ELECTRIFYING VOX POP

Name:

2 E L E C T R I F Y I N G V O X P O P

IssueCars are a huge part of our everyday lives. But gas-powered cars generate a significant amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs), which contribute to climate change and affect our health. Plus, these impacts come with an unknown cost. Fortunately, sustainable mobility solutions, such as public transit, bikes, walking and electric cars, are increasingly accessible. So, various options are available, but sometimes there is just not enough information for people to make informed decisions about which mode to choose.

TaskIn the Electrifying Vox Pop activity, you’ll be comparing a Kia Soul electric car and a Kia Soul gas-powered car. More specifically, you’ll look at their energy efficiency, the amount of energy stored, the amount of energy used to travel 100 km, the energy cost and the amount of greenhouse gases they emit. You’ll then give your opinion on the subject and find out what your classmates think when you record your own Electrifying Vox Pop. [Vox pop, short for vox populi, is a journalism term for interviews with members of the general public.]

QuizTrue or False?1. Industry is the main source of greenhouse

gases in Quebec. True  False

2. All-electric cars are totally green, as they do not emit greenhouse gases. True  False

3. A gas-powered car uses more energy than an electric car to travel 100 km. True  False

4. A gas-powered car is more energy-efficient than an electric car. True  False

DiscussionDiscuss the following four questions in your team. Choose a team leader to write down the answers on a piece of paper.

1. What are three effects of car use on the environment?

2. What are three green modes of transportation?

3. Can electric cars help reduce GHG emissions in Quebec? Explain your answer.

4. Give two reasons why you would use a gas-powered car and two reasons why you would use a green mode of transportation.

PreparationA. What data do you need to calculate the amount of energy

stored in an electric car battery (energy drawn from the grid)?

B. What data do you need to calculate the energy efficiency of each of the cars?

C. What equation do you need to calculate the energy efficiency of each of the cars?

D. What data do you need to calculate the cost of the energy used by each of the cars to travel 100 km?

Electric car:

Gas-powered car:

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Data collection and calculations Videos 1 and 2A. Watch Video 1, Running on Electricity.

B. Write down the data you need to make your calculations in the table, Comparison of an Electric Car and a Gas-Powered Car.

C. Watch Video 2, Running on Gas.

D. Write down the data you need to make your calculations in the table.

E. Make your calculations in the spaces provided.

F. Indicate the difference between the answers for the two cars in the last column and circle either more or less.

G. Put some of the results in the Excel table and compare them with the results of other modes of transportation.

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6 E L E C T R I F Y I N G V O X P O P

Data collectionWatch the Le Québec roule à la puissance verte ! [Quebec—Running on green power] video and answer the following questions.

1. Which sector of the economy is the largest emitter of green-house gases (GHG) in Quebec?

2. Can electric cars help reduce GHG emissions in Quebec? Explain your answer.

3. Name two ways the government encourages people to buy electric cars.

Preparing your vox popIn the previous activity, you thought and learned about transpor-tation electrification and different modes of transportation. Now

you’re going to raise awareness about transportation and the environment. To do this, you and your team are going to film

a short vox pop to find out what your classmates or other school students think about the subject. You’ll also be giving your opinion by answering the vox pop question of another team.

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Why a vox pop?

• To find out what your classmates or other school students think about transportation electrification and sustainable mobility.

• To give you and other students a chance to express your opinion and to think about what you’re prepared to do, with regard to transportation, to reduce your GHG emissions.

So what do you have to do?

1. Prepare a question.

The question must• be short, simple and open;• get the interviewee thinking about transportation

and the environment. Examples

• Which do you think is more energy-efficient: a gas-powered car or an electric car? Why?

• If you could improve one thing about transportation in your neighbourhood, what would it be?

• Is transportation electrification a worthwhile option for Quebec? Why?

• What should we change, or improve, in Quebec to make active and collective transportation more popular than cars?

• Is electric transportation a good alternative to gas-powered cars in all countries?

Your question

2. Ask a few other students your question and record their answers using a tablet or computer.

3. Analyze their answers and pinpoint a commonly shared view.

Personal reflectionIf you had to choose to drive an electric car or a gas-powered car, which one would you opt for? Why?

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