Last year was far from a smooth ride! We went through a pandemic, sudden and violent climate changes – not the stuff scenic routes are made of! But electric cars could help us swerve away from Armageddon.

If we’ve learned anything over the last few years, it is that climate change is real, the icebergs are melting – the whole shebang! Year after year, we are faced with an increasing need for greater sustainability. Solar power and wind turbines have played a vital role in reducing our carbon footprint, but as vehicles become cleaner, smarter, and electric – could they accelerate our journey to a greener today?

 

Electric cars are the future of transport. 

According to Our World in Data, transportation accounts for around one-fifth of the world’s CO2 emissions. However, what makes electric cars even more important is that nearly 75% of these emissions come from road vehicles*. This means that fuel-driven cars are driving us closer to Armageddon with every trip.

 

Research shows electric cars are better for the environment. 

After considering the production of electric cars and the electricity generation necessary to keep them running, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that electric vehicles emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants than petrol or diesel cars.

https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/EV-life-cycle-GHG_ICCT-Briefing_09022018_vF.pdf

 

Steering away from global warming. 

As the effects of global warming become more evident, people are becoming more conscious about carbon emissions and choosing products that either actively reduce pollution or, at the very least, have a minimal negative impact on the environment. This shift in consciousness has not only led to the invention of electric cars, but it has also encouraged their adoption into society.

 

Electric cars in the land of load-shedding.

There are many reasons why we, as South Africans, have been hesitant to join the electric car revolution. These are mainly:

  • limited travel range on first-generation electric cars,
  • limited choice of models,
  • availability and affordability,

 

The most important reason is that we would be surrendering our power to move around at will to Eskom and load-shedding.

So maybe electric cars can save the world, but we, as South Africans, could be left in the dark.