Apple vs. Tesla: Who Will Create the Better Electric Vehicle?

March 1, 2015

We all think about the new opportunities that green technology affords the United States – new jobs created in areas such as solar power, the wind turbine manufacturing industry and biodiesel fuel. But have you really thought about the industries that actually will take a hit as green technology becomes more rampant – much like the newspaper industry took a hit with the advent of the Internet?

Here are the top 10 industries that negatively will be affected by new green technologies:

1. Natural gas. Natural gas will be affected because when used in vehicles, it does not have efficiency gains related to electrification that compare with those of electric vehicles, according to a report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2010. Natural gas exploration and production also can cause methane to seep into the atmosphere, thus trapping heat that contributes to global warming. In addition, gas prices probably will continue to increase and the demand will surpass domestic supplies. As a result, more people likely will turn from natural gas.

2. Petroleum. Petroleum is seen as a major catalyst for global warming and as a cause of damage to ecosystems when spills occur, so environmental advocates are fighting against Big Oil. In addition, oil is becoming scarce and thus more expensive. Green technology researchers constantly are looking for cheaper and more efficient alternatives to petroleum.

3. Coal. The coal industry has received criticism from green supporters because coal mining has stripped lands of their life. In addition, experts say that natural gas generates half the carbon dioxide of coal, with carbon dioxide being a major greenhouse gas. More states such as California, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are placing their eyes on the renewable fuels technology industry instead of on this black rock.

4. Drilling Companies. Along with the push for the decline in fossil fuels should come a decrease in work for drilling companies. These businesses design, construct and launch tools used in the fossil fuel industries such as drilling rigs. The demand for these types of industry items could lessen if experts who have predicted this year that the use of fossil fuels is expected to decline are correct.

5. Service Stations. Because renewable energy sources are being promoted as viable alternatives to natural gas, gas stations quickly could be replaced by electric vehicle charging stations. Experts and consumers say that natural gas industry stations are expensive and that electric vehicles are a worthy option to consider in its place.

6. Utilities. According to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2006, electricity generation is the “single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.” For this reason, more utilities are have developed plans to implement wind and solar projects over the next few years, but they have concerns regarding whether these efforts will pay off. The utilities industry is facing rising demands to spend more money to make itself more energy-efficient, while its sales continue to stay flat or decline. “Electric utilities will be hard pressed to satisfy both customers and investors over the next few years,” said William Kemp, manager of Black & Veatch ’s management consulting services.

7. Combustion Engine Manufacturers. Fuel cells are seen as a strong replacement for combustion engines because they decrease greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. In addition, they make driving more miles per gallon more possible when compared with current combustion engines and thus have a greater level of sustainability, so the demand in this green technology industry is promising.

8. Car industry. Although the vehicle industry is joining the green movement, producing hybrid and electric vehicles, most car buyers simply are not ready to buy them, experts said last year. Plug-in cars force consumers to change their driving habits, while price is still a major deterrent for many drivers. Hybrid and plug-in cars are expected to make up less than 10 percent of new vehicle sales through 2016, based on market research, so investing in the green technology industry might not pay off for a while in the car industry.

9. Landfills. The garbage industry in the United States is huge, worth an estimated $52 billion a year. Essentially, landfill companies are turning garbage into gold, but with more emphasis being placed on recycling and on sending less trash to landfills, this industry could take a financial hit.

10. Logging companies. These companies make their profits by cutting trees – in some cases, trimming those with the highest values and leaving behind those with the lowest values. However, as more people become green-minded and fight deforestation, the logging industry just might have its hands tied in the future.

U.S. Green Technology was established in January of 2009. U.S. Green Technology‘s mission is to share news and information about the latest advancements in green technologies and green jobs. U.S. Green Technology‘s areas of coverage include providing information on green social media campaigns, changes in green business, spread of the green movement throughout entertainment, green technological invention, new green start-ups, green manufacturing, green building, and green jobs. U.S. Green Technology recently launched a new free business directory for companies to promote their products and services. U.S. Green Technology also offers a green jobs board, powered by Simply Hired. for employers to post green jobs for job seekers interested in careers in the green jobs industries such as clean energy, renewable fuels, information technology. green building and green transportation .

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