Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Dear Editor: My take on EVs

Dear Editor,

Okay, this is me jumping on the proverbial bandwagon. Most, if not everyone, in town knows that I drive an electric vehicle. It’s not quite the same issue as a Tesla or a Prius but still, the principle still applies.

There are definitely advantages to traveling in an electric vehicle. For me, maybe one of the most obvious is its operation, which is nearly silent and therefore, more or less stealthy. As an amateur photographer, I really appreciate being able to move about the countryside, although with somewhat limited range, without making a lot of noise, or a big stink.

Another big advantage, especially in this day and age, is its lack of fuel consumption. Along these lines, because I don’t need to gas up regularly, there is much less of an environmental impact, such as oil stains, emissions, etc.

However, there are disadvantages as well, particularly when my battery charger goes on the fritz. One, maybe the most obvious, is its limited range. This applies to the aforementioned Teslas and Prius, though obviously not to the extent of my own.

From an individual standpoint at least, the Tesla would seem to have less of an environmental impact than the Prius, simply because it is all-electric, rather than a hybrid like the Prius, with both gasoline and electric motors. Both these examples and the many other options these days, it could be argued, actually cause a similar, or even worse, footprint as gasoline-powered vehicles!

The batteries, as that which plagues me as well, are maybe the main consideration here!

Yes, it’s nice to be able to simply charge our chosen means of transportation overnight while we’re sleeping, but the means required, not only to produce, or rather, harness the needed electricity, but also to manufacture and then dispose of (nothing lasts forever) said batteries is arguably at least comparable to the footprint generated by the production or refinement of gasoline and other such fuels.

The discussion could go on, with anything from the expense initially required for the production of these batteries (with more range, etc.) to the safe disposal of these batteries at the end of their usefulness. For instance, you might hear horror stories about fields of dead EV batteries over in Sweden or even in our country. Read this revealing story at https://bloom.bg/2tOfigq. It might set your mind at ease; however, as far as that goes, I’m not trying to sway anyone either way as to whether they should go with the flow and purchase an EV for their traveling needs or whether it’s better to stick with the tried and true Internal Combustion engine and good ole’ fossil fuels. The choice, as always, is up to the consumer who must decide what is best for them and their families.

Personally, I love my EV (I call Her Sunshine); it works for me, but for others, it may not be feasible, for a long list of reasons.

Charles Haddon Shank

Whitehall, Montana

 

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