Why Not Buy An Electric Vehicle?
Many people don’t realize that electric vehicles have been around since the early 1900’s and when they were first introduced they were serious competitors with the steam and combustible engine vehicles of their day (
Anderson).
Experimenting with EV (electric vehicle) technology took a back seat with the onset of the depression and then World War II; and with the prosperous post-war economy, Americans were not focused on saving energy.
In the 1950’s, the
U.S. interstate highway system was created and electric cars could not meet the needs of distance travelers, especially since oil and gasoline were so abundant and inexpensive at the time.
It wasn’t until after the mid 20th century that people began to think about electric cars again as a possible solution to the growing concern over air quality, then again around the new millennium when air pollution’s role in global warming became evident (
Anderson).
Recently, the oil crisis and more federal money made available to sponsor EV and hybrid technology research has brought the long awaited arrival of electric cars being produced and sold by major automobile makers and purchased and driven by the general public – a present day reality.
Despite the many profound technological advances in EV technology, many people are still hesitant to invest in an electric car. Meanwhile, the hybrid vehicle, a seemingly more marketable option, has become a growing trend. Electric vehicles do have a following, however. Some forward thinking consumers who have the environment’s best interest in mind have gone electric and the concept has been catching on across the U.S. and even more so in other countries round the world, primarily in Europe. Despite the myths, the electric car is an up-and-coming, feasible alternative to the gas-powered vehicle. Unbeknownst to most American consumers, there are many advantages of owning a modern electric vehicle including their contribution to a healthier planet, convenience, overall cost effectiveness, and even great style – definitely an option worth serious consideration when shopping for a new vehicle these days.
Perhaps the biggest argument against EV technology has been the convenience factor, including limited range and power and the lack of an infrastructure that supports the public’s access to charging an EV battery. Admittedly, the biggest challenge facing the EV industry has always been the limited distance some electric cars can be driven before their batteries need to be recharged, compared to gasoline-powered cars and even hybrid vehicles that only need a fill-up once or twice a week. Commuter cars such as the Honda Civic can go for an average of about 330 miles before the gas tank hits the empty mark (2011 Honda), and the Chevy Aveo can go for about 350 miles (2011 Chevy). While it’s true that Nissan’s new EV, the LEAF, requires recharging after traveling about 100 miles (Nissan), the cost to charge its battery three or four times to travel the same 350 miles would still only be a fraction of the price of the gas, and can be as simple as plugging in overnight while everyone is asleep, just like a cell phone. Some high end EV models, such as the Tesla Roadster, can go for 245 miles per charge (“Go Electric”).
Europe is the leader in providing infrastructure to support electric vehicles so far (Williams), but the idea is catching on here in
America too.
In Houston, Texas, for instance, NRG Energy recently introduced a network of 150 public charging stations at various retail and business locations throughout the city and suburbs (Knepp).
People can top off while shopping at Walgreens or Best Buy.
A third of the stations are capable of fully charging an EV in 30 minutes.
Others may choose to charge up while at work.
NRG Energy is offering its customers a deal – for just $49 per month, on a 3-year contract, the company will provide a 240-volt home charging station plus unlimited access to network stations and includes unlimited electricity (Knepp).
In
Michigan, over 5,300 charging stations will be installed, some solar powered, with the release of the new Chevy Volt; and Chevy plans to open 1,500 new charging stations at Chevy dealerships across the U.S (“
Michigan”).
With other cities across the country following in their footsteps, a more solid infrastructure is on its way.
Unlike a gas-powered vehicle, the battery in an electric car is the sole source of power for all of the EV functions including heating, cooling, and driving, and many people would argue that a gas-powered engine has more power. However, current electric cars use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries which are fully capable of keeping a car moving at highway speeds while maintaining the right temperature and providing all the power needed for the same modern conveniences a gas-powered car offers (“Electric”). The batteries used in today’s electric cars are more compact and lightweight, more powerful, and very efficient. In fact, each cell is about the size of a 5” x 7” photo frame, weighs less than 1 pound, and stores up to twice the power of a similarly sized nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery used in a hybrid vehicle (2011 Chevy). Chevy’s Web site states that “Li-ion is superior in terms of power density, energy density, and cycle life.” Cold weather and other less-than-ideal road conditions can quickly consume EV battery power, reducing the EV range as much as 38%, but the same is true for gas-powered vehicles. Therefore, the old myth that electric cars are inconvenient and less powerful can now be dispelled.
All auto makers are placing a higher priority on being more environmentally responsible these days, whether gas-powered, electric, or hybrid; and many consumers want to know which type of car will do the least damage.
While all of the recent technological advances have lead to tremendous improvements in the electric car, internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid car makers have also made changes to improve their emissions output, narrowing the gap somewhat.
The problem is, however, according to Lynne Mason, an electric car expert and enthusiast and EV information Website author from Washington state, is that “
Whether ‘peak oil production’ arrives with a bang or just sort of sneaks up on us, it is highly unlikely that ten years from now there is going to be enough liquid fuel to power all the world’s cars, trucks, buses, planes, trains, and boats. We don’t have a choice but to find a more efficient alternative” (Mason). Even though 70% of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day (Nissan), the
U.S. consumes about 146 billion gallons of gas per year (
Anderson).
