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Articles summaries
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Authors and their ethos
The article by Ling et al. (2019) looks into the user experience and policy implications of the emerging mini electric cars in China. The authors of the article are Ziwen Ling, Christopher R. Cherry, and Hongtai Yang. The authors have the relevant expertise as it relates to the study topic. Ling works at Transportation Mobility Planning Division in the U.S., Cherry works at the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville while Yang works at the school of Transportation and Logistics, Southwest Jiao tong University.
The second article by Milev et al. (2020) explores the environmental and financial implications of expanding the use of electric cars. All the authors have the required expertise to carry out the research in the given topic. Two are from Nottingham Trent University, UK and one is from the University of Aberdeen, UK.
Study funding, objectives and target audience
The study by Ling et al (2019) was funded by the National Science Foundation under grant CBET-1055282. The main objective of the paper was to provide information regarding the motives for mini-EV choice and purchase, model choice, travel behavior and safety with the intention to explore key market issues for analysis and policy intervention. The research findings aimed to inform policy on standards of the mini electric vehicles, licensing and subsidy policy (Ling et al., 2019).
Milev et al., (2020) study was partially funded by Marie Sklodowska-Curie PhD Fellowship program. The objective of the study was to explore the effects of utilizing electric cars on both the environment and the financial implications. Following the global social cost for air pollution associated with combustion engines being about 3 trillion dollars per year, the study wanted to investigate if use of electric cars would results in reduced carbon emissions thus protecting the environment from pollution and also save on financial costs. The research targets policy makers and environments as it seeks to inform ways in which electric cars can be helpful in reduction of air pollution through emissions.
Rhetorical strategies
The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 34 mini electric owners in Kunming, China (Ling et al., 2019). The reason for using in-depth interviews was to get first information from mini electric vehicle users regarding their experience. The intended audience of the research is the transport regulatory authorities and policy makers. Following the adoption of mini-EV, they generated uncertainty and their classification is ambiguous. Therefore, the research sought to inform policy makers on regulation and standardization of mini-EV in China. The findings seek to inform policy domains related to transport and logistics whether the mini-EV are eligible for NEV subsidies and whether their design and performance should be standardized. Inform or shed lights on how the vehicles and drivers should be licensed.
Milev et al. (2020) study methodology is based on analysis of the common electric and conventional vehicles to estimate the amount of additional electricity that would be needed to charge that expansion. The study used Scotland as a case study and divided the study methodology into three parts; energy demand, carbon emissions and costs.
Strengths and weaknesses
A major strength of the two articles is that the researchers used tables to clearly and simply present research findings to the intended audience for easy interpretation and understanding. However, the study by Ling et al (2019) presented a weakness in its methodology. The sample size of the study is very small, which may give room for bias. The article project can be regarded as real science. It is a scientific study and adheres to the general standards of study, follows the right methods of data collection, analysis and presentation.
Study findings and relevance
The article by Ling et al. (2019) does achieve its objectives. The study found important information that would aid in policing of mini-EV in China. It provides the first detailed insight into mini-EV users’ experience and perceptions of the vehicles. The study found that the mini-EVs owned by study subjects had an average range close to 100km with a maximum speed from 40 to 60 km/h. only 40 percent of the participants had driver license and their purchase motives were mostly driven by mobility and accessibility.
Milev et al. (2020) study found that replacing all diesel and petrol light duty vehicles in Scotland with electric cars would have diverse advantages and disadvantage. A disadvantage is that demand for electricity would increase calling for increased production of electricity hence slight increase in carbon emission levels. On the contrary, the advantage is that traffic emissions will decrease significantly since there would no emissions by petrol and diesel light duty vehicles.
The different between the articles is in methodology. Ling and colleagues use in-depth interviews while Milev and colleagues use case study.
References
Milev, G., Hastings, A., & Al-Habaibeh, A. (2020). The environmental and financial implications of expanding the use of electric cars-A Case study of Scotland. Energy and Built Environment, 2(2), 204-213.