Electric vehicles (or EVs) use electric motors to drive their wheels and are ‘fuelled’ by energy from rechargeable batteries. These cars are plugged-in to the electrical grid via a standard or specialised outlet in your garage. EVs get enough charge for driving the next day and can also take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity in some countries. Many EV drivers opt to cover their garage roof with solar cells, for about 3000US$, charge up batteries in their garage during the day and then recharge the car at night for a truly eco-friendly way to drive.
EVs do not have gasoline or diesel engines, nor are they hybrids; the cars run strictly on electricity. After considering the greenhouse gases created from the electricity source used to charge the batteries, the cars themselves actually produce zero greenhouse gas and zero pollution as they travel.
Electric cars are perfect commuter vehicles - almost 90% of commuter trips carry only one or two people.
Another advantage of electrically powered automobiles, compared to gas and gas/hybrid autos, are lower running costs, less mechanical complexity, no emissions testing, no need for major engine services (no need to change spark plugs, oil/air filters and no engine oil change either) - good news for the environment and the wallet.
Over the last ten years there have been significant advances made in the design, manufacture and usefulness, or ‘driveability’ of electric cars. EV use is becoming more widespread and they are a great way to travel independently in cities and over short distances of around 40-60kms. Electric cars are perfect commuter vehicles, particularly since almost 90% of commuter trips carry only one or two people.
Apart from zero pollution when driving, drivers have the satisfaction of paying a fraction of the running cost of gasoline and diesel powered cars. You will cut your greenhouse gas and CO2 by over 60% by driving electric cars charged from the grid, even more if you put solar power on your garage to recharge your EV. Perhaps it is time to consider purchasing one of the great, pollution-free, greenhouse gas-free EVs. Electric vehicles now range from the small and sassy to the downright sexy – truly there is something for everyone in the EV market.
Resources
Cloud EV: http://www.cloudelectric.com/
EV Vehicles of America: http://www.ev-america.com/
EV World: http://www.evworld.com/
Freedom From Oil: http://www.freedomfromoil.org/
GEM: http://www.gemcar.com/
Her Electric Vehicle: http://www.herelectricvehicle.com/
Plug in America: http://www.pluginamerica.com/
Vancouver Electric Car Association: http://www.veva.bc.ca/
Zap: http://www.zapworld.com/
Green Pages
The Automotive X Prize is the race to build a car that gets 100 mpg and outputs less than 200 g/mi of greenhouse gases, while also kicking our oil addiction to the curb. The ultimate green clean machine must also win a race to take the multi-million dollar prize. Nothing drives innovation and discovery more than competition. The winning car also has to be ready to be mass-manufactured at a reasonable price: http://auto.xprize.org/
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