OK, so i watched "Who Stole the Electric Car" recently, this is a fresh wound but it needs mending. I remeber my older sister tried building an electric car in the garage one winter while my brother and I laughed. A solar one at that. I do beleive these cars are a gateway to much cleaner energy and automotive sectors, so the article is biased towards that.
While not so new really, Electric Cars wikipedia look are definitely a better choice for most peoples' daily. Unless you are hauling a heavy trailer, a heavy load or need heavy drugs to get by, electric motors will move your vehicle with amazing efficiency. Especially when you figure in the lack of every cars' heaviest passenger, the internal combustion engine. How they work. Electric cars or plug in's as they are also refered to as, offer us many advantages some of which i have listed below.
1. Less weight of engine and steel frame needed to carry said heavy engine=less energy needed to move entire car.
2. Less $ to operate.
3. Charging in evening when electricity use is at lowest point.
4. Emissions are from electricty generation only. (could be solar, wind etc.) Cogent but rantful look at actual footprint of electric cars.
5. Smaller and easier to park.
6. Quieter.
7. Large scale use would balance out the power grid and lead to innovation in the whole sector.
Some points I have considered
1. Short trips because of batteries running out of char
Tesla Motors has developed the latest battery technology, a bit about it - here. While battery technology is improving, a gas generator can be installed in your trunk and batteries can be plugged in at begining of long trip.
2. Slow and whimpy
Slow & Whimpy? Do you still think so?
3. Electricity grid can't handle it
Batteries charge at night for the most part, smoothing grid demand. Slow de-centralizing of power generation with grid tied home solar and wind is a trend, and an article announcing PG&E's intention to buy used vehicle batteries to further help smooth grid and capture more electricity is here. Read this
MIT has done some research and developed a model for electric city cars, with inovative baggage cart concept, something akin to the free bikes projects in college towns, only they're not bikes and they're not free. Boston Globe article here, check the interactive graphic for photos.
There is even a company called left coast conversions that will trasnform your internal combustion car to electric. Spendy now, but soon this will be a great business oportunity for any mehcanic who feels inclined!
Comming soon, Electricity for the next Generation!
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