Electric Cars: Plug in Today!
Electric Cars: Plug in Today!
Call it an electric vehicle (EV) or call it a battery electric vehicle (BEV), but a rose by any other name would still smell sweet if it utilized green technology. Electric cars flourished in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but limitations like low top speeds helped seal their fate. Advances in manufacturing processes of internal combustion engines, the starter motor, increased mileage ranges, and cheaper gasoline production methods all helped to nudge electric cars off the road. Of course there are those who say that big oil was behind the defeat of electric cars. There has been some credence given to these sorts of claims by the fact that GM had developed an electric cars in the 1980′s only to have it shelved after pressure from oil companies. With emissions from 600 million vehicles contributing to global warming, hybrid electric cars are the probably the next best alternative we have. Yet companies like Tesla have put pure electric cars back on the map. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they are a pleasure to ride. As time goes on more and more car companies will move first to hybrids, but then ultimately to fully electric cars.
Where are all those electric cars?
A completely electric car doesn’t yet exist for mainstream commercial use. There is a neighborhood class of electric cars, or personal electric vehicles (PEVs). While the battery can recharge overnight while you sleep, a 30 to 40 mile range isn’t likely to sit well even with the little ole’ lady from Pasadena.
What about Hybrid Electric Cars?
The practical solution for now is electric hybrids that utilize two fuel sources. Gasoline-electric cars are a cross between a gasoline-powered car and an electric car, and a mild electric hybrid has enhanced performance as a first priority and fuel economy second.
The Chevrolet Volt, scheduled for production in 2010, is an extended-range electric hybrid car that will use gas or E85 ethanol. Its battery can be recharged while driving, and its estimated driving range is 640 miles. A full electric hybrid pursues optimal fuel economy, and cars like the Toyota Prius Hybrid and the Honda Civic Hybrid fall within this latter category. Since all electric hybrids use some gasoline, it is a compromise, but reduced emissions and minimized shortcomings of the electric car are a start, yet far from the ideal vision of a complete clean fuel car.
Hybrid electric cars also allow for the transition in terms of infrastructure to fully electric propulsion system. Hybrids just might be around until enough electric and /or battery stations are around in order to keep charging the fleet of electric cars. Ultimately as new sources for primary energy (like wind and solar) come on board a greater incentive for manufacturers and consumers to develop and buy pure electric cars may in fact occur. One can only hope as the world faces dire predictions of peak oil and global warming that these vehicles and infrastructure can be developed and built quickly and inexpensively.
Andrew Beckers writes about information important to humanity. Learn more about electric cars.
Used or Electric?
Used or Electric?
Instead, many of us are opting to go with a gently used car or even something more futuristic such as an electric car. There are all sorts of reasons why choosing an electric car over a used car might sound appealing. For starters, when you purchase an electric car, the idea is that you will not only be doing your fellow man and earth a huge favor in terms of emissions; but you will also be saving yourself countless amounts of money at the gas pumps since the fuel will be “rechargeable”.
However, despite the many perks and overall appeal of the electric car, how much better is it really than a used car…if at all? As it turns out, there have been numerous studies done on whether or not electric cars are any better or worse than purchasing a used car and it seems as if the general consensus for the time being is that buying a used car is still preferable. While buying an electric car and not having to worry about pumping gasoline may seem nice, there is still a huge cost factor involved for a fairly recent technology. Purchasing an electric car isn’t for everyone. For those like myself who travel long distances fairly frequently and have to do a lot of highway driving, an electric car may not always be feasible. Sure, you don’t have to worry about pumping gas, but what you do have to worry about is where you are going to rest and re-charge your batteries.
There are some models of vehicles in which they use both electricity as well as regular fuel. However, the price tag on such a vehicle is well out of the ball park of what many of us are willing to pay out of pocket- especially when the idea is to try to cut costs on vehicle expenses. And then of course, there is the issue of repairs. When purchasing an electric car, will you be restricted to always taking it to a certified dealership-one that is familiar with the technology used to create your vehicle? What about a regular mechanic? What if you are on the road and your car breaks down? What then? These are certainly just a few examples of questions that you are going to want to find out the answers to before any sort of a purchase is made.
I think that in a few years, electric cars would have gone through a smattering of tests and more people would have driven them to figure out all of the problems and smooth out the kinks. Then, they might also come down in price, and more regular mechanics would have had a little more exposure and perhaps experience in treating any problems that may pop up. However, until then, it seems as if purchasing a used car is the way to go when you are trying to save money on a vehicle. You don’t have to break the bank to find a good car, and most used cars (especially ones that are certified) typically don’t give off any more emissions than a hybrid.
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