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Electric Cars Case Study

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Electric Cars Case Study
PRO/CON: Should the government subsidize electric cars?
By McClatchy-Tribune, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.08.14 Word Count 1,431
Angie Vorhies plugs in the charging cord to her Nissan Leaf electric vehicle at a mall on Nov. 13, 2013, in San Diego. Photo: AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi
PRO: Don't pull the plug on electric cars
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — It would be very unwise to “pull the plug” on electric-car subsidies at this time. The government money helps support the car industry and make up for tough regulations that are already hurting it. Without the subsidies, car makers would lose money on electric vehicles.
One of the few bright spots in the current American economy, a thriving auto industry, would be thrown into turmoil.
The regulations present …show more content…
Power says electric car owners see "environmental friendliness as the most important benefit” of such cars, but even here, electric vehicles fail.
A Journal of Industrial Ecology report found that manufacturing electric vehicles produces over double the carbon dioxide emissions of building traditional gas-powered automobiles. These gasses are believed to cause climate change, which can hurt the environment.
Furthermore, electric vehicles are charged with electricity generated from burning environmentally unfriendly fuels. And they require batteries containing toxic chemicals. Environmental benefits are minimal at best.
It was 116 years ago that the first commercially-available electric car went on the market and electric cars have been running on empty promises ever since. When it comes to federal subsidies, it’s time to pull the plug.
———

ABOUT THE WRITER David A. Ridenour is president of the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think-tank. This essay is available to McClatchy-Tribune News Service subscribers. McClatchy-Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of McClatchy-Tribune or Newsela. This op-ed was adapted by
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