Electric Vehicles: the Future or Dramatic Irony?

Since the Industrial Revolution, the world's most feared issue has run unchecked: the climate crisis. Governments have enacted laws, introduced incentives, and incorporated education of the climate into everyday lives. To support the cause against the climate crisis, electric vehicles were leveraged. Despite their allegiance to the world, electric vehicles raise concern for reasons such as modern-slavery. Is it possible electric vehicles are moles?

Electric vehicles are environmentally-friendly, exceptional, and extortionate. Most electric models are priced more significantly than their greenhouse counterparts due to short stocks but high demand. Long waiting lists also contribute to the overall decline in purchasing electric vehicles. The earliest electric car was worth over 100, 000 dollars; most electric vehicles are unaffordable for some classes. Likewise, the world has seen an increase in the cost of living and the costs for electric vehicles are expected to rise sharply over the years. 

Electric vehicles are also known for their poor reliability. As of 2010, 343 electric vehicles exploded due to their weak battery protection. Chrevolet warned their customers the electric vehicles may spontaneously combust: the cars may explode. Firefighters were required to experience new training in order to help extinguish the considerably more difficult fires caused by electric car batteries. Electric car batteries consist of rechargeable electricity, increasing the time taken to extinguish a potential fire. Previously, Tesla cars locked the doors when in a dire emergency, preventing the owner of the car from escaping - a shocking issue at the time as bystanders could do nothing to help.

Furthermore, electric chargers are designed to charge lithium-ion batteries. While effective, when used to a high density, it commonly results in long-lasting and damaging fires. Multiple drivers across the United States and China have reported their cars caught fire while charging, owing to the subpar quality of the stations in high quantity: an ironic juxtaposition. Electric vehicle charging stations have been installed worldwide but to a capacity of only two million chargers. These two million charging stations are spread across eight billion citizens with ten million electric vehicles. Some chargers are also makeshift as they are stuck to former telephone poles or bulletins, thus increasing the risk of fires while charging.

Electric vehicles have long been praised for their benefits to the exquisite environment, though their use is likely exaggerated. Poor cost-efficiency and reliability, and a lack of charging stations are all the downsides of electric vehicles. The climate crisis dictates that time is limited and inflation further restricts electric vehicles from being upgraded. Perhaps electric vehicles are only a mere apprentice to what truly will defeat the climate crisis?