Zach Mathers: Electric Vehicles and U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

The United States has long depended on foreign oil to satisfy its demands, the largest being in the transportation and industrial sectors. Recent studies conclude that 50% of all the oil in the United States is consumed by motor vehicles and it just so happens that net imports of oil account for 50% of oil the United States consumes.[1] Decreasing our dependence by either finding an alternative or producing oil domestically would have two large effects: The first being an increase in national security because of the lack of presence we will have in international affairs concerning oil. The second will be a domestic variation in oil prices because we are longer importing oil from foreign countries. Both suggestions have yet to be completely adopted but strides towards them are paving the way for an oil independent United States.

 

One easy and simple way to become oil independent will be to produce all of the oil we need in the U.S. ourselves. [We] have been making substantial strides towards domestic oil production with the recent boom in fracking. Hydraulic fracturing has helped reduce U.S. imports of oil from 60% to 45% in just a few years.[2] Oil prices would drop and trillions of dollars would be saved from trading deficits with foreign countries[3]. Improving fracking technology will help the U.S. become the largest producer of oil in the world. National security will increase from the lack of negotiations and overall dependence on foreign affairs in the Middle East that can cause the price of oil to dramatically increase.[4] If trends in fracking were to continue and technology keeps innovating the fracturing process, the U.S. could see oil independence in the near future.

 

However, this boom in fracking that is taking place in the U.S. is a great concern. Because of the lack of studies and innovation done to control air pollution and ground water contamination, the full effect of fracking has not been seen. Without proper results and technology, many states are banning fracking. Conversely, the rapid move for studies to be conducted and innovation towards fracking technology is a clear sign that the U.S. is looking to become oil independent. With so many uncertainties pertaining to public health effects and the limited number of studies proving methane contamination, it is obvious that the environment has taken a backseat in the face of oil independence. The full force of fracking will only be seen when more research is done so that fracking can take place all over the U.S.

 

Taking a different route to oil independence will be for the U.S. to find a completely new alternative fuel source for our transportation sector. Electric vehicles could realistically be the future of our transportation sector. There is no need for oil in electric vehicles and they do not pollute organic matter.[5] The electric vehicle can solve the problem for the need of oil and decrease our carbon emissions. Critics against an electric vehicle takeover would argue that the infrastructure for gasoline is something that electricity could never reach or that the money needed to build the infrastructure is too expensive. To rebut this argument, yes it would be expensive but taxing oil could be an easy solution to fund the infrastructure. Taxing oil products would increase the price of gasoline, that money from the tax will be used to fund the new electric infrastructure and in turn, people would be forced to find another source of energy because of the inflated gas prices the tax imposes.[6] This tax manifests itself in the people and if they were offered an alternative at a cheaper price, why wouldn’t they do it? The challenge would be to calculate the tax in a way where there isn’t a dramatic shift for electric vehicles, but rather a subtle shift so demand does not outweigh unfinished infrastructure or products.

 

The range for electric vehicles will concern many people when deciding if they should switch from gasoline to electric transportation. The public is misinformed about how far technology has innovated batteries in the last few years. For instance, the Tesla Roadster has a range of up to 300 miles on a single charge.[7] The research and development for improving battery life in electric vehicles is becoming more and more invested in. Improving battery technology will lead consumers away from gasoline engines and shift to electric vehicles in the near future.

 

Both instances of producing oil domestically and the innovations in the electric vehicle sector are perfect examples of how the U.S. can become oil independent. Fracking has paved a way to continue to drive gasoline vehicles, while electric vehicles provide a complete alternative to oil. Although both have drawbacks as of now, more research will be done to protect the U.S. from foreign oil affairs, as well as provide a cleaner and more efficient route to oil independence.

