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The Future of Electric

Transportation
By: Max Burris
Dr. Osborn
WRD 204
May 7th, 2020
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Abstract:
The evolution of electric vehicles around the world has created widespread research and

development of these automobiles in efforts to reduce carbon emissions, as well as expand on

electric energy’s power that is greater than ever. The expanding movement towards electric

vehicles can be traced to a concern for the environment and the great increase in technology over

the years. Tremendous strides have been made regarding the advancement of electric

automobiles and what seemed to be an impossible technological task has become a striking

reality for all. Fossil fuels and oil companies now have a rising competitor in electric vehicles,

and the momentum has just started to advance in the past few years. Previous research has not

been as prevalent until recent years due to the small market and infrastructure for electric

vehicles in addition to the lack of proper technology. The application of electric vehicles has

successfully scratched the surface lately, and the sky is the limit for this kind of technological

breakthrough. More recent research can be used to elaborate on what automakers are doing to

help grow this sector of transportation and make it readily available for everyone. The past 10-20

years have been groundbreaking, and the future remains even more bright. Current and Future

stakeholders in electric vehicles are mainly consumers and companies looking to build on this

technology. Yan Zhou, a representative for the United States Department of Energy, elaborated

on a compass model that focused on public officials and stakeholder’s future goals they wish to

achieve. “If city officials have a better understanding of these value propositions, it will go a

long way towards creating a more sustainable and equitable transportation future for a city” Zhou

stated (Prall 1). This boom of electric automobile production can be accredited to the search for

alternative energy usage in vehicles, a larger industry, and broadened market. Findings from

research explain further why this revolution has been able to seemingly grow exponentially from
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its initial developments. This movement centered around alternative energy has truly changed the

way we can operate motor vehicles in today’s world.

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Table of Contents
Title Page………………………………………………………………………………………….1
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………2-3
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………….4
Introduction…………………………………………………………………….………….5
Methods…………………………………………………………………………………5-6
Findings…………………………………………………………………………….….7-10
Analysis…………………………………………………………………………...….10-11
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….11
Works Cited………………………………………………………………………………….12-14
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Introduction:

From the early times of industrial revolution, the focus around making transportation

more efficient has sparked the minds of engineers and inventors everywhere. The creation of the

very first electric vehicle in 1832 was a revolutionary idea to many, but it was not until recently

that this idea of alternative energy was applied to automobiles worldwide. There have been a

variety of stints since the initial development of this vehicle, however none have become

successful in the past until today (Timeline: History of the Electric Car 1). The small market,

minimal infrastructure, and improper technologies at the time can be a direct result of its

downfall. Recent developments have provided an outlet to make these amenities readily

available. Automobile manufacturing has adjusted directions, with more focus directed towards

electric and hybrid vehicles. Although gasoline powered cars have ruled the past for ages, a new

wave of transportation is among us and is better than ever. Battery cells are more powerful,

charging stations have multiplied, and the market has diversified for an increased in demand for

a product like this. Carbon emissions as a result of gasoline transportation is just one of many

negative effects people see in this mode of fueling. Newly developed electric vehicles have

turned a corner in many senses and have made what seemed like a wild impossibility to power

these automobiles a reality. Many companies have been able to develop hybrid and electric

vehicles effectively, which has sparked a competitive market in the automotive industry. The

future of this technology relies heavily on the consumer demand for these products, as well as

the surrounding infrastructure and research. Electric vehicles now have a platform to thrive in

today’s world.

