Benefits of Electric Cars
Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009
by Jonnie Blaylock
Electric cars have popped up several times since the 1970s, but have had minimal success. That may be changing as believers in global warming are winning the public debate leading to tougher restrictions of carbon dioxide. Several major companies are catching on to the possibilities of providing a clean running car and have added hybrid cars to their production lists.
The range of these cars have also been increased by decreasing their weight. It may even be possible to take a trip and charge your battery while stopping for lunch with the faster charging models.
Electric cars have many advantages; there are also many benefits to driving hybrid cars. Below are a few of the obvious ones, but there are many more:
Better Air Quality: They give off no emissions; many refer to them as ZEVs (zero emission vehicles). The electric engine does not run on diesel or gasoline, so polluting exhaust is not poured out into our air and heat does not get radiated from the engine.
Better Fuel Efficiency: It is less expensive to create electricity than to produce, refine, and transport liquid fuels. Unlike oil based fuels, electricity can be created using renewable sources such as wind mill generators and solar panels. Gas prices have gone crazy, if we use less of it, the price will go down.
Fewer Moving Parts: Electric motors have many fewer moving parts than a gasoline engine. Fewer parts equates to easier maintenance (less parts to break). Also, with electric cars, oil changes are a thing of the past.
Not as Dangerous: Electric cars do not require gasoline, so there are no explosions in a crash. Even minor impacts can cause fuel lines to burst. The concept of burning fuel required operation at high temperatures which can also cause injuries. Most cars are c1ooled by a radiator filled with boiling hot water under tremendous pressure. These dangerous temperatures under high pressure have caused many people to be scarred for life.
The cooling fan on the radiator can also cause serious injury. Everyone probably has heard a story of a pet or stray animal being killed after crawling up inside a warm engine in the winter.
Save on Taxes: The government now offers incentives in the form of tax credits for purchasing electric or hybrid cars - up to $3,500 on some models. Tax credits get put towards the your resulting tax obligation; they directly reduce it instead of just reducing the gross income.
Better Parking and Less Traffic: Many cities allow electric and hybrid cars to use carpool lanes without restrictions. Other incentives that cities have offered is free parking by meters and in pay lots.
Peace and Quiet: The electric car does not rely on the explosion of fuel, like gasoline burning engines, to propel the car; so they are much quieter than a gas burning car. In fact, the cars are virtually silent. Imagine our cities without the sounds of cars and trucks to understand another benefit of electric cars.
Our Country's Security: By reducing our dependence on foreign oil imports, heavy oil countries that support terrorist activities will no longer do so with our money. There might no longer be a reason to wage war in the Middle East and lose our soldiers defending other countries.
Utilize Existing Infrastructure: Our country already has electric networks that reach out to every city. It would be easy to recharge electric cars. Another idea is to create hydrogen (a clean burning gas) fueled cars, but a whole new infrastructure would have to be created, and who is going to pay for its construction?
Better for the Environment: The process of extracting oil from the ground, moving it through oceans and across land, and refining it into usable form creates other harmful effects. For example, abandoned equipment and wellheads littering the landscape.
Our nation has energy problems and electric cars offer a safe, clean, low cost solution. When we finally electric cars and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, our nation will be able to rid itself of the pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
Jonnie Blaylock is an Engineering student that sees learning the skill of converting cars to electric as a new hobby.
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