This site gives general electric car information: Electric cars, trucks, bikes, scooters and other EVs are covered. Currently, we are discussing electric vehicles and range.
Electric Vehicles or EVs have been around for almost 200 years. They were very popular around 1900. They were popular in the 1970’s and are becoming popular again. The EV is a very efficient way to get around, especially for short- to mid-range distances. Oh yes, EVs are fun too.
There is usually no real need to use a 2 or 3-ton gas guzzling vehicle to haul itself (mostly) and a 150 lb person 3 miles around town unless it is raining hard, snowing hard, for medical reasons, or hauling building materials, except perhaps if you own oil company stock.
One of the big arguments in favor of gas powered cars is range. People afraid of not enough range in an EV are said to have range anxiety. As with many anxieties, the reality of range can be effectively worked with. It takes a little planning at the current time.
Approximately one-half of U.S. car trips are less than five miles. Therefore, it stands to reason that many types of EVs currently made could make at least ˝ the car trips now made in USA. In the UK, 70% of all trips made are less than 5 miles long. Half of these are made by car. In Australia, half of trips are less than 5km (3.1 miles) long.
Finally, a 2008 transportation review (scroll down to the gray box) notes that 93% of ALL car trips are less than 25 miles, and 97% are less than 50 miles.
If these statistics are correct, the electric cars of 120 years ago could have provided adequate transportation. Actually, they did.
As a DIY builder of an electric car, and electric bikes, I can tell you that with minimal planning, an EV can easily supplement your local transportation needs. With a bit more outlay, an EV can do most, if not all, of your local chores.
However far this extra planning takes you, people are working very hard on increasing EV range. This requires improvements in EV battery technology.
EV Batteries Storage Issues: Some fairly recent electric car information items address the storage issue:
Colorado reseachers claim to have found processes to produce EV batteries that are more powerful, longer-lasting and cheaper than the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries now used.
British reseachers say they have a battery that contains 1.6 times the energy density of current batteries. This would help improve range.
Electric car superstar Nissan says they will double EV battery capacity in the next few years. Nissan is a true pioneer in EVs.
The company Envia Systems is testing a battery that claims to increase storage at a reduced weight and cost. The company says it has a 400 kWh that weighs 2.2 lbs and costs $125 to make. GM is testing and if it pans out it will change the industry.
Another forward idea is combining carbon fiber with battery components. The car body becomes the battery. This would reduce weight and increase room in the car. BAE Systems has been working on the technology and created the Lola-Drayson B12/69EV EV race car using structural batteries. Volvo is also working on the technology.
Another hot topic in electric car news today is swappable battery packs…called battery switching. Electric cars in the USA in 1910 had switchable packs. Today Japan, China, and the EU are leading the way. The French manufacturer Renault is developing battery switching technology along with the Japanese firm, Better Place.
Battery Builders and Suppliers: The most widespread type of new battery packs at this time are a kind of lithium ion. They are beginning to be made in the US, but are mostly manufactured in Japan and China at the present. Panasonic is one of the largest battery manufacturers.
Lithium batteries require a lot of the element lithium. There has been a question of whether or not there is enough lithium to support large-scale battery development. Quantitative outlooks are provided by the TRF Group for a projection of supply and demand. Most of the known concentrated lithium supplies are in Bolivia. However, any companies mining Bolivian lithium will first need to deal with their current government.
Recent electric car information indicates that the US Federal Government is funding nine Li-Ion battery plants that are expected to begin producing EV battery packs by 2011. These government funds have helped finance 26 of 30 new US EV battery and component plants expected to supply up to 20% of the worlds EV batteries by 2013.
