Electric Cars
In numerous cities across the country, the personal automobile is the
single
greatest polluter, as emissions from million of vehicles on the road
add up. Car
pollution is one of the biggest polluters the solution is to have
much more
efficient vehicles that produce fewer emissions with every mile. So
what would
be the best thing for cars to run off of in the future? Electric
vehicles are
the answer to this problem. Electric vehicles or EVs, are
vehicles that are
powered by an electric motor instead of an internal
combustion engine
(Frequently). EVs use electricity as the "fuel" instead of
gasoline or
some other combustible fuel. The power for the vehicle is stored
in many large
batteries in the bottom of the car, then from there the power
goes to a power
regulator where it is changed from DC power to AC power. The
engine only has one
moving part, which send the power directly to the wheels.
Therefore it does all
the primary functions of a gas engine with no
emissions. (Automobile) With
technology like this one might guess who is
going to jump on the electric
vehicle bandwagon right away. The major auto
manufactures are producing
high-performance electric vehicles, such as
General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and
many foreign companies as well, in a wide
range of style and sizes. They include
passenger cars, mini-vans, sport
utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Also there
are some as small as bicycles
and motor scooters and as big as busses.
(Frequently) The EV is
environmentally friendly (Automobile). Electric vehicles
are today's
zero-emission vehicles (Technology). The EV releases no pollutant
because it
has no tailpipe. Therefore, making it safe for the environment.
Instead
of gas stations, EVs get their "fuel" from electric power
stations. An
electric powered engine has many has many benefits over a gas
engine in the
comfort department as well. EVs offer a quiet fume-free, smooth
driving
experience. Since the motor does not operate when the vehicle is at a
stop,
an EV has no "idle" noises (Frequently). EVs provide fast
acceleration by
delivering power instantly to the wheels by providing high
torque at low
speeds, they give a feel of smooth and quick responsiveness
(Technology).
Well-designed EVs like those produced by major auto companies,
travel at
speeds equivalent to conventional vehicles and offer all the same
safety and
high-speed performance features. The EV also has low operating costs.
The
per-mile fuel cost of operating an EV can be less than one-third that of
a
gasoline-powered car (Frequently). EV owners also say goodbye to many
familiar
maintenance costs, no more tune-ups, oil changes or muffler
replacements
(Technology). Another advantage of an EV is the convince of no
gas stations. EV
drivers like that "refueling" can be done overnight, easily
and safely
at home or at public locations like shopping centers, where
electric charging
units have been installed. Electric vehicles are very safe.
The EVs produced by
major companies meet all safety requirements. As the EV
becomes more popular the
safety record is being safety monitored. To date,
findings are positive and have
shown that numerous EV vehicles maximize
safety. For example EVs have lower
center of gravity that makes them less
likely to roll over. EVs have also less
potential for major fires or
explosions. And the body construction and
durability of EVs enhance the
vehicle safety in an accident (Technology). A
question that many people ask
is "where and how can I buy or lease an EV?"
The dealerships selling EVs
are limited at this time, because the industry is
just beginning to emerge.
As EVs become more popular, the network of EV
dealerships that sell and
service EVs will grow. Several major auto companies
are now making EVs
available on a lease basis so that customers will not have to
worry about
maintenance and so that they can minimize the risk associated with
the
purchase of new technology (Technology). Prices for the first EVs from
the
major auto manufactures range from the low $30,000's to mid $40,000's
for
purchase, or from $399 per month on up for lease (Frequently). EVs are
also
expected to have lower routine maintenance costs, since they have fewer
moving
parts that internal combustion engines, and don't require tune-ups or
oil
changes, but some EVs require battery pack replacements. With all the
pollution
from factories, homes, and automobiles the days of clear skies may
be limited.
With all the new technology that has come about on electric
vehicles we will cut
back on pollution in leaps and bounds. We all saw movies
about cars from the
future and thought they would run on electric and fly,
well we might not see
cars flying for some time yet but now we are seeing the
electric car coming out
of the movies and into real
life
Bibliography
"Automobile Emmisions: An Overview". Office of
mobile Sources (20
July 1998). http://www.epa.gov/oms/05-auto.htm (12
Dec. 1999) "Frequently
Asked Questions About EVs". Electric Vehicle
Association of America (1997).
http://www.dnai.com/-ev/vehicle/faq4.html (12
Dec. 1999) "The
Technology". Alternative Energy and transportation Site
(1999). http://members.tripod.com/-water_engine/intro.html
(13 Dec. 1999)