New Jersey is in the middle of a big debate that could change how we get around. The state government, led by Gov. Phil Murphy, wants to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. Some folks love his idea, saying it’s great for the environment, while others aren’t so sure, especially in the business world. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of this plan, talking about how it affects the environment, the worries about infrastructure and whether electric cars are the solution for everyone. We’ll also zoom out and see how this connects to what’s happening worldwide with CO2 emissions and the challenges electric cars face in New Jersey.
The climate challenge – the main reason behind Murphy’s plan is to tackle climate change. Transportation is a big culprit when it comes to releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In fact, in 2020, transportation accounted for 37% of New Jersey’s emissions. As the world sees more and more CO2 going into the air, New Jersey wants to cut down on emissions from cars.
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A transition to electric vehicles, EVs, is problematic and will bring uncharted consequences.
A less hurried CO2-reduction mandate would open us up to potentially better solutions.
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China, India and CO2’s role – Some folks argue that New Jersey’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions might not mean much when you look at the bigger picture. China and India, two of the world’s most populated countries, are continuing to build new coal-fired power plants, a big CO2 producer. So, the question is, should New Jersey keep trying to cut CO2 emissions when others are doing the opposite? Clearly, New Jersey has in mind to set an example for others to follow, showing that it’s committed not to just cleaner energy, but non-CO2 emissions.
Considering the challenges posed by global CO2 emissions, some people say we should change our focus. Instead of just trying to cut emissions, shouldn’t we also be thinking about dealing with the effects of climate change, like rising sea levels? That’s a big deal for coastal areas like New Jersey and Cape May County. It might make sense to start planning for the issues climate change will bring and figuring out how to adapt.
In reality, we don’t have to choose between cutting emissions and adapting to climate change. Doing both could give us a better shot at dealing with the challenges ahead.
Electric cars and charging – how does all of this tie in with electric cars? Well, Murphy’s plan relies on more and more people driving electric vehicles. EVs could help reduce emissions from transportation, but there are some bumps in the road. There is the problem of when people charge their EVs. Most folks do it at home. However, in the cities, many don’t park at night next to their homes, nor are they allowed to leave their cars at the charger more than a couple of hours, meaning they may have to get up in the middle of the night to move their cars, thus making automobile ownership impractical for them. As a consequence, cities will have to improve public transportation.
Most charging is done at night when solar power is not available. That begs the question, should we be seeking other clean sources of energy, such as nuclear, clean hydrogen, etc.? Some say we need to manufacture huge batteries to store wind and solar energy. Critics say this is environmentally hazardous.
Any reliance on a large amount of electricity will require significantly upgrading our infrastructure.
Let’s turn to the cost of green energy. In some places, like Germany, electricity is pretty expensive, burdening family budgets, as well as making it harder for industry to be competitive.
To recap, New Jersey’s plan to phase out gasoline cars is a big move towards cutting down on greenhouse gases and tackling climate change. Some people support it, while others disagree.
It’s a thorny journey ahead, but it’s one that the New Jersey governor believes is essential. Whether you believe we’re in a climate crisis or not, given Cape May County’s location by the ocean it’s vital that we get this right.
Major changes like mandating electric cars frequently have unforeseen consequences. Some are: The high cost of electricity at night when wind and solar power is not available; the need for major infrastructural upgrading for delivery of large amounts of power; and charger proximity and availability issues. These difficulties and costs will unavoidably reduce mobility. Cape May County’s economy has come to rely upon millions of people visiting us. The EV car mandate will become burdensome to many and they will be forced to rely on public transportation and as in our earlier decades, we will see far fewer visitors.
Before we close, let us consider a question for later: The New Jersey government has determined that CO2-producing automobiles create harm and must go away. OK, but why did it not stop there? Why did it overstep and mandate a specific solution – electric cars? It is possible that there might potentially be a better solution to the CO2 problem, a solution without the substantial expense and difficulties associated with electric cars.
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From the Bible: Who is wise and understanding among you? By good conduct, let that person show their works in the meekness of wisdom. From James 3
