Photo credit: Rathaphon Nanthapreecha
by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
Electric vehicle sales are increasing in the United States. In 2023, 1.2 million EVs sold in the U.S. Amazingly, in California, EVs accounted for 25% of all new vehicle sales last year. EVs are good for both the ear and the air. All vehicles make noise, but EVs make less noise than cars powered by gasoline or diesel-powered engines. And, EVs don’t emit gaseous or particulate matter while they’re in use.
I see the evidence of increased sales on my daily morning walk. There are sometimes three EVs lined up at a stop sign, waiting for me to cross the street. And it’s not just Teslas anymore. I see electric Ford Mustang SUVs and a variety of European imports. The EVs make some engine and tire noise, but are much quieter than gasoline-powered vehicles when they accelerate. Most importantly, I don’t have to breathe in any exhaust, especially diesel exhaust laden with PM2.5 and PM10 — microscopic particles in air pollution.
I drive a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). To me, this type of car is the ideal transitional vehicle until the country’s EV charging grid is built out. My PHEV has a 43-mile rated EV range, which means that it rarely switches to the hybrid engine mode. I recently filled the tank before driving from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, and found that I had used just 3 gallons of gasoline driving over 3000 miles since I last filled the tank in October.
Each person who has purchased an EV or PHEV is contributing to a quieter and cleaner world, while fighting global warming and reducing fossil fuel use. Win, win, win! A quieter, cleaner and cooler world will be a better and healthier world for all.
