In our day and age, the issue of non-renewable resources and their increasing usage is one of the most prominent ones. Fossil fuel depletion in particular causes many concerns. Fossil fuel depletion is the extraction of natural gas, oil and coal reserves at a rate higher than nature replenishes them. (Fossil fuel depletion. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19, 2019,
from https://app.sustainableminds.com/learning-center/methodology/fossil-fuel-depletion.) Of all the fossil fuels, petroleum is the most important.
The reason for that is simple, vehicles we use depend on fuels like petrol, jet fuel, diesel and other fuels, all of which are petroleum products derived during its refining process. (Petroleum product. (2019, December 15). Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_product) In the US alone, nearly 70% of all petroleum consumed is eventually used for transportation needs (U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis. (2019, October 3). Oil: crude and petroleum products explained. Use of oil. Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/use-of-oil.php) with around 45% of all petroleum being consumed to produce petrol for motor vehicles. (U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis. (2019, November 29). Refinery Yield. Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_pct_dc_nus_pct_m.htm) In 2016, light personal vehicles consumed 8,308 thousand barrels per day in the US, while the rest of motor vehicles (including heavier trucks, motorcycles and buses) consumed 4,876 thousand barrels per day. (Davis, S. C., & Boundy, R. G. (2019). Transportation Energy Data Book (37.2 ed.). Retrieved December 20, 2019, from https://tedb.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/TEDB_37-2.pdf)
This makes electricity powered cars an especially promising development that might change the way we utilize our resources and have a positive impact on our environment. Petroleum consumption will not go away entirely should electric cars become the norm, but it will be limited to spheres where it is much lower, reducing it noticeably. For electric cars to truly make an impact on our environment though, it would require a shift towards cleaner sources of production of electricity; however, even if electricity production remains largely fossil fuel-based and electric cars are powered with "dirty" electricity, they will still emit less CO2 over their lifetime than conventional cars and less petroleum will be used. (Bannon, E. (2017, October 26). Electric cars emit less CO2 over their lifetime than diesels even. Retrieved December 20, 2019, from https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/electric-cars-emit-less-co2-over-their-lifetime-diesels-even-when-powered-dirtiest-electricity)
Unfortunately, electric cars did not find much support initially. The high cost of lithium-ion batteries that also have slow recharge times made many people question the expediency and practicality of such cars. Thankfully, everything is about to change. Battery size has been increased, and, most importantly, scientists have now found a cost-efficient way to increase the recharge rates and not damage the battery during the process, (Davis, N. (2019, October 30). Electric cars could be charged in 10 minutes in future, finds research. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/30/electric-cars-could-be-charged-in-10-minutes-in-future-finds-research) potentially allowing to recharge the entire battery in just 10 minutes. This is incredibly important, as it solves the chief problem many drivers had with electric cars, and will finally make them a viable alternative to conventional fuel vehicles. Many notable automobile manufacturers, like Volvo, have been considering to make a complete switch to electric cars, and the active research aimed at increasing the efficiency of electric car batteries is bound to draw more companies in.
Perhaps in the future we will see entire cities free of carbon emissions, roads with just electric cars on them and fossil fuel reserves left preserved. Time will tell.
The reason for that is simple, vehicles we use depend on fuels like petrol, jet fuel, diesel and other fuels, all of which are petroleum products derived during its refining process. (Petroleum product. (2019, December 15). Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_product) In the US alone, nearly 70% of all petroleum consumed is eventually used for transportation needs (U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis. (2019, October 3). Oil: crude and petroleum products explained. Use of oil. Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/use-of-oil.php) with around 45% of all petroleum being consumed to produce petrol for motor vehicles. (U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis. (2019, November 29). Refinery Yield. Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_pct_dc_nus_pct_m.htm) In 2016, light personal vehicles consumed 8,308 thousand barrels per day in the US, while the rest of motor vehicles (including heavier trucks, motorcycles and buses) consumed 4,876 thousand barrels per day. (Davis, S. C., & Boundy, R. G. (2019). Transportation Energy Data Book (37.2 ed.). Retrieved December 20, 2019, from https://tedb.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/TEDB_37-2.pdf)
This makes electricity powered cars an especially promising development that might change the way we utilize our resources and have a positive impact on our environment. Petroleum consumption will not go away entirely should electric cars become the norm, but it will be limited to spheres where it is much lower, reducing it noticeably. For electric cars to truly make an impact on our environment though, it would require a shift towards cleaner sources of production of electricity; however, even if electricity production remains largely fossil fuel-based and electric cars are powered with "dirty" electricity, they will still emit less CO2 over their lifetime than conventional cars and less petroleum will be used. (Bannon, E. (2017, October 26). Electric cars emit less CO2 over their lifetime than diesels even. Retrieved December 20, 2019, from https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/electric-cars-emit-less-co2-over-their-lifetime-diesels-even-when-powered-dirtiest-electricity)
Unfortunately, electric cars did not find much support initially. The high cost of lithium-ion batteries that also have slow recharge times made many people question the expediency and practicality of such cars. Thankfully, everything is about to change. Battery size has been increased, and, most importantly, scientists have now found a cost-efficient way to increase the recharge rates and not damage the battery during the process, (Davis, N. (2019, October 30). Electric cars could be charged in 10 minutes in future, finds research. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/30/electric-cars-could-be-charged-in-10-minutes-in-future-finds-research) potentially allowing to recharge the entire battery in just 10 minutes. This is incredibly important, as it solves the chief problem many drivers had with electric cars, and will finally make them a viable alternative to conventional fuel vehicles. Many notable automobile manufacturers, like Volvo, have been considering to make a complete switch to electric cars, and the active research aimed at increasing the efficiency of electric car batteries is bound to draw more companies in.
Perhaps in the future we will see entire cities free of carbon emissions, roads with just electric cars on them and fossil fuel reserves left preserved. Time will tell.
non-renewable resources and their increasing **usage (WW): check the difference b/w "use" and "usage" at https://pediaa.com/difference-between-use-and-usage/
ОтветитьУдалитьThings to consider:
The thesis statement: too general
Concluding paragraph: can be improved by using one of the techniques for conclusions. Check http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conclude.html
Referencing: it is very good that you have used several resources to support your arguments but it's more common to add full reference details in the end of your work; in text you need to include the author's name and the year of publication. Here is an example: (Smith, 2017)
Content: 5
ОтветитьУдалитьOrganisation: 4
Mechanics: 5
Language: 5
Referencing: 5 (but in the future follow the pattern I've shared with you above)