The 2021 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that greenhouse gases have already increased global temperatures by nearly two degrees Celsius (IPCC). To mitigate these impacts, there is an urgent need for fossil fuel alternatives in transportation. Emerging in response are electric vehicles (EVs), the most promising and affordable replacement for their counterpart, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. These alternatives are made even more valuable by new green technology like Variablegrid’s enhanced private charging technology, which enables electrification with existing grid infrastructure.
Emissions from ICE vehicles significantly exacerbate global warming, contributing to the devastating wildfires, droughts, and rising sea levels that are already being seen globally (NASA Science). In Canada alone, light-duty vehicles account for an astonishing 12% of the nation’s overall emissions (Transport Canada). If we continue along our predicted course of fossil fuel production, increasingly widespread and severe damages will only further harm our planet, disproportionately affecting low-income communities.
Optimistically, EVs emerge as a means to achieve our IPCC goals and prevent this undesirable future. New smart EV technology like Variablegrid’s adaptive power allows for home charging, further increasing the convenience and affordability of owning an EV vehicle and instilling hope for a sustainable future anyone can get on board with. As reliance on renewable, clean energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensifies, the demand for EVs will only continue to rise, solidifying their status as the vehicle of the future.
Why EV?
The ways in which EVs could help us reach global climate goals are vast. The lifecycle of the electric vehicle produces significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than gas-powered vehicles, largely due to their use of less carbon intensive fuel (Sustainability by numbers). However, even in places where the grid is largely coal-powered, EVs maintain their position as being more environmentally friendly than ICE vehicles. According to McKinsey’s 2023 Global Energy Perspective, electric vehicles are three-to-four times more energy efficient than their ICE competitors (McKinsey).
One of the most encouraging aspects of EV is that their positive impact will only continue to grow as the electricity used to power them becomes cleaner (Arizona Technology Council). As more countries generate electricity from green energy sources, EVs’ carbon footprints will transition from low to zero. Many regions in Canada, The US, and Europe have already shifted to producing electricity primarily from sustainable sources like wind, solar and biomass. For example, British Columbia sources most of its energy from BC Hydro, which generates 98% of its energy from clean, mainly hydroelectric, sources.
In addition, Variablegrid’s innovative technology further enhances EV sustainability by providing charging solutions designed to minimize carbon footprints. Our adaptive power allows for modulated EV charging to ensure optimized use of the available power within a home’s electrical system.
Without Variablegrid’s Dynamic Load Balancing technology adjusting for peak demand, available power would go unused. This could necessitate expanding electrical infrastructure, a process that could result in billions of dollars for consumers and utilities, adding unnecessary materials to the environment, and costing homeowners between $6,000 and $35,000 (Energy Star). Multi-unit residential buildings could face costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Variablegrid aims to develop cost-effective, minimal waste home charging solutions that enable everyone to transition to EVs, recognizing the significant positive impact it can have on the planet. While owning an EV offers personal benefits such as affordable use, convenience, and superior vehicle quality, the need for EVs extends beyond the individual advantages.
Now more than ever it is crucial that we transition away from ICE vehicles and towards more sustainable alternatives. Adopting innovative solutions for residential EV charging is one feasible and crucial way we can combat climate change. When paired with EV’s enhanced affordability and decreasing environmental impact, the convenience of private charging can offer a timely solution to the climate crisis.
By Danielle Shefley