Consider the following case study and answer the questions below. An electric ca

Question

Consider the following case study and answer the questions below.

An electric car is an automobile that uses electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device that is propelled by one or more electric motors. Electric cars can significantly reduce air pollution, as they do not emit tailpipe pollutants and reduce in greenhouse gas and other emissions and reduce dependence on foreign oil. But widespread adoption of electric cars causes higher cost, lack of recharging infrastructure outside of home charging and range anxiety which is the driver's fear that the electric energy stored in the batteries will run out before the driver reaches their destination, due to the limited range of the existing electric cars. The United States government also views energy efficient vehicles as environmentally friendly alternatives to vehicles that run purely on gasoline and provided tax credits to increase the popularity.

Identify and analyze the possible impacts (political, environmental, health, safety, cultural, economic) of the electric car technology on society (including individual, local, regional, or global context)? (Write 1 paragraph)

Engineers and technologists have a responsibility to add to the public discourse on technology issues (section 4.8 of your text). Choose the perspective of either an engineer working for a firm developing an electric car or an engineer working for an oil company. Address one of the ethical issues which arise from this impact using ideas presented throughout the text (environmentalism, cost-benefit analysis, social values, etc.). (Write 1 paragraph)

Explanation / Answer

When taken in the environmental point of view electic cars are better than the cars running on the gasoline but the electic cars batteries also eject some pollutants into the air. Often the batteries had to be replaced which will again effect the environment as the batteries are made of chemicals and when the battery is changed the chemicals present in the old batteries affects the environment. Regarding the cost spent on the electic cars decrease significantly when compared with the gasoline cars but the problem of having the car to be used for long distances is not possible since we may drain out of the battery. For example consider the police cars when they are going on some important work and if the car stops in the middle then it becomes a huge problem. So only in some situations we can use electic cars and whenever there is a important issue in thet cases on cannot take the risk by using the electic cars.

The people present in the country will not accept this first of all unless the government shows the proof of using these battery cars for the large distances and for long time. By doing this they can replace gasoline cars with the electic cars.

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