The US is one of the countries with the highest number of motorized vehicles per capita, with a fleet of well over 250 million. With over 80% of the population owning and using a car, it’s clear to see that the environmental impact of these numbers is enormous.

Fortunately, there’s a new trend on the rise – that of electric vehicles (or EVs for short). Foregoing fossil fuels, these vehicles are charged directly through a power outlet, generating no harmful emissions, and offering savings in the long run, despite their higher initial price. From Audi to Volkswagen, almost all popular manufacturers have at least one electric vehicle in their offer, with over 50 models to choose from in total.

But cars are not the only type of electric vehicle available for purchase. Nowadays, people can also invest in e-mopeds, e-bikes, electric scooters, and even electric skateboards. These are all exciting alternatives for those looking to make their transport greener, without having to resort to walking or public transport.

The question remains, however, how much do they actually help in the reduction of pollution?

Well, the answer to that question greatly depends on the type of energy fuelling them in the first place. While electricity allows these modes of transportation to be carbon-neutral, they still use a pretty significant amount of non-renewable energy resources, both in the manufacturing process and during regular charges.

Most electricity in the US is still produced by burning natural gas or coal, both of which are huge contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, they’re forms of fossil fuel, which means that their availability is in rapid decline, with no way of generating new resources. Renewable resources, at least in the US, are still not sufficiently used – at just under 20% of all generated electricity coming from solar, wind, or water power. Although their utilization is rapidly growing, the rate is nowhere near as quick as the planet needs it to be.

If choosing between a traditional car and an electric one, the latter is definitely going to be the better option. Even though it makes use of precious non-renewable resources, and requires electricity for charging, it still eliminates air pollution in cities, which is becoming a hugely widespread problem worldwide.

Credits : Topobar,Saloni,Sagnik,Rik,Tanya,Amit,Kaynaat