How near are we to getting electric cars that are as good as other cars?
Natalia asked:
I like the idea of electric powered cars but it seems that they are really slow and need to keep getting charged up again. Are we going to see electric cars that are just like other cars soon
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I like the idea of electric powered cars but it seems that they are really slow and need to keep getting charged up again. Are we going to see electric cars that are just like other cars soon
December 17th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Looks like we’re getting there with similar performance.
Check out the Tesla Roadster or Aero EV. Or the upcoming Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, which are more ‘normal’ cars.
It looks like the performance is now there, but the big problem is batteries - it’s hard to get them to store enough energy. They’re about 4-5 times too weak for what we need for mass market electric cars. The Chevrolet Volt can go about 40 miles, and the Nissan Leaf about 100, before needing recharging. This is why the Volt carries an on board petrol generator to keep it going!
There are currently batteries in labs that pack the punch we need; litihium-air and silicon-nanowire electrodes let us make good enough batteries. However, we don’t know if they’ll work out commercially yet! MTRstudent
December 20th, 2009 at 2:35 am
The electric motor is way more efficient that the internal combustion engine (ICE) in energy utilization. The problem is the state of battery technology, which is improving, laboratory prototypes using nano technology electrodes have demonstrated x10 short term storage increase and x3 longer term increase, such improvements could make all the difference if they are brought to the market.
Critics cite studies showing that the high use of coal in the U.S. makes electric cars ultimate as big an CO2 producer as gas cars, driving in clean electricity states like California make electric cars a clear environmental winners.
The average homebrew conversion using golf cart like technology in 1 1/2 ton cars get 30 miles range, 60 mph top speed and cost $10,000 to convert. Some owners are happy to have a commuter with 2 cent a mile energy cost.
The state of the art cars on the road like the Tesla address the performance and range anxiety issues, for a price. The Tesla does 0-60 in 4 seconds and has a 200+ mile range when driven conservatively. The Tesla uses some 6000 Lithium ion batteries, similar to a lap top computer’s. Jake
December 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
We are ready to get cars:
This an green vehicles mall. see in the electric cars category. Ido
December 21st, 2009 at 8:18 am
Nowhere near, electric cars have been around for over a hundred years and still can’t compete with normal cars. Some say they are just as good, maybe for day to day driving but what happens when my family and I want to travel somewhere over 100 miles away? Steven M