(Methods):
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From humble beginnings to present day, industrial development regarding electric

transportation and its improvements have been delivered, but only in the past ten to twenty years

has it exponentially flourished. Ever since the origin of automobiles, oil and gasoline have been

the only possibility for vehicles to be powered besides a few exceptions up until now. The

powerful Middle Eastern oil industries have been a main provider of these valuable resources,

which has led to turmoil over the years due to government conflict. A concern for a potential

shortage of resources in these countries has also resulted in exploration for alternative modes of

power to fuel automobiles everywhere (Timeline: History of the Electric Car 1). Its apparent that

there is some uncertainty surrounding these variables, but the transition over to electric

transportation has many solutions to these problems. The main struggles surrounding the

integration of electric vehicles are the expansion of infrastructure, providing a product that can

compete with gas powered vehicles, along with battery cells that are efficient and perfected for

roads. Recent of implementation of electric charging stations, outlets, and other valuable

infrastructure to this market has opened the door for a growing market. Automotive

manufacturers have been able to create sustainable electric power for automobiles in recent years

that can reach exceptional mileages in recent years. Tesla’s Roadster Model for example, has

reached new heights with an approximate range of 600 miles according to EDF Energy. There

are many other companies who have also developed their own models that have a range of 200 to

300 miles like Ford, Volkswagen, and Kia (EV: Guides > Electric Cars With Longest Range 1).

These growing ranges are just one of the reasons for the expanding market for electric vehicles.

The competition of gasoline and electric powered vehicles has grown more intense over the past

five to ten years, which has been essential to the resurgence of alternative powered automobiles

and its successes.

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Findings:

The new wave of technological advancements in electric transportations bring on several

concerns from consumers. “How is this better than my gasoline car? Will it take me as far? Why

should I switch over? Is it really that good for the environment?” are all common questions that

consumers ask when contemplating the purchase of a new vehicle, especially one with a

completely different power source that what most vehicles have used for ages. The rising market

for these automobiles is accredited to several factors. The technology in the 21st century is one of

the main factors for rapid forward progress manufacturing electric automobiles. Powerful battery

cells and extensive research have created gateway to new developments that have gotten more

impressive over the years. As a result, the numbers of electric car sales have skyrocketed

worldwide, which is a promising trend to see. In a performance analysis of electric vehicles,

Florin Mariasiu elaborates on the current market of vehicles and where it is going in the future.

“With its demographic characteristics, technological development and environmental challenges,

China has become the largest market for electric vehicles, with 56% of the total world sales in

2018 (compared to a market share of just 6.3 % in 2013 and 35.4% in 2017)” the article stated,

describing China and their focus on creating more electric vehicles in todays society as opposed

to the rest of the world (MARIASIU 1). There are

immense amounts of promise surrounding the rise of

electric vehicles everywhere which can also be accredited

to the surplus of car manufacturers creating their own

Fig 2. Mariasiu. PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF ELECTRIC
VEHICLES, Top 10 best-selling electric and hybrid vehicles worldwide in
2016, March 1, 2019
models of hybrid and electric vehicles. As shown on the

right, Figure 2s display of “Top 10 best-selling electric

and hybrid vehicles worldwide in 2016” is a testimony to the impressive rise in numbers
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surrounding electric car sales (Mariasiu 1). The increase in car sales around the world has

sparked a competitive market for many producers of these vehicles much like the introduction of

the first electric Ford Mustang, the Mach-E. Going up big producers like Tesla is no easy task,

however manufacturers know a product like a redesigned Ford model suited with electric

capabilities can stoop up to the levels of already prominent developers. Despite making more

economy efficient models in the past, this Ford Mustang model is a performance vehicle ready to

take customers by storm (Schultz 1). The competitiveness for the growing market of electric

transportation provides an exceptional platform for vehicles like this to succeed. To be able to

support these vehicles and their rise, developments of charging availability and fueling efficiency

are among the top priorities.

Infrastructure for this kind of technology has always been a big question mark ever since

the beginning of mass production of these vehicles. One of the main problems of personal

electric vehicles is the competition of long-range travel. Gasoline powered vehicles have

dominated the market for years due to its far distance capabilities, although recent developments

in electric transportation are not far behind. The ability to fuel up at a very quick pace has been a

main incentive for gas vehicles as opposed to electric, where it takes time to charge up the

vehicle. One of the current project’s engineers are working on is to develop a source powerful

enough to charge automobiles just as quick. Another imperfection engineers plan to focus on is

to upgrade the current infrastructure with more of these electric charging stations. With gas

stations seemingly on every street corner, the hope is to add electric charging stations to meet the

demand of drivers on the road everywhere. Increasing the power of these charging ports along

with adding more to the public at a cost-efficient price will increase the market for electric cars

even more. According to Dr. Deepak Ronanki of Ontario Tech University, “In order to provide a
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better performance in terms of range of the vehicle, two possible solutions come into picture.

