EVs’ Advantages & Disadvantages

Have you ever ridden in an electric car? Today, more and more people are choosing to buy electric vehicles(EVs,电动车辆). Some think EVs are the future. But others still want to use gas cars. Should all cars be electric? Peter and Cindy share their thoughts on this question.

No!—Peter

Today, there are fewer charging stations (充电站) than gas stations. This makes EVs a lot less convenient for long trips. If we go all-electric, we would need to build more charging stations and power plants(发电厂). Some power plants burn fossil fuels(化石燃料). This also pollutes the earth.

In addition , EV batteries are made with rare metals(稀有金属). Mining these metals is bad for the environment. In cold weather, the chemical reactions(化学反应) in the batteries slow down. This shortens the distance an EV can travel on one charge. Lastly, the average insurance cost for a new EV is usually much higher than that for a new gas car.

Yes!—Cindy

Gas cars burn fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are limited and we will run out of them someday. When that happens, we will all have to drive EVs. EVs use electricity. It can be produced by clean energy sources(清洁能源), such as wind.

What's more, road travel produces about twenty per cent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions (二氧化碳排放量). Gas cars also release toxic(有毒的) gases into the air.Driving EVs, however, can reduce air pollution.

Some EVs are more expensive. But they need less maintenance than gas cars. And it costs only one U. S. dollar to drive about 53 kilometres in an EV. Finally, many EVs are smaller and easier to park.

Also, governments around the world are providing various encouragements, like tax breaks and subsidies (补贴). In the long run, EVs will not only benefit the environment but also bring more economic advantages to car owners.