About 70 percent of crude oil produced goes to transportation. Much of this transport is by personal passenger vehicles. If these vehicles were electric, oil use could be cut up to one third, and the air would be a lot cleaner. For instance, If you are a mom, intensive car pollution increases risk of premature birth by 30%. Even non-smokers in intensively car polluted areas are at a 20% increased risk to lung cancer.
Oil prices typically impact interest in electric vehicles. Oil prices move around, but trend up over time. EV sales tend to react upward to increasing oil prices. EV battery costs are still high, but a lot of ongoing research will lower those costs. Current research points to a 60-65% decline in battery cost by the year 2020.
Current estimates project a 3-5% EV market share by 2020, where China will lead followed by Europe, and then the USA. Some 18,000 EVs have been sold in the USA, with 20,000 Leafs sold worldwide. The French Government has ordered 19,000 electric cars and vans. GE plans to purchase 25,000 EV units by 2015.
2011 closed with somewhere around 60,000 new electric cars and trucks sold worldwide. 2012 could see an increase to 250,000 electric cars and trucks retailed.
Use less and pollute less. Take care of our health. Drive an electric vehicle, walk, bike, ride the bus or scooter. Read on for information on the impacts of conventional transport, EV impacts, EV alternatives, and how much it will cost.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THE WORLD
Compared to the internal combustion engine, the electric motor is incredibly efficient. It makes very little heat, and no poisonous gas. About 90% or more of the electric energy delivered to the electric motor actually goes toward turning the motor and moving the vehicle it is attached to.
For example, According to a well to wheel analysis conducted by Tesla Motors, the Tesla Roadster (1.14) is twice as efficient as the nearest hybrid car, the Toyota Prius at 0.56.
Today the consumer has more transportation choices than ever before. Still, vehicles powered by the internal combustion engine dominate. They do work well, and get most people where they are going. So, why electric?
HOW TO USE THIS SITE
To start to answer the question why electric?, start with the History of the electric car section. Here you can find information on the history and possible future of the EV.
If you are new to electric vehicles, check first the EV Basics page. If you are interested in an EV, check out Should You Buy an EV.
The next section gives the basis of the Energy Sources and resources used by all vehicles. Wise use of resources is a hallmark of electric vehicles.
Then we realize that anything mass manufactured has environmental implications. The impacts related to standard cars and electric cars are outlined in the EV Impacts area.
One of the main driving forces behind any EV purchase involves cost and range. Range, costs and benefits of standard cars and electric cars are presented in the EV Range and cost section. Check here also to find out about Government subsidies.
The electric vehicles: There are 4 sections devoted to the vehicles themselves.
EV Cars and Trucks covers the most recent cars and trucks as well as a few older ones.
EV Bikes and Scoots covers a few of the hundreds or perhaps thousands of e-bike and e-scooters out there. Our recent DIY Electric Bike project is listed as well.
Hybrid EVs looks at how much hybrids save the air, and their cost. If you are interested in checking out or obtaining a hybrid, this section has information you need to know. The information is concise and unique in its presentation.
Other EVs includes important information on EV charging. Electric planes, fuel cell EVs, and electric excavators are also covered.
If you want the basics of electric vehicle charging, check here. The explanation and interactive calculators are the best on the web.
Finally are the EV Specifications. If you are just interested in the numbers, go here first. There are a lot of specs to view, compare, and contrast.
