz391PQnIkxdNE62dar5xBXZfXD7Ovt7uGAmw

J, Dowling, 2021 Toyota Mirai: Australia’s First Hydrogen Car on Sale to the Public ‘Within A Couple of Years’, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.drive.com.au/news/2021-toyota-mirai-australia-s-first-hydrogen-car-on-sale-to-the-public-within-a-couple-of-years/

J, Voelcker, 2022, Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles Everything You Need to Know, Car and Driver, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a41103863/hydrogen-cars-fcev/

vehicle information, Green Vehicle Guide, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au/pages/LowAndZeroEmissionVehicles/HydrogenVehicleInformation

WhichCar, Hydrogen Cars or Electric Cars: What’s right for Australia, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-advice/hydrogen-cars-v-electric-cars-australia

Here we go! It is time to review the car that has blew up the electric cars business. Tesla. Although dubbed to be better than petrol cars for the environment, is it really?

You look at a Tesla, and most people say wow! It’s slick design, roll up doors, and the mini TV on the inside. All this is a plea for Tesla to catch the attention of the consumer, to overshadow the fact that Tesla’s are actually bad for the environment.

Although Tesla cars do not use gas, it still needs carbon to contribute to the charging of the car. This is extremely bad for the environment, on top of this, the lithium they produce from the ground is also detrimental to the environment.

If you don’t believe me, the Union of Concerned Scientists has indicated that the longer the car can go in one charge the more emissions it produces, at 68% higher. This has a lot to do with its battery. However, the main perks of Tesla is the milage. Electric cars release the same emissions, but the battery makes the emissions even higher.

On top of that, Tesla cars are super expensive. To buy and to recharge. The cheapest Tesla on sale right now from CarSales is $100,000. That kind of money is not for the average Australian considering the average Australian makes around $60,000 a year on top of houses, taxes, and other expenses. So, although the Tesla has been made for luxury and for the environment, in order for decarbonisation to be in full effect these should be affordable. So, not only are Tesla’s not good for the environment they are also super expensive.

Stay tuned for further blog posts about other electric cars.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

L, Wade, Tesla’s Electric Cars Aren’t as Green as You Might Think, 2016, WIRED, https://www.wired.com/2016/03/teslas-electric-cars-might-not-green-think/

Union of Concerned Scientists, 2016, Cleaner Cars from Cradle to Grave, Union of Concerned Scientists, https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/cleaner-cars-cradle-grave#.Vv0_OhIrKRt

Young People’s Trust for the Environment, Electric Cars- What are the downsides to electric cars?, https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/electric-cars/what-are-the-downsides-to-electric-cars

As we cover the depths of decarbonisation it is imperative to get a grasp of what electric cars, and which brands have electric cars.

So, what is an electric car?

I mean, this is pretty self explanatory. An electric car is a car that is using electronic components to power it up instead of petrol or gas in order to ‘preserve’ the environment.

But when did this concept of electric cars even start? It is hard to believe, but the first electric car was made in the 1800’s, well before the likes of Tesla and Hyundai burst onto the scene of automation.

Below is a list of all brands’ most well known and popular electric/hybrid models, and the cars we will be reviewing over the past few weeks:

Tesla

Roadster Sports Car (2008) – Model S (2012), Model X (2015)

Model X, CarAdvice.

Hyundai

KONA Electric 2023

KONA Electric, Move Electric.

Porsche

Taycan

Taycan, CarsGuide.

Toyota

Prius & Camry (Hybrid)

Prius, CarAdvice.

Kia

EV6

EV6, CarAdvice.

It is clear many brands are venturing out to the electric car model. The cars listed above will all be reviewed as to whether they are actually ‘environmentally friendly’, so stay tuned! An introductory blog like this is key to understand how many electric cars there in general.

REFERENCES

A, Misoyannis, 2023, 2023 Toyota Prius revealed, not for Australia, CarAdvice, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.drive.com.au/news/2023-toyota-prius-revealed/

CarAdvice, Tesla Model X, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.drive.com.au/showrooms/tesla/model-x/

CarGuide, Porsche Taycan, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.carsguide.com.au/porsche/taycan

J, Attwood, 2023, New 2023 Hyundai Kona arrives with ‘upscale’ EV-led design, MoveElectric, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.moveelectric.com/e-cars/new-2023-hyundai-kona-ev

W, Davis, 2021, 2022 Kia EV6 Revealed, Australian Launch Confirmed, CarAdvice, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.drive.com.au/news/2022-kia-ev6-revealed-australian-launch-confirmed/