Lots of people are considering buying an electric car. Even more people are examining the best way to convert a car to electric.
There is heightened interest in the electric car with today’s volatile gasoline prices. There are certainly some advantages. However, there are also a number of disadvantages, too. Before you decide one way or another, think about a few of these aspects.
Advantages of Electric Cars
1) Reduced emissions. Electric cars are “green” and do not pollute the air. Only about 15% of the gas in a regular car is used,in moving the car and the remainder of the gasoline produces heat and polluting exhaust fumes. Around 80% of the battery energy goes into moving an electric car with no exhaust gases.
Electric cars may be powered by renewable energy like solar or wind power. Most electric vehicles are recharged by means of power from electric utilities. Power plants typically have well regulated emissions and can be found well away from high population areas.
2) Cheaper Fuel Costs. Compare the expense to travel 100 miles. It may take a couple dollars worth of electricity. Your car may need $15 to $20 worth of gasoline to travel 100 miles. Gasoline prices are market driven and vary almost daily–too often increasing. Electricity prices are stable–often controlled by state utility commissions.
3) Electric Vehicles are Simpler. A typical electric motor may have 5 moving parts. A typical gas powered engine has hundreds of moving parts. The gas powered car requires a lot of control equipment to manage fuel and air flow to the engine as well as exhaust from the engine. The electric car requires additional batteries and a control system to manage charging and current to the motor.
4) Lower Cost of Maintenance. Because the gas powered car has more moving components, it needs more extensive, thus more expensive, maintenance. Electric vehicles usually need tire rotations and intermittent refills of the window washer fluid. Beyond 7 to 10 years the main maintenance will involve replacing the batteries.
Electric Car Disadvantages
1) Higher Initial Cost. Batteries are a major cost factor for electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries are employed instead of typical lead-acid batteries for their greater storage capacity which provides a greater driving range.
2) Limited Driving Range. Today’s battery technology can only store enough energy for a car to travel 50 to 100 miles before recharging. The range primarily is dependent on the type of battery, car weight, and transmission (manual or automatic). The vast majority of electric vehicles are used for local driving and are recharged at home. Some people extend their driving range by means of an auxiliary gas powered generator.
3) Limited Number of Recharging Stations. Compared to gas stations, battery recharging facilities are few indeed. Without an auxiliary generator your driving range often restricts you to local errands.
4) Battery Replacement Costs. The cost of batteries may vary from several thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars or more based on the kind and number of batteries required.
5) Time to Recharge the Batteries. You can fill up a gas powered car in just a couple of minutes. An electric vehicle may take hours to recharge. Charging time depends on several factors including the type of batteries, the controller used as well as the voltage and current available. Changing can take as little as 20 minutes or could require 8 hours or more.
Is an electric vehicle in your future? You have now got an idea about the major factors involved in making the proper decision.