Most Americans have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in one way or another, some of us in different ways, but many of us the same. Job loss, financial insecurity, adjusting to statewide lockdowns and reopening, and the changing of our daily routines entirely are just a small fraction of the ways Coronavirus has created a "new normal." While every American's health and safety should be of top priority, the lingering idea of a struggling economy and job market is understandably stressful. Although economically bouncing back from the global pandemic will undoubtedly be multi-faceted, there is one industry with an upside as we push toward the light at the end of the tunnel: electric vehicles.
When it comes to the environment, COVID-19 has continuously highlighted the impact that human activity has on emissions. The noticeable difference between emissions from before and after lockdowns, which led to a significant decrease in cars on the road, simultaneously emphasizes how great an effect driving internal combustion engine cars has on the environment and how the broad adoption of electric vehicles serves to decrease emissions drastically. While there exists a significant amount of work to be done to reduce emissions and combat climate change, electric cars also exist as a much needed economic remedy for the United States in a post-pandemic world.
As reported by Forbes[1], "The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact across the economy, and the automotive sector is no exception…There is one bright spot, though, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which says that the number of electric cars on the road will reach almost 10 million this year, with sales of electric vehicles (EVs) set to buck the trend of declining sales in internal combustion engine cars and broadly match the 2.1 million sold in 2019." Aside from pollution, benefits of electric vehicles namely, include an increase in the nation's dependence on domestic energy sources rather than on importing foreign oil to fuel traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles and a decrease in fuel costs over time.
Most importantly, though, the EV industry supports American manufacturing and jobs. When it comes to fully electric vehicles, roughly 90 percent are assembled in the United States annually[2]. As the shift to EVs will result in prosperous new industries and employment opportunities, federal and state policies providing support through education and re-training also allow for a successful change among those currently employed to work with internal combustion engines[3].
As the United States predicts an EV boom to occur over the next five years, it is equally as important that the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles be American-made as well. Recent reports from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology explain that within the electric vehicle industry, 130,000-350,000 new jobs are expected to be created solely around charging infrastructure, specifically within manufacturing, construction, operation and maintenance of charging stations[4]
Livingston Energy Group prides itself on the fact that all its products are manufactured and assembled in the United States. As the nation's economy begins to reboot, Livingston Energy Group continuously works to support American jobs, recognizing that making its products in the United States promotes a healthier environment, supports fair labor and safer production methods, strengthens local economies, factors into lowering the trade deficit and most importantly keeps Americans employed and working toward a green economy.
[1] "Global Pandemic Won't Drive The Switch To Electric Cars Off Track." Mike Scott, Forbes Magazine, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikescott/2020/06/30/global-pandemic-wont-drive-the-switch--to-electric-cars-off-track/#30a680c3a425
[2] "Electric Vehicles Support U.S. Manufacturing, Jobs." The Fuse, 2018. http://energyfuse.org/electric-vehicles-support-u-s-manufacturing-jobs/
[3] "An Electrified Transport Sector Is A Huge Opportunity, If Seized Correctly." Climate Nexus, 2020. https://climatenexus.org/climate-issues/energy/ev-opportunity/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20National%20Renewable,jobs%20in%20the%20next%20decade.
[4] "Careers in Electric Vehicles." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020. https://www.bls.gov/green/electric_vehicles/#infrastructure
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