Electric motors provide a safe and clean alternative to the internal combustion engine. The electric vehicle has faster acceleration but shorter distance range than conventional engines. With the rapid rise in personal vehicle ownership around the world, demand for fuel will keep increasing along with carbon emissions unless there is a shift in transportation.
Electric vehicles hold significant potential for increasing energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and improving local air quality. Transportation accounts for about one-fifth of global energy use, and passenger vehicles account for about ten percent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. They are also highly efficient and very smart. Most electric vehicles also have a regenerative braking system that captures and restores energy to the battery as the car comes to a stop.
Chevrolet currently offers two electric powered vehicles: The all-electric Spark EV and the plug-in hybrid electric Volt. The Spark EV’s 82-mile range is fine for driving in the city, but the more ambitious drivers could easily find themselves reaching the limits of the Chevrolet’s endurance. The Volt operates as a pure battery electric vehicle until its plug-in battery capacity drops to a predetermined threshold from full charge.
Electric vehicles still fare better on the green scale than their fossil-fueled predecessors because electricity is quite cheap in most parts of the world, with a big cost advantage over gasoline. Given the considerable efficiency of electric cars compared to internal combustion models, the cost per mile to fuel an electric vehicle is approximately a third to a quarter the cost of gasoline on a cost per mile basis. Since electric cars do not have exhaust systems and do not need oil changes, maintenance costs reduced. To maintain an electric car, just rotate your tires and keep them properly inflated.
These advantages would persuade anybody to buy an electric car rather than a regular internal combustion car. So what is the drawback with electric vehicles?
The negative fact about owning a hybrid electric car is the lack of knowledgeable mechanics available. Many owners of this type of vehicle have a very hard time finding an independent shop that is willing and capable to work on electric cars. Because the engines are so radically different from traditional combustion, it is rare to find somebody who knows the ins and outs of their mechanisms. Usually this means you have to go to a dealership for repairs, which means higher costs for labor and parts.
The electric vehicle market is still relatively new, so there are still some challenges. As consumer confidence increases and more models roll into showrooms, expect electric vehicles to continue adding market share at the expense of their traditional counterparts. If you are looking for a new car, then electric cars might be worth thinking about.
Source: ReedmanToll Chevrolet
