5 Potential Concerns About EVs
1. THE COST-
“They’re too expensive”
Electric cars come in a range of prices from about $10K to over $100K, much like gas fueled cars do. However, when you buy an electric car you get a federal tax credit, and in some states a state tax credit too. Plus other incentives like being able to drive in the carpool lane. Not to mention the savings over time on gas, and maintenance.
Chart of incentives by state:
http://www.pluginamerica.org/why-plug-vehicles/state-federal-incentives
Cost of charging EV vs. gas:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=electric-cars-cost-per-charge
Browse EV prices: http://www.edmunds.com/hybrid/?mktcat=general&kw=general+electric+content&mktid=gc351204&gclid=CK7xls_3t6cCFSFpgwod9kENNA
2. THE LOOK- “I don’t like how they look”
With more car companies producing electric and hybrid models, the variety in look will become more diverse in the coming years. Although even now electric cars already come in quite a diverse range from eccentric two seaters to fancy sports cars like the Tesla Roadster. But if you just really love the look of your gas fueled car, you can always convert it to an all electric.
Variety of models:
http://venturebeat.com/2008/01/10/27-electric-cars-companies-ready-to-take-over-the-road/
Converting your car to electric:
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/37213
3. THE MILEAGE- “They don’t get good mileage”
Electric vehicles get roughly 50-100 miles per charge, perfect for most people’s daily commute to work or school. Some people who take frequent long road trips either have an extra car that runs on gas for those occasions, a hybrid, or they utilize a local car share program.
Mileage and speed:
http://barryonenergy.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/home-on-the-range-or-can-your-ev-get-you-home/
4. THE BATTERY- “What about the cost, and disposal of the batteries?”
EV batteries only need to be changed out about every 10 years, and the cost is roughly a few thousand dollars. The dead batteries are also recycled, and even reused.
Cost and life of EV batteries:
http://the-grayline.com/2008/11/12/battery-life-in-electric-cars/
Recycling and reusing batteries:
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/11/ev-batteries-will-have-lives-beyond-the-road/
Recycling batteries:
http://www.theenergyreport.com/pub/na/7503
5. THE CHARGE- “Where, and how can I charge?”
Charging an EV is as easy as plugging it in and walking away. Many schools, hospitals, grocery stores, places of work, homes, and condo/apartment buildings are already fitted with chargers, and more will be installed in the next several years as the EV craze continues.
Phone application to find charging stations while on the go:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ev-charger-finder/id354628084?mt=8
Home and public chargers:
http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2010-09/how-charge-electric-car
Home chargers:
http://blog.mapawatt.com/2010/08/30/how-do-i-buy-and-install-a-new-ev-charger/
Additional informative links:
Nissan's Carwings telematic system is available to consumers who purchase the Nissan Leaf, and is free for the first three years. It is a system that records and displays data for electricity consumption, distance travel, and much more. For the competitive driver it also gives out virtual trophies for the logging of the best miles-per-kilowatt-hour. For more information please click the link below. http://www.insideline.com/nissan/leaf/2011/2011-nissan-leaf-drivers-to-be-ranked-for-efficient-driving-via-telematics-system.html
The EV Project is 36 month project to deploy approximately 15,000 charging stations in six U.S. States (Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Tennessee and Texas). The project started in October of 2009 by the company ECOtality North America. A free residential charger will be provided free for consumers who purchase either the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt and meet the requirements. To find out more about the project please click on this link: http://www.theevproject.com/
For the year end sales of the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf, both cars that are part of the EV Project, follow this link.http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/volt/chevy-volt-nissan-leaf-report-year-end-sales.html
EV.com is a great website that is dedicated to electric vehicles of all kinds. On EV.com there are EV guides on converting a motorcycle or a car gas powered car into electric, or you can find media stories about EV's, including Jay Leno's green car challenge for the stars, located under the EV gallery tab. Follow this link to view the website. http://www.ev.com/
Electric cars come in a range of prices from about $10K to over $100K, much like gas fueled cars do. However, when you buy an electric car you get a federal tax credit, and in some states a state tax credit too. Plus other incentives like being able to drive in the carpool lane. Not to mention the savings over time on gas, and maintenance.
Chart of incentives by state:
http://www.pluginamerica.org/why-plug-vehicles/state-federal-incentives
Cost of charging EV vs. gas:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=electric-cars-cost-per-charge
Browse EV prices: http://www.edmunds.com/hybrid/?mktcat=general&kw=general+electric+content&mktid=gc351204&gclid=CK7xls_3t6cCFSFpgwod9kENNA
2. THE LOOK- “I don’t like how they look”
With more car companies producing electric and hybrid models, the variety in look will become more diverse in the coming years. Although even now electric cars already come in quite a diverse range from eccentric two seaters to fancy sports cars like the Tesla Roadster. But if you just really love the look of your gas fueled car, you can always convert it to an all electric.
Variety of models:
http://venturebeat.com/2008/01/10/27-electric-cars-companies-ready-to-take-over-the-road/
Converting your car to electric:
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/37213
3. THE MILEAGE- “They don’t get good mileage”
Electric vehicles get roughly 50-100 miles per charge, perfect for most people’s daily commute to work or school. Some people who take frequent long road trips either have an extra car that runs on gas for those occasions, a hybrid, or they utilize a local car share program.
Mileage and speed:
http://barryonenergy.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/home-on-the-range-or-can-your-ev-get-you-home/
4. THE BATTERY- “What about the cost, and disposal of the batteries?”
EV batteries only need to be changed out about every 10 years, and the cost is roughly a few thousand dollars. The dead batteries are also recycled, and even reused.
Cost and life of EV batteries:
http://the-grayline.com/2008/11/12/battery-life-in-electric-cars/
Recycling and reusing batteries:
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/11/ev-batteries-will-have-lives-beyond-the-road/
Recycling batteries:
http://www.theenergyreport.com/pub/na/7503
5. THE CHARGE- “Where, and how can I charge?”
Charging an EV is as easy as plugging it in and walking away. Many schools, hospitals, grocery stores, places of work, homes, and condo/apartment buildings are already fitted with chargers, and more will be installed in the next several years as the EV craze continues.
Phone application to find charging stations while on the go:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ev-charger-finder/id354628084?mt=8
Home and public chargers:
http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2010-09/how-charge-electric-car
Home chargers:
http://blog.mapawatt.com/2010/08/30/how-do-i-buy-and-install-a-new-ev-charger/
Additional informative links:
Nissan's Carwings telematic system is available to consumers who purchase the Nissan Leaf, and is free for the first three years. It is a system that records and displays data for electricity consumption, distance travel, and much more. For the competitive driver it also gives out virtual trophies for the logging of the best miles-per-kilowatt-hour. For more information please click the link below. http://www.insideline.com/nissan/leaf/2011/2011-nissan-leaf-drivers-to-be-ranked-for-efficient-driving-via-telematics-system.html
The EV Project is 36 month project to deploy approximately 15,000 charging stations in six U.S. States (Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Tennessee and Texas). The project started in October of 2009 by the company ECOtality North America. A free residential charger will be provided free for consumers who purchase either the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt and meet the requirements. To find out more about the project please click on this link: http://www.theevproject.com/
For the year end sales of the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf, both cars that are part of the EV Project, follow this link.http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/volt/chevy-volt-nissan-leaf-report-year-end-sales.html
EV.com is a great website that is dedicated to electric vehicles of all kinds. On EV.com there are EV guides on converting a motorcycle or a car gas powered car into electric, or you can find media stories about EV's, including Jay Leno's green car challenge for the stars, located under the EV gallery tab. Follow this link to view the website. http://www.ev.com/