First one involving increasing the battery capacity resulting in the increase in the cost, size and

weight of the vehicle. The second one would be to enhance fast charging infrastructure around

the world thus enabling the users the ability to recharge their vehicle more frequently” (Ronanki

1). Factors like these are the key to elevating electric vehicles to new heights in the future. There

are some power sources out there that can ‘supercharge’ a vehicle, but in order to keep up with a

gas station type fueling method, more research needs to be done. Engineers and scientists are

making great efforts to ensure technology is going to continuously grow for the future of electric

vehicles and its infrastructure to be perfected.

Greenhouse gasses are one of the main reasons this resurgence of electric motor vehicles

have even began. The rate of carbon emissions gas transportation has gotten incredibly worse

over the years and has caused several environmental issues as a result. Hybrid and plug-in

electric vehicles are both considerably better for the environment compared to their gas

counterparts. The Society of Automotive Engineers reported in 2014 that “Effectively utilizing

renewable energy for charging the PEV’s (Plug-in Electric Vehicle) battery is a major objective

for reducing the OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturer) CO2 fleet emissions due to

increased efficiency of the energy consumption” (Weigand 1). The benefits of less gasoline

powered vehicles can be seen through the COVID-19 pandemic, where National Public Radio

reported “With the dramatic reduction in car traffic and commercial

flights, carbon emissions have been falling around the globe. If the

slowdown continues, some are estimating the world could see the

largest drop in emissions in the last century” (Sommer 1). The United

States Department of Energy graph display on the right gives a Fig 1, US Department of Energy, National Average of Annual
Emissions per Vehicle, 2020
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breakdown of all the different vehicles that provide carbon emissions in the United States and

their air pollutant effects towards the earth. As depicted, gasoline powered vehicles are almost

doubling the pounds of CO2 equivalent per vehicle as opposed to hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and

electric vehicles (National Averages: Annual Emissions per Vehicle 1). The rate in which the

environment’s atmosphere is being compromised by gasoline vehicles is extremely alarming,

however a change can be made. The continuing growth of electric vehicles, as well as hybrid

variations are crucial to decrease the rate of carbon emissions to the air.

Analysis:

Long range travel and efficient fuel cell development have become major advancements

to the electric auto industry. Accommodations to these developments are improved

infrastructure, such as charging stations and large power sources. These two enhancements go

hand and hand, creating a larger presence for electric vehicles around the board. Building on

current improvements are a key to unlocking more discoveries about this new technology. In a

scholarly article written by MIT Mizoram assistant professor Krishnarti De stated three

important factors surrounding forward progress, including

a. The ability of the distribution grid to meet the energy demand of the EBTS (electricity-

based transportation system)” (De 1).

b. “Proper energy management between the grid, renewable generation, and EBTS

(electricity-based transportation system) to ensure reliable operation” (De 1).

c. “Understanding of possible failures and strategies to address failures and

contingencies, and to minimize their impact on the EBTS (electricity-based transportation

system)” (De 1).

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As for the future of these vehicles, building on what manufacturers have already developed is

crucial. The 21st century has delivered technologies key for electric vehicle growth. According to

the Edison Electric Institute, “The number of EVs on U.S. roads is projected to reach 18.7

million in 2030, up from 1 million at the end of 2018. This is about 7 percent of the 259 million

vehicles (cars and light trucks) expected to be on U.S. roads in 2030” (Rudman 1). If this trend

continues the future for electric vehicles is extremely optimistic, and experts hope that even more

people adopt this technology to become more economically and environmentally efficient.

