Understanding the Correlation between Transportation and Pollution Climate change and environmental concerns have many people concerned, for good reason. The shocking 2018 IPCC Special Report found that greenhouse gas emissions were worse than the global community thought, and that drastic steps were needed to cut emissions in order to limit global warming to just 1.5ºC (or 2.7ºF) above pre-industrial levels. That same year, 28% of all US greenhouse gas emissions could be attributed to transportation, according to the EPA’s annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks report. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, commercial vehicle sales are nearly 4x higher than passenger vehicle sales. That’s why businesses are thinking about their own impact on transportation-related pollution. Here’s what you need to know.
How Transportation Leads to Pollution While the transportation sector does include airplanes and ships, the majority of greenhouse gas emissions come from “passenger cars, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and light-duty trucks, including sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans.” Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles must burn gasoline to generate energy to power the vehicle. This process produces carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These greenhouse gas emissions can be linked to climate change, heart and lung disease, and even the spread of infectious disease. Pollution is a serious danger throughout the world that could result in irreversible consequences. That’s why government and business are now focusing on the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs). Battery electric vehicles do not directly emit any greenhouse gases. And while manufacturing and energy generation may cause some indirect emissions, the electrical grid is constantly becoming more clean as manufacturers and utilities reduce their own emissions. Unlike ICE vehicles, the total environmental impact of EVs decreases every year.
How Electric Vehicles Help The first EV drivers were primarily environmentally-minded or tech-obsessed citydwellers driving to work. Now businesses and commercial fleets are getting in on the EV action. Retailers, multifamily communities, and workplaces are installing EV charging stations for tenants, guests, and employees. With garages and carports only available at 80% of owner-occupied houses, charging stations are needed for at workplaces and public locations. Fleet managers are buying electric vehicles and EV charging stations to reduce their fleet operational costs and meet corporate sustainability goals. Ready to get started with EV charging at your business? Get Quote: https://semaconnect.com/request-quote/