Rah Productions

Coby Nguyen, Daniel Zuniga

Ms. Mcdonald

ENGL 2311

29th April 2021

R&D of Electric Vehicles

 Table of Contents
List of Illustrations…………………………………………………………………….....2

Abstract……………………………………………………………….………………......3

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………4

Purpose…………………………...……...…………………...……………………………4
Problem………………………………………..
…………………………………………..4 Description…………………….
………………………………………………………..…4

Research Data……………………………………….…………………………………….5

Safety Ratings……………………………………………………………………………..5
Electric
Shift………………………………………………………………………………6 Global
Emissions………………………………………………………………………….6
Electric vs
Combustion……………………………………………………………………7

Concern…………………………………………………………………………………...8

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..8

Glossary…………………………………………………………………………………..9

Works Cited……………………………………………………………………………10

Appendix

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 List of Illustrations
Figure Page

1. NHTSA head on collision testing……………………………………………5

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 Abstract
Electric vehicles are currently one of the biggest and fastest growing industries. With the

theory of electric vehicles being more environmentally friendly, we can predict that they may

eventually replace combustion vehicles for commercial transportation. Our proposal to

research the electric vehicle industry is to compare and contrast the long term effects of

manufacturing and maintaining electric vehicles. With this information, we can conclude that

electric vehicles are better for the environment and our future than current combustion

vehicles. To further emphasize, electric vehicles themselves do not produce emissions, however

their production and charging yields significantly more energy consumption from both non-

renewable and renewable resources. More electric vehicles means more fossil fuels consumed

to maintain them. So until we can manufacture electric vehicles and efficiently charge them

with clean resources, in mass quantities it’s currently a pollution race with our current gas

guzzlers. However,there is no doubt that we are slowly making global advancements to a

cleaner future.

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 Introduction
Purpose

This is a research report that talks about the amount of information and innovation this
production has received so far. From what we know so far, we can use the information gathered
from several companies to forge an idea on how it can really affect the future of industries that
are involved in automobiles.

Problem

Currently, Rah Productions is committed to research and development of electric

vehicles. Our missions include: test driving electric vehicles, studying emissions output, and

evaluating the cost production of electric vehicles and the electricity used to produce and run

them. We want to confirm that the mass production and charging of electric vehicles will not

have a more negative impact on the environment compared to combustion vehicles.

Description

Within our research, we have gathered ratings for the overall safety and comfort of

electric vehicles from a sample of vehicles from Tesla Motors Inc. This includes the safety of

the employee’s producing the vehicles, which has never been mentioned before in other

automobile companies. Although electric cars alone are environmentally friendly, the process

to produce them and charge them uses energy sources that are not environmentally friendly.

The goal is to compare the production and application of electric cars against the production

and emissions from general combustion vehicles.

Research Data

Safety Ratings

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 Tesla is currently the leading producer of electric vehicles, so our research will pertain to

the Model 3, Tesla’s most sold vehicle making up 37% of the 2020 market’s electric vehicles. 1

The 2020 Model 3 is rated 5 stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in

front, side, and rollover crash testing2. As seen in Figure 1, the Model 3 proves its strong

structural integrity without the cushion of a combustion

engine to absorb the impact.

The Model 3 also comes equipped with many other

safety features. One feature is forward collision warning,

using forward-looking sensors to detect danger ahead of

the vehicle, providing the driver with warnings of an Figure 1: NHTSA head-on collision testing

impending collision so the driver can brake or steer to avoid a crash. Along with these

sensors, comes a crash-imminent braking feature. If the driver does not take any action to avoid

the crash, the feature will automatically apply the brakes to slow or stop the car, avoiding the

crash or at least reducing its severity. Even if the driver does apply the brakes, if the vehicle

does not slow down enough, the feature will supplement brake power on top of the driver’s in

a combined effort to stop the vehicle. Finally the vehicle also comes equipped with lane

departure warning, using sensors to track the vehicle’s relative position and alerts the driver of

unintentional lane shifts. Overall, the Model 3 has many modern safety features and qualities,

however apart from safety ratings, you can find these internal programmed features in every

Tesla model. Tesla’s Models Y and X also have full 5 star ratings with the NHTSA, leaving only

the Model S currently without a rating.

1 Taken from the average of the top 10 vehicles sold in 2020 - Statistica EV Stats
2 NHTSA testing for the 2020 Model 3 Model 3 Crash Testing

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Electric Shift

We are already taking steps to limit the production of combustion engine vehicles.