 

Comments:

Jennifer:

I agree with you that more research needs to be done to help eliminate some of the uncertainties surrounding the environmental and health impacts of fracking. However, you can never fully eliminate the scientific uncertainty surrounding such a complicated environmental issue. Any existing uncertainty, in addition to the plethora of anecdotal reports of contaminated drinking water and methane explosions, is sure to fuel a large amount of “NIMBY-ism” surrounding the location of fracking sites. With states like New York banning fracking altogether, due to significant public opposition, it seems unlikely that fracking will be developed widely enough or quickly enough to replace imported oil. Additionally, a shift from foreign oil to domestic oil and natural gas will not reduce our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels. Such a dependence is problematic both because of the environmental consequences of greenhouse gas emissions, and because of the finite nature of non-renewable resources.  I think that an investment in domestic renewable energy might be a better approach to reducing our dependence on foreign oil. The United States has great potential for solar and wind power, and investing in these would reduce greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to anthropogenic climate change and other environmental problems. An investment in domestic renewable energy would also be an investment in infrastructure for the future, where non-renewable fossil fuels are no longer a viable energy option, due to their scarcity or environmental costs.

 

Randy comment:

I certainly agree that America’s energy independence is an important issue today and will only become more essential in the coming years. Domestic energy production is a good temporary solution to a permanent problem. However, as we have talked about before, fracking has a number of associated externalities due to the uncertainties as a result of limited testing.
I am very interested in the future of the transportation sector in the United States. I think that this blog does a good job of exploring both sides to the argument for electric vehicles. Targeting the private transportation sector is a smart way to lead the charge in the green vehicle revolution. Successful innovation for private consumer cars can then be used on a larger scale in mass transit. As you mentioned, modern electric vehicles have a number of technical and economic setbacks. Vehicle range is a significant drawback that is holding back the consumer market. While battery technology are improving, I think that it is important to look at the associated environmental impacts such as heavy metal use and disposal. Balancing these environmental concerns with the benefits is critical to the success of electric vehicles in the future.

 

Henry comment:

Zach, I think you do a great job explaining the two sides of the coin that represents the future of the American transportation system.  On one side we can continue to extract more oil from the ground.  But at what cost?  We do not fully understand the environmental impacts of fracking, and from what we do currently know it will at least continue to contribute to the problems of climate change.  On the other side we have the option of attempting to switch our vehicle from traditional combustion engines to electric vehicles.

I like that you specifically brought up the case of Tesla, because Tesla is a company that has made significant moves to make electric vehicles a reality in the United States.  You mentioned that Tesla has produced a car with a range of about 300 miles, but I think it is also important to note that they have also made massive strides to improve their Supercharger network.  They have also made the decision to make charging free for their customers.  On top of this they have invested heavily in researching battery technologies and have also released their patents surrounding their battery technologies so that other companies can help build off their successes to make EVs a reality.

 

Kate comment:

One thing to consider though is how the falling oil prices negatively affects the United States producers. Fracking is one of the most expensive ways to produce oil, and arguably not sustainable at current prices. There are also environmental concerns to fracking and many local communities have severe concerns about letting drillers into the area. The process is very taxing on infrastructure, and the effects on increased seismic activity are to date inconclusive. It is important to consider the public reactions to fracking when discussing energy independence. I think under the current political climate, the United States will not achieve energy independence. Similarly, producing electric vehicles can cause potential issues. I think the importance is not in the infrastructure required for electric charging stations. Rather, it is quite expensive to assume that enough people could afford to replace their cars with electric vehicles in the near future. I think that more money should be subsidizing electric cars for consumers who can’t afford them if we get serious about the switch to electric cars. Overall I really enjoyed this blog and learned a lot from it.

 

 

 

[1] Stein, F. (2013). Ending America’s energy insecurity: Why electric vehicles should drive the united states to energy independence. Homeland Security Affairs

[2] Snow, N. (2012, Sep 24). North american energy independence possible, house panel told. Oil & Gas Journal, 110, 24-25.

[3] Snow, N. (2012, Sep 24). North american energy independence possible, house panel told. Oil & Gas Journal, 110, 24-25.

[4] Stein, F. (2013). Ending America’s energy insecurity: Why electric vehicles should drive the united states to energy independence. Homeland Security Affairs

[5] Study: Electric drive vehicles have little impact on U.S. pollutant emissions. (2014, Jan 21).

[6] Stein, F. (2013). Ending america’s energy insecurity: Why electric vehicles should drive the united states to energy independence. Homeland Security Affairs

[7] Junghoon Lee, Gyung-Leen Park, Dual battery management for renewable energy integration in EV charging stations, Neurocomputing, Volume 148, 19 January 2015, Pages 181-186, ISSN 0925-2312