We Have Already Overcome Barriers to Rapid EV Adoption

I deeply respect Professor Yiguang Ju as a researcher, but many of his responses in the April issue (Research) are either false or misleading, starting with the claim that hybrids are less carbon-intensive than electric vehicles (EVs) in cold-weather states. The Union of Concerned Scientists publishes a tool every year that converts a typical EV’s emission intensity into miles per gallon of gasoline (evtool.ucsusa.org). In Boston, Massachusetts, a cold city where about 60% of electricity comes from natural gas power plants, an EV gets the equivalent of 116 miles per gallon. Fewer than five states have EV emissions below 50 mpg, and even those are likely to improve as coal and natural gas plants are replaced by renewables.

Ju also expresses concern over price. Yet a recent report by Atlas Public Policy showed that the total cost of ownership for an EV purchased today is already lower than its gasoline counterpart.

Finally, safety. Ju recounts a personal anecdote of an autonomous car crashing into a concrete barrier. EVs and self-driving technology are often mentioned in the same conversation, but that incident had nothing to do with the car being electric. And regarding fire risk, every vehicle sold in the U.S. must undergo rigorous testing and meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Ju’s remarks risk perpetuating the false narrative that EVs are not ready for mass adoption. But if you purchase an EV, you will save money and significantly reduce emissions. EVs are not only the future. They are the best choice today.