Conclusion:

Increasing the presence of electric vehicles will be a timely process over the years, but

the future is promising for this kind of technology. Immense amounts of research and testing

have been applied to this realm of automobile manufacturing, and experts from the International

Energy Agency claimed they are “aiming to increase the share of electric vehicles globally to

30% by 2030” (Anwar 1). Although it is hard to determine exactly how the market of the future

will turn out, the rising popularity of alternatives to gasoline are gradually becoming more

prevalent. Automobiles will continue this transition to electric energy although it may be many

years until a large presence like gasoline vehicles occurs in the world. The list of benefits

surrounding electric powered transportation is intriguing to consumers and has the potential to

create a monumental movement around the world. Its impressive to see what companies have

done over the years regarding electric application to vehicles, and the sky is the limit for this

technology.
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Works Cited

Anwar, Nessa. “Electric Cars May Be Powering Ahead, but It Will Be a Long Way before They

Go Mainstream.” CNBC, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/11/04/long-way-

before-electric-cars-evs-become-mainstream-transportation.html.

“EV: Guides > Electric Cars With Longest Range.” EDF Energy, www.edfenergy.com/electric-

cars/longest-range.

De, Krishnarti, et al. “Analysis of the Resilience of an Electric-Based Transportation

System.” IET Electrical Systems in Transportation, vol. 10, no. 1, Mar. 2020, pp. 23–

34. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1049/iet-est.2018.5087.

MARIASIU, Florin, et al. “Performance Analysis of Electric Vehicles Available in the Current

Automotive Market.” Annals of the University Dunarea de Jos of Galati: Fascicle IX,

Metallurgy & Materials Science, vol. 37, no. 1, Mar. 2019, pp. 25–30. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.35219/mms.2019.1.04

Mariasiu, Florin. “. Top 10 Best-Selling Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Worldwide in 2016.”

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES AVAILABLE IN THE

CURRENT AUTOMOTIVE MARKET, Cluj-Napoca, 1 Mar. 2019, pp. 1–2,

web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.uky.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?

vid=8&sid=8b0d559e-39f6-4cec-9171-fd1a55dd075d%40pdc-v-sessmgr05.

“National Averages: Annual Emissions per Vehicle.” Alternative Fuels Data Center, United

States Department of Energy, afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_emissions.html.

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Prall, Derek. “Model Developed by Department of Energy Helps Planners Map out

Transportation’s Electric Future.” American City & County Exclusive Insight, Jan. 2020,

p. N.PAG. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=141417338&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Ronanki, Deepak, et al. “Extreme Fast Charging Technology—Prospects to Enhance Sustainable

Electric Transportation.” Energies (19961073), vol. 12, no. 19, Oct. 2019, p.

3721. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3390/en12193721.

Rudman, Kristin. “EEI CELEBRATES 1 MILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON U.S.

ROADS.” Edison Electric Institute,

www.eei.org/resourcesandmedia/newsroom/Pages/Press%20Releases/EEI%20Celebrates

%201%20Million%20Electric%20Vehicles%20on%20U-S-%20Roads.aspx.

Schultz, E. J. “FORD TAKES ON TESLA WITH MUSTANG MACH-E: The Automaker Puts

Marketing Muscle behind the ‘New Breed of Mustang,’ Including TV Ads Starring Idris

Elba.” Advertising Age, vol. 90, no. 22, Nov. 2019, p. 4. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=139784006&site=ehost-

live&scope=site.

Sommer, Lauren. “Carbon Emissions Are Falling, But Still Not Enough, Scientists Say.” NPR,

National Public Radio, 14 Apr. 2020, www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-

updates/2020/04/14/834295861/carbon-emissions-are-falling-but-still-not-enough-

scientists-say.

“Timeline: History of the Electric Car.” Energy.gov, www.energy.gov/timeline/timeline-history-

electric-car.
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Weigand, Moritz, et al. “Integration of Electric Vehicle Charging into an International and

Environment-Friendly Context.” SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars:

Electronic & Electrical Systems, vol. 7, no. 2, Aug. 2014, pp. 536–543. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.4271/2014-01-0345.