The Electric Car to the Rescue

We can no longer regard global warming as a myth or some farfetched idea. It has become a scientific fact. The culprits? Humans. Okay, we may not be the only culprits. It would be crazy to think all of mankind is responsible for the destruction of the world, although, politically speaking, the world is in our hands. We know that nothing lasts forever and the world will eventually end, but is there anything we as humans can do to slow down the process? How about that car you drive? That seems like a good place to start. Fortunately, there is a “super” group here to help you: the Zero Emission Vehicle Alliance (ZEVA).

ZEVA is a group that aim to reduce transportation climate impacts through reducing one billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. This will lower global vehicle emissions by 40%. The alliance includes Germany, Netherlands, and Norway representing Europe. California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont are the representatives from the USA. With Quebec, the French Canadian province rounding out the group, their goal is to make all passenger vehicles emission free by the year 2050.

When you look at the numbers it may seem impossible, but when you take a closer look most participants in the alliance already have a head start. The Dutch government had a market share of 10% for their plug in vehicles. In Norway, 24% of their vehicles are already electric, putting them in first place for highest number of electric vehicles for a country.

Germany is currently working on its goal to reduce their carbon dioxide output by 80-95% by the year 2050. Out of their current fleet of 45 million vehicles, 150, 000 are hybrids and 25, 000 are electric. It is safe to say they are on their way to their goal.

Piyush Goyal – the Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, and Mines in India – has seen the goal of the group and decided to take it as a challenge. He says, “India can become the first country of its size which will run 100 per cent of electric vehicles.” Their set date to fulfill this goal is 2030.