There was a time when our city streets sounded like this:
Today, they sound like this:
But what will the streets of tomorrow sound like?
it's only a matter of time
before the internal combustion engine sputters out for good.
This is 'What If,'
and here's what would happen if all cars went electric.
In 2017, carbon dioxide emissions in the United States
were the lowest they've been since 1992.
But at 5.1 billion metric tonnes,
there's plenty of room for improvement.
With fossil-fuel cars and trucks accounting for nearly
30% of America's carbon emissions,
scientists, experts, and innovators have shown that electric is the way to go.
Electric cars are 4 times more efficient than gas-powered vehicles.
That means that if everyone in the United States made the switch,
the country's carbondioxide emissions would immediately drop by 8.4%.
Admittedly, this wouldn't be an easy transition, since today's electric cars are, on average,
$20,000 more expensive than most other cars on the lot.
A country full of electric cars would see the demand for electricity jump by about 29%.
But with more than half of American electricity being produced by fossil fuels,
would the change even be worth it?
It seems like it.
In recent years, the United States has been turning towards
more renewable energy sources to produce electricity.
And it looks like electric cars are going to become more convenient.
Car companies like Chevy, Nissan, and Tesla
are set to reveal long-range electric models for an affordable $30,000.
With everyone driving electric, greenhouse gases would go down,
while green energy and green jobs would go up.
Even today, solar panel sales are doubling nearly every year.
Not to mention, 50,000 Americans die prematurely every year
from illnesses caused by car emissions,
millions in healthcare costs could be saved by the electric car.
But while all this may sound too good to be true,
this 'What If?' might actually be closer to 'When?'
Electric car sales appear to be growing by 60% every year.
Ford's Model T showed a similar growth rate around the time the car overtook the horse.
So buckle up and hold on tight because the future is coming up fast.
In time, we'll see what the road of discovery has to offer,