ActGreen Case Study
What is the most efficient car?
ActGreen is a business council that focuses on the environmental sustainability aspect of businesses and what changes we can make to reduct our impact on the planet. This is a topic that I hold incredibly important because if we don't take care of the Earth, there will be no Earth, which means there will be no us. For more information about this organization, here's our website:
So, this fall, one of the main projects this council has been working on has been a case study about determining the most efficient car in terms of price and environmental impact. This has been quite the controversial topic among many for a plethora of reasons, but our group went with the hard facts when coming to our decision. Our decision tree was as follows:
After analyzing these aspects individually (which you can see the whole presentation with this link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RKH9xvhO4F6wg2B2f00Wx8Ws8sp9PWmyDDA_LMmYbBA/edit?usp=sharing), we came to the conclusion that the best choice was the electric car. Despite higher initial costs, in the long run electric vehicles are cheaper due to government subsidies, cheaper fuel costs, and less maintenance. Electric motors are environmentally friendlier than internal combustion engines because they do not directly emit carbon into the atmosphere and the batteries can be recycled at the end of their lifespan. Although much of the production process of Li-Ion batteries and electricity requires coal and natural gas, their recyclability makes them a viable option. As renewable energy becomes more economically feasible, the process for creating these batteries will become even more sustainable. Similarly, electric cars can help to lower the overall noise pollution of highways due to their quieter engines. Electric cars are the best option for the consumer, planet, and producer.
Through this project I was able to develop my case study development skills as well as presentation skills. It allowed me to connect what I learned with my partners through research to how this information could be used and presented in a business setting. All in all, this project was a great way to kick off my first semester as a member of this organization and I cannot wait to see where it takes me!
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