The Case For Electric Vehicles
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by: RyanSpector | Total views: 47 | Word Count: 437
We have all at some time seen (and probably travelled in) trains, trams, buses and boats that are powered by electricity. What is perhaps less well known is that the first battery powered vehicles were on the market in the early 1900's. These electrified carriages had a top speed of around 14 miles per hour and a range of about 18 miles. These automobiles remained popular until the development of the internal combustion engine, which made possible vehicles of greater power, speed and range.
It is only in recent years that there has been an upsurge of interest in electrically powered cars. Various factors have contributed to this: oil becoming prohibitively expensive, the earth's oil reserves in danger of running dry and unacceptable pollution levels. It has become imperative that we find alternative sources of power.
The motors that power these vehicles emit no noxious exhaust gases. This is good news for the environment which currently absorbs millions of tons of exhaust fumes daily. These carbon dioxide emissions are seen as contributing significantly to global warming, while other exhaust gases increasingly pollute our air.
To fully charge an electric car costs about one fifth of the cost to fill up a gasoline powered car. As the price of oil continues to rise, this difference will become greater. From this perspective, the electrical vehicle is looking more and more attractive.
Electric vehicles have very few moving parts that need to be maintained. They also do not depend on a series of controlled explosions to produce motive energy, so they are not subject to the strain and heat produced in an internal combustion engine. Their comparative simplicity means that less maintenance is required.
Undoubtedly the greatest drawback of the electric car is its limited range. They are capable of a maximum of only around two hundred miles before the batteries are exhausted. To recharge the batteries can take up to eight hours, and over time the batteries will deteriorate and need replacement.
Electric cars are more expensive than gasoline cars, due mainly to the cost of batteries. Exacerbating the situation is the fact that consumers in the UK and USA are not prepared to change their gasoline cars for electric cars until batteries with a longer life have been developed. This hinders the wholesale changeover to battery power, at least in the immediate future.
One thing that is clear is that within the next few decades we will have to free ourselves from our dependence on oil. As a fuel source it is becoming prohibitively expensive and we cannot afford to keep polluting our planet at the present rate. Electric vehicles are currently our best alternative.
About the Author
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