We Do Not Need Electric Cars Except for Public Transport: The Summary and Commentary
We have been witnessing euphoria about electric car production in our public discourse with the government aiming to mass produce 10,000 such vehicles in 2014 in order to address mounting pressures on fuel subsidies. Also, with growing public awareness of global warming and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, the role of electric cars in our transportation system looks unavoidable.
There are number of social benefits of electric cars when compared to petroleum-fueled cars. First, economic growth will increase because the use of electrical energy derived from domestic power generation. Second, the reduction of air pollution will improve public health quality. Third, there is a reduction in noise levels. Fourth, the optimizing from the electricity infrastructure; and, fifth, the potential reducing renewable electricity integration costs.
However, there are also a number of potential costs arising from the use of this technology. First, the increasing of traffic congestion, it will certainly increase traffic density. Second, the pollution problem. Electricity, which can be used to reduce air pollution in industrial activities, will instead go to electric cars. Third, there will likely be an increase in traffic accidents involving pedestrians because electric cars are relatively less noisy. Fourth, if smart charging is not well developed, there will be a rising potential technology of electricity infrastructure.
I want to highlight several impacts from the using of electric cars. Based on scientific research by environmental NGO in Germany (IZES) and WWF, the reduction of carbondioxyde emission will not be significant, compare to the petroleum fueled cars. Germany is trying to have about 1 million electric cars by 2020. Yet, based on the research, they are calculated that there will be just about 0.1 percent reduction amount of carbon emissions in their country as a whole. Most of the power plants in Germany are using coal. Coal causes a higher carbon emission than gasoline, gasoline’s carbon emission is 160g per km, while coal will leave about 200 g carbon emission per km (Arif: Hidup Hirau Hijau) Electric cars will be environmentally friendly if the power plants (that they use to generate electricity for electric cars) are also using renewable energy such geothermal, water, or solar energy. Unfortunately, in our country, most of the power plants are dominated by coal, diesel fuel, and gas.
Second, according to the article, the increase of the number of vehicles in Jakarta averages about 11 percent per year, while new road infrastructure accounts for less than 1 percent. It shows that the country has been engulfed by a car culture; electric cars will mostly increase traffic congestion, when our roads are already congested.
Third, recalling from the article, as long as the technology remains expensive and battery capabilities are unable to store lasting power in an efficient way, and for as long as subsidized fuel remains available, electric cars will be less economical compared to conventional cars. This are going to make electric cars a way not affordable and occurring social discrepancy problem to appear. Society will just consider electric cars as another luxurious thing that gives them prestige, rather than as a new solution to reduce fossil fuel consumption. While in another way, the electricity that they are using to recharge their car is generated from fossil fuel as well.
Because some of those reasons, I honestly think that our country is not ready yet for the mass produce and the using of electric cars. Unless, of course, the government already shifted the source of power plant to be a renewable energy, improving our road infrastructure, and also the electricity infrastructure itself, in order for electric cars to be more applicable to society.
Well, I think that is all. I am looking forward to your commentary. Thank you :)
There are number of social benefits of electric cars when compared to petroleum-fueled cars. First, economic growth will increase because the use of electrical energy derived from domestic power generation. Second, the reduction of air pollution will improve public health quality. Third, there is a reduction in noise levels. Fourth, the optimizing from the electricity infrastructure; and, fifth, the potential reducing renewable electricity integration costs.
However, there are also a number of potential costs arising from the use of this technology. First, the increasing of traffic congestion, it will certainly increase traffic density. Second, the pollution problem. Electricity, which can be used to reduce air pollution in industrial activities, will instead go to electric cars. Third, there will likely be an increase in traffic accidents involving pedestrians because electric cars are relatively less noisy. Fourth, if smart charging is not well developed, there will be a rising potential technology of electricity infrastructure.
