Could gasoline and diesel car and truck engines soon be obsolete? Gasoline and diesel engines have been the powertrains behind automobiles since the first car but with the revolution of electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles, they could become a thing of the past. Companies like Tesla and Nikola are becoming the first all-electric brands as well as other manufacturers that are pushing out electric vehicles into their lineups, but is this really going to be beneficial? Some people say they could be.
With the rise of EVs and HVs some people are saying the the tried and true gasoline and Diesel engines could soon be a thing of the past. Other people are saying that these new vehicles are too futuristic and that the technology is not as advanced as it needs to be. Some companies like Porsche for example are experimenting with synthetic fuel for the gasoline and diesel engines so that we can keep them and have the option for EVs and HVs without hurting the environment.
Gasoline and diesel engines have been in the world for around 100 years and to get rid of them would be a very big change for society but could potentially help the environment, However, I think that keeping these engines and finding alternatives to fuel and emissions systems could be the change that is needed instead of a worldwide switch to EVs and HVs.
The argument that EV and HV supporters is that gasoline and diesel engines are harming the environment and it is time to switch to different powertrains. However, if you look at how these electric vehicles are made, you see that mining for lithium ion to make the batteries is the same if not worse for the environment as mining for the oil that is in gasoline and diesel cars. The statement that electric vehicles are better for the environment is false due to the fact that if everyone were to get rid of the cars that they have right now and switch to EVs and HVs, we would have a ton of waste from these cars being thrown away and put into junkyards. Then as the demand for EVs and HVs increases, so does the pollution that hurts the environment from mining for lithium ion. The other issue is then what would we do with all of the oil wells that are not being used? They too would be more waste left in fields and scrap yards as well as provide no money for the people that rely on them to make money.
Another argument for why the switch to EVs and HVs would be difficult is that they are expensive. Sure the price for them would go down as the whole world slowly switches to them but at first the prices would skyrocket due to demand and limited production capabilities of manufacturers and this would lead to less people being inclined to buy them because they may not have the money. Not only would people be less inclined to buy because of the price but also charging stations for EVs are not on every corner; in fact, there are only 41,400 EV charging stations and 39 HV filling stations opposed to 168,000 gasoline and diesel stations in the United States. Then there is also the issue of how food and goods are transported across the country. Semi trucks run on diesel and transport goods and food all over the country because they have long range and have the torque or pulling power to pull the containers with them. There are also diesel trucks that provide much more efficient range and power for pulling things like motor homes, 5th wheels, and trailers. Without these automobiles, we may not be able to transport a lot of things that we need or want where we go.
A final argument is the communities. Car communities and truck communities have been around since the beginning of cars. Recently, congress was brought a bill that would ban people from modifying, working on, or fixing their cars called the RPM Act. There has been a big push from all car communities and large car community companies to stop this bill from passing due to it putting many businesses, companies, and people just wanting to have fun at risk. A big company that is petitioning this bill is the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) and they are asking everyone they can to prevent this bill that would render aftermarket car communities non-existent. Getting rid of these communities would not only devastate many, but would cause more waste and an increase of crime as people just love the mechanics of cars and trucks and learning to work on them.
Some say that the car aftermarket community for gasoline and diesel engines is dangerous and while some people are dangerous with their modified cars, 90% of people are not unless they are off-road or on a track. Some people think that cars do not need to be modified and while some cars do not need to be and are fine OE, for a lot of people it is a lifestyle.
Overall, a worldwide switch or even just a nationwide switch to EVs and HVs would not make that much of a difference and would not be beneficial to distribution of food and goods, automotive manufacturers, communities, and even the environment. Gasoline and diesel engines should be kept as they would be the same if not better in the long run against EVs and HVs. Gasoline and diesel engines have been in the world for around 100 years and to get rid of them would be a very big change for society but could potentially help the environment, However, I think that keeping these engines and finding alternatives to fuel and emissions systems could be the change that is needed instead of a worldwide switch to EVs and HVs. I think that people should work to keep these engines and work to find alternatives for fuel and emissions as well as contact their congressman or governor and tell them to sign the petition against the RPM Act as well as fight the transition to help the environment and the people involved in the world of automotive.