Summary
- CleanTechnica offers daily news updates on email or Google News
- Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) are a trend in China, combining electric motors with a gasoline-powered generator
- EREVs use fossil fuels, causing air pollution and health issues
- Fully electric vehicles are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than EREVs
- There is a growing urgency to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in transportation, especially gasoline
Article
Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) are seen as a potential emerging trend in China, combining an electric motor with a gasoline-powered generator to extend the vehicle’s range. However, EREVs still rely on fossil fuels to create the extra electricity needed, which contributes to air pollution and harmful emissions. In comparison to fully electric vehicles, EREVs are considered outdated technology and a step backward in terms of environmental impact.
China faces significant air pollution problems, with millions of deaths attributed to outdoor air pollution, including emissions from gas and diesel vehicles. The particulate matter in exhaust emissions can lead to various health issues, including heart disease, respiratory infections, and lung cancer. The impact of air pollution on human health is a growing concern, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly and children.
The urgency to eliminate fossil fuel consumption in China is highlighted by the harmful effects of air pollution on both human health and the environment. EREVs, by supporting the use of gasoline, contribute to severe climate change impacts, illness, premature deaths, and oil spills. Fully battery-electric vehicles are presented as a more sustainable alternative that does not rely on gasoline or fossil fuels.
EREVs are criticized for their use of gasoline, which causes significant damage to the environment and public health. The complexity and cost of maintaining EREV technology, as well as the potential for malfunctions in the gasoline generator, raise concerns about the overall reliability of these vehicles. Additionally, the range anxiety that EREVs aim to address is becoming less relevant with the advancement of fully electric vehicles and the availability of public EV chargers.
The article also discusses the geopolitical implications of relying on fossil fuels, such as the high cost of importing oil and the influence of oil tycoons on public policy. There is a call to transition to healthier, sustainable transportation options to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate global conflicts related to oil production and distribution. EREVs, along with other gasoline-dependent vehicles, are seen as hindrances to this transition.
Overall, the article emphasizes the need to prioritize sustainable transportation solutions to address air pollution, climate change, and geopolitical instability associated with fossil fuel consumption. Fully electric vehicles are presented as a cleaner and more reliable alternative to EREVs, offering a more environmentally friendly option for reducing emissions and promoting public health.
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