I want to highlight several impacts from the using of electric cars. Based on scientific research by environmental NGO in Germany (IZES) and WWF, the reduction of carbondioxyde emission will not be significant, compare to the petroleum fueled cars. Germany is trying to have about 1 million electric cars by 2020. Yet, based on the research, they are calculated that there will be just about 0.1 percent reduction amount of carbon emissions in their country as a whole. Most of the power plants in Germany are using coal. Coal causes a higher carbon emission than gasoline, gasoline’s carbon emission is 160g per km, while coal will leave about 200 g carbon emission per km (Arif: Hidup Hirau Hijau) Electric cars will be environmentally friendly if the power plants (that they use to generate electricity for electric cars) are also using renewable energy such geothermal, water, or solar energy. Unfortunately, in our country, most of the power plants are dominated by coal, diesel fuel, and gas.
Second, according to the article, the increase of the number of vehicles in Jakarta averages about 11 percent per year, while new road infrastructure accounts for less than 1 percent. It shows that the country has been engulfed by a car culture; electric cars will mostly increase traffic congestion, when our roads are already congested.
Third, recalling from the article, as long as the technology remains expensive and battery capabilities are unable to store lasting power in an efficient way, and for as long as subsidized fuel remains available, electric cars will be less economical compared to conventional cars. This are going to make electric cars a way not affordable and occurring social discrepancy problem to appear. Society will just consider electric cars as another luxurious thing that gives them prestige, rather than as a new solution to reduce fossil fuel consumption. While in another way, the electricity that they are using to recharge their car is generated from fossil fuel as well.
Because some of those reasons, I honestly think that our country is not ready yet for the mass produce and the using of electric cars. Unless, of course, the government already shifted the source of power plant to be a renewable energy, improving our road infrastructure, and also the electricity infrastructure itself, in order for electric cars to be more applicable to society.
Well, I think that is all. I am looking forward to your commentary. Thank you :)
In my opinion, Indonesian government are too ambitious and hasty in this project. Indonesia is not like Europe and U.S.; where all the people and circumstances are highly dependent on technology. They have more advance infrastructure than us. I think even in 5-10 years from now, we can't operate electric car charging station really well. The people is not ready for this yet. We can propose another alternative for this necessity of reducing our country's fuel consumption. Producing hybrid cars is a more reasonable thing. Hybrid cars can use biofuel as a compound of the usual gasoline. Biofuel can also give us more benefit by using them massively. They are more environmentally friendly than the electric cars.
BalasHapusBut I don't agree with Denisa at one point. She said that there will likely be an increase in traffic accidents involving pedestrians because electric cars are relatively less noisy. For me it's ridiculous. A car's noise is not the main cause for traffic accidents, it IS the driver's carelessness in obeying traffic signs.
As for Cendekia, just for reminding that the first three paragraph was for the summary from the article, so I was not intend to put it as my commentary as well. But again, thanks for your opinion.
BalasHapusIn my opinion, electric car is like a double-edged sword. if the government "wield" it wisely, that could be a great opportunity. otherwise, it could be a threat or risk.
BalasHapusElectric car is a great opportunity if the government plan it seriously, as it can reduce the carbon emission. Despite the ambiguous claim about 0.1% emission reduction, i still regard it as a big advancement in transportation technology. Nevertheless, it also has risks.
First, they have to establish many stations in big cities. It would take some time. Secondly, they still have to invent a new quick-charging cell batteries. As a result of its charging time that takes about 30 minutes. Now imagine that we have to wait in a station for 30 minutes each time we charge our cars.
In my opinion, we must implement electric cars in our society, as it will be a breakthrough for another electric transportation like electric bus in Korea, or maybe electric train or so. So, we can both reduce traffic congestion and carbon emission. Of course, we have to make small steps from electric cars.
I believe Indonesia will depend on a new reliable energy source by the time electric cars are implemented. For example the Geothermal power plant like the one in Central Java. If we do so, we are turning risks into opportunity. It will be a new opportunity to widespread geothermal power. Lastly, it IS better to be hasty than doing nothing. As the time goes by, i have faith in government that they will do their best to accomodate electric cars.