Since electric cars don’t use any gasoline or produce any tailpipe emissions, electric cars are still the obvious answer when searching for the most earth-friendly alternative in automobiles.
Some concern has also been raised about the toxicity and recyclability of the EV battery, but according to the Environmental Defense and Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan, it is estimated that “Li-ion batteries have the least potential of the three major battery types to do environmental damage” (“Electric”).
Li-ion batteries are made from less toxic materials than other types of car batteries.
The lead-acid batteries in gas-powered vehicles and NiMH batteries in hybrids become toxic waste when not recycled (
Anderson).
When Li-ion batteries are deemed too worn out for driving, they still have up to 80 percent of their charge left.
They can then be used to store power to help sustain the grid (the
system of power stations which provide electricity to a large area) or keep other energy sources that aren’t steady on an even keel, like wind or solar power that ebb and flow with the weather (“Electric”).
Some argue that too much energy would be needed to charge all the electric cars if they were to catch on worldwide and many people wonder how using energy from a power plant is any better than using gasoline.
EV critics claim that charging EVs from coal plants will increase greenhouse gases significantly. However, although half the country uses coal-fired plants for its electricity, EVs recharging from these facilities are predicted to produce dramatically less carbon dioxide than ICE vehicles (Mason). According to the World Resources Institute, “EVs recharging from coal-fired plants will reduce CO2 emissions by at least 17 to 22 percent” (Mason). This is due to the fact that moving power from batteries through an electric motor to the wheels is twice as efficient as burning liquid fuel through an internal combustion engine and transmission (“Electric”).
EVs can also be charged using renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, and geothermal (Mason). In a study conducted by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, EVs were cleaner over the course of 100,000 miles than ICE cars, producing less than 100 pounds of pollutants compared to 3,000 pounds from ICE vehicles (Mason). The bottom line is that electric cars simply pollute less and conserve energy (
Anderson).
The initial higher cost to purchase an electric vehicle can be a deterrent, but purchase cost is not the only thing to consider, financially, when shopping for a new car. In the long run, electric cars cost less to charge and to maintain and federal tax credits are available to those who purchase an EV. Conversion car kits may be another option to consider, where a standard, gas-powered vehicle can be converted to run on electric power. These cost substantially less than any brand new vehicle, averaging around $9,000 (Mason). Most people are not mechanically gifted enough to be able to install one themselves, though; So for the vast majority of the general public, looking into the new EVs that all the major auto makers are introducing currently or in the very near future would be advisable.
Nissan and Chevy are just a couple of the many car companies who are venturing out into the world of EV technology, offering new, sleek, competitive models to the middle class consumer. The new Nissan LEAF is currently selling for $32,780. A $7,500 tax rebate brings that down to $25,280 (Nissan). The new Chevy Volt is currently selling for $41,000, or $33,500 with the $7,500 tax rebate (2011 Chevy). The Volt also comes standard with an impressive 8-year/100,000 mile battery warranty (2011 Chevy). Even with the tax rebates, though, these prices might seem a bit steep for some consumers. New technology is always more expensive initially, as has been the case with HDTVs, PCs, and cell phones, for example; However, if there is enough demand for these products in the near future – and experts are predicting that there will be (LaMonica) – the production volume will go up and the prices will eventually come down (“Electric”). In addition to the tax credits and rebates, other common EV incentives may include free parking and unrestricted access to high occupancy commuter lanes on major roadways (“Go Electric”).
When it comes to the cost of running an electric car vs. a gas-powered car, there is no contest.
Electric cars are cheaper to run, averaging about twice the distance on each dollar spent (
Anderson).
With gas prices tripling between 2006 and 2008 (Anderson) and the current average price for a gallon of gas in our local area holding steady at around $3.00, it’s no wonder people are eager to find a more affordable alternative.
With the average American paying less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity, charging an EV would cost approximately $1.50 per day, compared to filling up a 30-mile per gallon ICE sedan which would cost about $3.50 per day (Chevrolet).
The cost of maintenance for an EV would be less than a gas-powered car as well.
An EV has about 70% fewer moving parts, which means no oil changes or replacing items such as filters, fuel pumps, alternators, etc. (Anderson).
The modern day electric cars have come a long way from their predecessors, which were all very similar to the Smart Car. In the new millennium, no one has to sacrifice style, functionality, or the joy of a good driving experience if they also want to stay true to their conscience and buy a car that is ecologically sensible. There are already lots of different EV options out there for every type of buyer – from the little Nissan LEAF for commuters to the very luxurious and sporty Tesla Roadster for the more affluent consumer (“Go Electric”), and everything in between. “People don’t want to sacrifice anything, including style, to own an efficient car,” says Franz von Holzhausen, Chief Designer of the Tesla Model S Roadster (“Go Electric”). In his book, Electric and Hybrid Cars, A History, Curtis Anderson said it best when he said that cars have been “interwoven into our society … and both support and are shaped by the energy industry,” and that this is “an exciting time for developing new, cleaner technology for a positive approach to transportation and energy.” It is clear that there is still much work to be done, but electric vehicles have a promising future. The development of modern EV technology has finally produced a feasible alternative to the standard gas-powered vehicle that is efficient, convenient, cost effective, and stylish. Once people learn what the EV revolution is really all about and how much it can benefit them, even the skeptics might just be won over.
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