Currently, the State of California, and Masachusettes along with General Motors are issuing a

ban on the production and sale of combustion vehicles by 2035.3 Many other car companies are

also considering joining in on the shift, such as Honda who are currently innovating on their

CO2 emissions, improving fuel efficiency, and progressing on their hybrid and hydrogen cars. 4

Porsche is also contributing to the cause by creating a synthetic efuel that can be used in

combustion vehicles but does not produce pollutants in its emissions, although currently being

only rigorously tested in motorsports.5

Global Emissions

Our global issue on fossil fuels is that they are used for the production of gasoline,

diesel, and energy. Without a doubt, humans use a lot of fossil fuels and burn a huge amount of

it everyday for our cars, yet fossil fuels takes millions of years to be used appropriately

Time is running out for humans to change its course to global warming according to the

UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6. If we do not make a change about this soon

then this will. .This research can be accomplished by talking to a credible representative of any

electric car company that knows what they are doing. We must go over gas companies, global

warming/climate change, and other major issues society would be concerned about. Tesla’s

response is in their impact report manual released in 2018. 7 Their master plan is to create

3 General Motors 2035

4 Honda’s Environment Missions
5 Porsche’s Efuel
6 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
7 Tesla’s Impact Report

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powerful vehicles to prove that people don’t need to compromise performance, speed and

comfort from an all electric vehicle.

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Electric vs Combustion

Currently, our company does not have the resources to conduct a global or sampled

study. But the goal is to compare the entire lifetime process of the two vehicle types. Starting at

the production of the vehicles, and how to obtain the materials used for them. Using machinery

and energy to convert those materials into the actual vehicle. All while tracking the sources of

the energy used for the production and their environmental impact. For example, coal power

plants powering the actual production, or the machines used to obtain the materials being

mainly gas or diesel powered.

We then must collect data for the lifetime of the vehicle, whether its how much gas it

consumes and the whole process of producing and transporting the gasoline, or how much

power it will need to be charged with and the energy sources providing that power. Obviously

this is a big task, and we may not be able to determine the environmental shift directly, but

from current research, the emissionless use of the actual electric vehicle is helping reduce the

pollution accumulation in large cities.

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 Concern

Our main concern is how we will be able to provide and maintain electric vehicles with

power if they become the future, being the main source of global transportation. We’re talking

about millions, if not billions of electric vehicles taking up the future of our roads. Currently,

only 26% of the energy of the world is clean, renewable energy sources. But we’re not sure if

we can produce 100% clean energy, or if that will even be enough to sustain the global shift to

electric vehicles. Only time, research and development will tell.

Conclusion

Currently, we can say that electric vehicles are a great alternative to the mass

commercial vehicles on the road today. They have proven to have high safety ratings, rivaling

those of combustion engines, and overall equal or better performance. They have also clearly

shown that they are capable of modern technology, and have much more room for

improvement. As the world is further researching into electric vehicles and clean energy, many

car manufacturers are contributing to the cause, helping further improve the efficiency of

regular combustion vehicles, while developing powerful electric or hybrid vehicles. With our

research we can advise people to consider the benefits of purchasing electric, as they have

made their place in the automobile industry, and will hopefully change it for the better in the

future.

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 Glossary

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - responsible for keeping

people safe on America's roadways. Through enforcing vehicle performance standards

and partnerships with state and local governments.

2. Combustion Engine Vehicles - The general commercial vehicle found worldwide that

uses the process of combustion in an engine block to generate power and movement

for vehicles, relying on gasoline or diesel as the fuel source.

3. Efuel - Esso Renewable Racing Fuel is a blend of primarily advanced biofuels and is

specially formulated by Porsche and ExxonMobil’s in-house team of scientists and

engineers.

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 Works Cited

General Motors’ 2035 Electric Shift Plan

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/01/28/general-motors-

electric/

Honda’s Environment Improvement Missions

https://www.honda.com/environment

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

https://www.ipcc.ch/

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2020 Model 3 Safety Testing

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/TESLA/MODEL

%203/4%20DR/RWD#safety-ratings-frontal

Porsche’s Synthetic Efuel Research and Development

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2021/company/porsche-exxonmobil-lower-carbon-

fuel-efuels-motorsports-porsche-mobil-1-supercup-911-gt3-cup-24052.html

Statisica Electric Vehicle Statistics https://www.statista.com/statistics/960121/sales-of-all-

electric-vehicles-worldwide-by-model/

Tesla’s Impact Report Mission

https://www.tesla.com/ns_videos/tesla-impact-report-2019.pdf

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