Compared to the internal combustion engine, the electric motor is incredibly efficient. It makes very little heat, no poisonous gas, and uses no imported oil. 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.
RANGE CONCERNS AND FACTS
One of the main concerns of the potential electric vehicle consumer is range. Drivers want their EV to have the same range as a gas burner. While this may make sense on occasion, it happens that most of the trips people make in their cars are really not that far.
In the USA, Idaho National Labs reports that Nissan Leaf owners are driving on average 30 miles a day and, Chevy Volt drivers are logging an average of 36 miles per day on their cars. Driving studies in the UK show that 75% of trips took under 20 minutes. BMW drivers in Beijing, China drove their leased Mini E cars an average of just 49km, 30.5 miles per day.
The US Federal Highway Administration reports that average US drivers log 29 miles per day and the average vehicle trip length is 9.7 miles. Most household trips in the car or truck are short. Over half are between 1 and 10 miles. Every EV on the market can make that range.
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.
EV Cars and Trucks covers the most recent cars and trucks as well as a few older ones.
Electric Bikes covers a few of the hundreds or perhaps thousands of e-bikes out there. The nearly equal number of electric scooters and fewer electric motorcycles are at Electric Motorcycles and Scooters.
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 numbers, check here for performance specs covering 118 battery electric, hybrid electric, and plug in electric vehicles.
About 70 percent of crude oil produced goes to transportation. Some $50 to $100 trillion is now invested in gas, diesel, and other hydrocarbon burning vehicles. If many of these vehicles were electric, oil use could be cut drastically cut, and the air would be a lot cleaner. Intensive car pollution increases risk of premature birth, lung cancer, and a host of other illnesses and death as well as driving climate change.
Upward moving oil prices tend to increase EV interest and sales. However, despite a half trillion dollar per year gasoline market (USA) and fluctuating oil prices, electric vehicle interest and sales are moving right up.
The HEV or hybrid electric vehicle leads sales with 6.3 units million worldwide followed by Plugin EVs: PHEV and BEV (plugin hybrid and battery EV) sales at around 200,000 units globally. Electric vehicles own about 3.6% of market share in the USA.
U.S. total auto sales in 2012 reached 13.6 million units. Total HEV sales hit 434,645 units, PHEV units reached about 38,584, and BEV sales recorded 14,251 units for a total of 486,612 EVs sold. Over 50,000 Nissan Leafs and 33,000 Mitsubishi iMiev units have been sold. April of 2013 saw 1,306 Chevy Volts and 1,937 Nissan Leafs sold.
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 cost.
Big Oil Company Profits: About $150 Billion per year
