Question:
I already have a broad knowledge of Electric cars from past to present. I want to hear your perspectives so that I know what makes people either concerned about Electric Cars, or shows potential knowledge gaps due to education not fully teaching this technology. Since media shows you clever ads all the time in favor of tough or flashy gas driven vehicles, and since gas vehicles are all we know to this point, paradigms get created. Your answers will help enlighten all of us on this issue.
Answers:
Technology doesn't stand still, and the majority of electric vehicle negatives on peoples' minds have already been addressed.
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Unfortunately, the EV has a bad reputation to overcome, based on numerous past attempts to revive the technology. You can see this, based on some of the other answers here. Most of these negatives are unfair, even to old technology electric vehicles.
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For instance, electric vehicle technology is very reliable, and it has always been so. I drive an EV built in 1981. The electric motor has never need service in 25 years. How is this possible? Electric motors have only one moving part. There is nothing to break. No oil changes, filters, coolant, or anything else is needed.
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Another example: Are EVs dangerous to the environment because of power plant pollution, or toxic battery chemistries? No, they are not. EVs are far more efficient, so even if dirty fuel is burned at the plant, much less pollution is generated, compared to gasoline powered cars.
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But it's not even this bad, because only 50% of electricity is made from coal, and only 3% from oil. And this situation, unlike gasoline, will steadily improve as the power grid gets cleaner.
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Also, newer battery chemistries, like Li-Ion and supercapacitors, use much less harmful substances (the EPA doesn't consider Li-Ions to be hazardous), have much longer useful lives (supercapacitors should last the life of the car), and are fully recyclable. So-called 'battery pollution' needs also to be compared in context with used motor oil and coolant from typical cars, as these substances pose far greater risks to the environment than used batteries do.
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How about electricity demand? Won't EVs strain the grid to the breaking point? Again, no, because EVs, for the most part, charge at night - when electricity now goes to waste. That's right, plenty of electricity goes to waste overnight because power plants can't shut completely off when demand eases. Several million EVs can charge overnight before any additional capacity will be needed.
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Also, large amounts of electricity is used to refine gasoline! This electricity can simply be shifted over to directly power EVs.
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How about the driving range problem? This problem is being addressed right now with some exciting new technologies like supercapacitors:
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http://imdb.com/title/tt0489037/board/th...
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And by new Li-Ion battery designs:
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http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/957...
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And here's a car that puts it all together. This car can go up to 250 miles per charge, carries 5 people plus cargo at 95mph, and can charge in only TEN MINUTES. The battery technology used is expected to have at least a ten-year life span. The Phoenix can be pre-ordered right now for delivery later this year, it is a real car:
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http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet...
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