Problem
The suggested time for answering this question is about 22 minutes. Where calculations are required, clearly show how you arrived at your answer. Where explanation or discussion is required, support your answers with relevant information and/or specific examples.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been introduced to consumers as an alternative way to reduce the environmental effects caused by use of internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. A comparison of both vehicle types can help determine whether the use of BEVs would be beneficial in the future. Where calculations are required, show your work.
• Identify THREE strategies that the federal government could implement to encourage the use of BEVs.
Assume that the fuel efficiency of the ICE vehicle is 25 miles per gallon (mpg) and that gasoline costs $3.75 per gallon (gal).
• Calculate the cost of gasoline per mile.
The charger supplies energy to the BEV battery at an average rate of 4.0 kilowatts (kW) and fully charges the BEV battery in 7.0 hours. The car will run for 100 miles on a full charge. The cost of electricity is $0.11 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
• Calculate the cost of the electricity to fully charge the battery. Assume that the battery is not charged to begin with.
• Calculate the cost of electricity per mile to drive the BEV.
• Calculate the difference in the amount of CO2 that would enter the atmosphere if both cars were driven 100 miles.
• Describe TWO economic impacts (excluding costs related to climate change resulting from CO2 emissions or the cost of gasoline at the pump) that result from an increased number of BEVs on the road.