There have been a lot of questions about whether we really need $100,000 luxury electric trucks like the GMC Hummer EV.
February 22, 2023 at 8:46 a.m. ET
The New York Times He recently published an article titled, “How good for the planet is this big electric truck?” That’s no surprise, as people have teased electric vehicles like the huge and expensive GMC Hummer EV, and Tesla’s Cybertruck is on the way this year.
When hybrid and electric cars first hit the market, they were typically small, polarizing, practical commuters without much dynamism or performance. People wanted big electric trucks and three-row SUVs, though. For automakers to prove that electric vehicles are as good (or much better) than gas cars, larger, more practical models with impressive performance needed to arrive.
In any case, according to an article by AutoblogNew York Times author Elana Shao admitted that choosing an electric pickup instead of a similar gas pickup will significantly reduce emissions. If people are going to buy big, heavy trucks and luxury SUVs anyway, electric versions are much better for the environment. Shao shared via Autoblog:
“Take the Ford F-150 pickup versus the electric F-150 Lightning. Electric versions are responsible for up to 50 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions per mile.”
However, the NYT article quickly turns around to show that while large electric vehicles are cleaner and more efficient than large gas vehicles, they are not as clean or efficient as smaller electric vehicles.
We already knew that electric vehicles were better for the environment than gas cars. It makes sense that the comparison would carry more weight if you chose rivals of similar size. Whether it’s a gas car or an electric vehicle, a bigger one will be less efficient and therefore not as environmentally friendly.
The NYT article notes that these large electric pickup trucks have large battery packs and use more electricity. This means they have more global emissions during their life cycle. Meanwhile, small electric vehicles may generate a lot of emissions during the manufacturing process, but it doesn’t take long to offset those emissions during their emission-free time on the road.
The New York Times author goes on to point out that large, heavy vehicles also create a higher safety risk than small cars. Again, this is true, but it’s just as true for big gas cars as it is for small gas cars. Whether people are going to drive family or ready-to-work vehicles regardless, electric vehicles are undoubtedly still the best choice for so many reasons.
In general, the US has a growing appetite for bigger, more extravagant vehicles, which is not possibly the direction we need to go, and electrifying them should not be an excuse to build more of them. However, as we switch every style of car, truck and SUV from gasoline to electric, and more and more electric vehicles are on the road, there is certainly a reduction in emissions that harm our planet and harm our health. .
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