Li 1

Persuasive Speech: Electric Vehicles

Xiang Li (Melissa)
Speech 1
Professor Haley
November 23, 2014
Specific Purpose Statement: To persuade my audience that electric vehicles are worthwhile
alternatives to fossil-fuel vehicles.
Introduction:
Attention Getter: Electricity has been applied to every aspect of our daily life. We need lamps
to light up in the dark and electric motor can translate electric energy into every industries, no
except automobile field. Electric vehicle is one of the developing electric-applied product.
Claim: Electric vehicle has the potential to become main transportation tool in the United States.
Significant: The United States must stand out from the oil dependency. The current shortage of
oil will tie the U.S. on to other foreign countries where we import oil from. Eventually the
dependency will result in terrible consequence if people do not have any alternative energy to
replace.
Preview: Today I will discuss the value of electric vehicles and its potential to become the main
transportation tool in the United States. I will also explain the convenience that electric vehicles
can bring to our daily life.
Body:
I. In the past people had never thought that electric vehicles can be used in daily life as a
transportation because of the high price and unsteady strcture when it first came out at 1881
as a luxury goods. However it is no longer true.
A. The battery price of electric vehicle really drives the economic. For example,
according to Ford CEO Alan Mulally, the electric batteries form Ford cost $12,000 to
$15,000 on average, which makes almost half of the car price. In article the clean
energy economy in three charts written by Dan Utech, the cost of electric vehicle
batteries has dropped by 50 percent and it will keep dropping, which make the
downward tendency of electric vehicle price.
B. Besides, the increasing technology would lower the cost and also produce more
efficient vehicle. In the article As battery prices drop, will electric cars finally catch
on published on Washington Post by Brad Plumer, the cost of $600 per kilowatt-hour
today can be reduced to $200/kwh in 2020 and $150/kwh in 2025, which made a
totally difference in the entire automobile industry. However, even electric energy
cost same as gas, there are still a huge amount money can be saved when drive an
electric vehicle. A contrast from department of energy and the environment protection
agency shows that 75% of energy stored in an electric cars can be translated to run the
vehicle while only 20% of energy stored in conventional cars are actually used.
Therefore the inherent efficient electric vehicles has the total take the advantages.

Li 2

Argument Theres not enough charging station.

Counter-Argument From Ebsco Host database, an essay 8 states teaming up support
electric cars written by Matthew Wald reported that there are 8 states including
California and New York in the United States are now teaming up to support Electric
cars. The biggest obstacles to owning an electric cars, the underdevelopment network
of charging stations, is going be removed because they are building up more public
charging stations and workplace and family residency may be required to install
chargers.
Internal Summary/Preview: Since the development in electric vehicles made it competitive
with regular fossil cars, we will now look at the potential in this field that electric vehicle would
eventually become the preference or people.
II. Most of the time people ignore the long term benefit but only focus on the short term cost.
Electric vehicles seems to cost more when people purchase but these money would easily to
be earned back. In a long term, electric vehicles will save much more cash and energy than
conventional car cost.
A. (visual aid/ compare of electric car can conventional cars) Electric vehicles has a
slightly $3000-5000 higher price than middle class conventional vehicles. However
after the calculating we can conclude that, deduct the difference in the initial price,
we can still save at least 30 dollar if you pay for a 60-month car loan and save more
than $100 each month after that.
B. Besides, in the 2011 State of the Union address, U.S. President Barack
Obama encouraged people to reduce dependence on oil, a onetime use source that
facing the shortage in the earth. According to the article the clean energy economy in
three charts written by Dan Utech, the expect import reduce on oil in 2025 would be
2.2 million barrels per day and reduce CO2 emission by 6 billion metric tons.
Argument Electric vehicles use less fuel but producing them still pollute waste. They
cancel out the effort therefore there is no help to reducing global warming by driving
electric vehicles.
Counter-Argument The green action we do now such as using LED lights and reduce Air
conditioner usage cannot directly reduce global warming. However, we should do as much
as we can.
Internal Summary/Preview: Now that we have learn the values of electric vehicles and also the
potential to become the main transportation of United Stated, lets now see what else benefit can
electric vehicles bring to us.
III. Electric vehicles can not only save money and reduce the environment pollution, they can
also increase the country economy by saleing outside of the country and provide
convenience for college students.
A. The increasing sales would bring up the unemployment rate and increase the
economic. In the article electric vehicles are worthwhile alternatives to fossil fuel

Li 3

vehicles on opposing viewpoints, Nissan sold out the preorder waiting list of all
electric Leaf sedan in 2010 and it is expected to be sold nationwide.
B. As a city college student now, our needs of transportation is barely go to school,
work and weekend event. However if we plan to transfer, there is different campus
parking situation. A small and chargeable vehicles can easily satisfied our need.
Besides because of the smaller space taken, it is easier to park especially when there
is a big mess in the parking lot. And also here at PCC, campus parking lot even
provides charging and parking spot for electric vehicles owners.
Argument If electric vehicles have such value and benefit, why there are still that much
conventional vehicles on the street?
Counter-Argument basically the electric vehicles has recently developed since 2008,
therefore it takes time but it will be the main transportation eventually.
Conclusion:
In review, the benefit the electric vehicles can bring to us worth the slight higher initial price
these vehicle cost. It is the suitable choice for a clean and green country.
Restate Claim: As a part of United States, we all have the responsibility to create a clean and
green environment for us and also our next generation. Our ancient left these good sources for
us, now it is the time that we devote our effort to build a better planet. And all these effort can
easily start at driving an electric vehicle.

Li 4

Work Cited
Kliesch, James. "Electric Vehicles Are Worthwhile Alternatives to Fossil-Fuel Vehicles."
Renewable Energy. Ed. David M. Haugen and Susan Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven Press,
2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Why Electric Cars Are Cleaner." Mother Earth
News 244 (Feb.-Mar. 2011): 58-64. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
One Million Electric Vehicles By 2015 Status Report. N.p.: n.p., Feb. 2011. PDF.
Plumer, Brad. "As Battery Prices Drop, Will Electric Cars Finally Catch On?" Washington Post.
The Washington Post, 22 July 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Utech, Dan. "The Clean Energy Economy in Three Charts." Executive Office of the President. 06
Jan. 2014: n.p. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
Wald, Matthew L. "8 States Teaming Up to Support Electric Cars." New York Times. 25 Oct.
2013: p. B.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.