Electric Cars: Why They are the Best Alternatives

Electric cars, as the name indicates, are vehicles that work on electricity and whose only source of power is electricity. They are also known as battery electric vehicles. The most advantageous feature of electric cars is that they are zero emission vehicles and so, do not pollute the atmosphere.

The number of parts in an electric car is also less as against other hybrid cars or cars that run on gas. The noise from electric cars is almost negligible. Basically, an electric car is made up of a simple frame, wheels, an electric motor, car battery and an electric on and off switch. The engine of the electric car is made up of a series of batteries that are attached to an on and off switch and it is in turn, attached to a motor that is electrically operated. Obviously, the electric motor drives the wheels and sets the car in motion.

The amount of electricity that goes into the motor is controlled to drive the vehicle in a controlled manner. There are solar cars available that convert solar energy into electricity. The electricity that is stored within the battery of an electric car can be generated from any source, apart from solar, like nuclear, natural gas, coal and petroleum. 

Since electric cars have a low center of gravity, the initial acceleration is quite rapid and can be handled quite easily. But, the fact of the matter is, that the lithium ion batteries used in cars are very expensive making the overall price of the car expensive and these batteries have to be replaced once in three or four years. In addition, the charging of the battery takes almost three or four hours to fully recharge and therefore needs prior planning, if the electric car is to be used for longer distances.

This also means that the batteries can be charged only from the initial point of journey because there may not be too many charging stations on the way. People also feel that the electric cars are not most suitable for driving long distances and can be nightmarish, if the car runs out of battery or in the midst of busy traffic.

Normally, an electric car offers the equivalent of twenty miles per gallon and the cost to run a mile is nearly three cents. Further more; there is no expenditure on tune ups, oil changes and the like in an electric car. So, people who are environment friendly and want to paint a greener world can opt for an electric car.

The choice would not only be appreciated by others but it would also fill the pocket of the owner because it saves a lot of fuel in the long run. Even though man affords to purchase oil what with soaring oil prices, oil is a depleting natural resource and it is our duty to save this resource for our future generations.

Visit http://www.electricvehiclescenter.info for a detailed analysis of electric vehicles and various models available in the market.

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Nissan unveils all-electric Leaf car

networkworld asked:


The Nissan Leaf is powered by Lithium Ion batteries and due to be launched in Japan, the US and Europe in late 2010. It also includes advanced IT systems. … nissan “nissan leaf” “electric car” “electric vehicle” “lithium ion” auto car 日産リーフ leaf

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Disadvantages of Electric Cars

George Christodoulou asked:


With all the current emphasis on going “green” and protecting the environment, it is no wonder that the electric car has come center focus. Especially now with soaring gas prices, consumers want to know their options. Traditional gas powered vehicles have long been the focus of those concerned with environmental issues, and so invariably inventors and car manufacturers look to improve the technologies available on the electric car.

If you are considering the purchase of an electric car, you need to be realistic about their benefits. They’ve come a long way recently but they still have some significant disadvantages, and there are still limitations to their use and wide spread availability. Here are some disadvantages you may want to consider when evaluating if an electric car is feasible for your transportation needs:

1. Electric cars are expensive to own. If you’ve checked into the price of an electric car, you know they are not “low end”. It’s not so much the price of the car as it is the price of the batteries which they run on. If you’ve purchased batteries you know how the costs can add up quickly, and the batteries used in electric cars are lithium-ion, which are expensive. Also keep in mind that eventually the battery packs will need to be replaced, as they have a life of approximately 3 to 4 years.

2. The batteries will need to be recharged. A second disadvantage to an electric car is that the batteries will need to be recharged. This will require advanced planning because you’ll have to allow adequate time for the batteries to be fully charged. Now this might not sound like that big of a problem but if you are thinking of purchasing an electric car then you will need to make an honest assessment of how much you will use your vehicle. An extended or unplanned trip could be problematic if you haven’t had time to fully recharge the batteries.

3. Limits on driving distance. If you drive long distances, an electric car might not suit your needs, so you will need to consider how far you plan on driving your car. Most of the electric cars have limits on how many miles they can go before needing a recharge. Electric car maker ZAP recently announced that their electric car could travel up to 100 miles per single charge, but many people drive more miles than that round trip on a daily commute to work. This is definitely a limitation for those who intend to use the vehicle for getting to and from their place of employment. You certainly would not want to run out of batteries if you got stuck in a rush hour traffic jam.

4. Lack of power. Another disadvantage to the electric car is the lack of power, specifically quick pickup. If you do a lot of interstate driving there are going to be times when you will need to accelerate quickly to merge into traffic.

Electric cars have come a long way in recent years but still have to overcome a few more obstacles before becoming widely embraced as a solution for many consumers.

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What type of electric car would you buy?

irishinvenice asked:


Now that many of the big manufacturers are planning plug-in electric cars for 2010, what type of electric car would you buy?

Consider that and electric SUV would be powered by lithium ion batteries like a sedan.

I would probably stick with a sedan as I wouldn’t need anything bigger.

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