Electric Cars: When Can I Buy One?

June 30, 2009

cars.com— It is likely that by 2010 plug-in electric cars will be available for $30,000-$100,000. The major obstacle preventing widespread Electric Vehicle (EV) production is the limited battery charge capacity. Because battery technology has not evolved to the point where a battery can hold the same amount of energy as a tank of gas, most EV cars will be equipped with gas/ethanol powered generators. These generators act as a safety measure to prevent the EV car from shutting off if the battery’s charge runs out. Currently, all hybrids and EVs run on Nickel-metal Hydride batteries. However, it is likely that future EV car batteries will use lithium-ion batteries instead, because, “They’re smaller and have a higher power density,” said Nick Cappa, Chrysler’s advanced technology spokesman.

“The cost of electricity used in an electric car is claimed to be as cents on the dollar when compared to gasoline.”

EVs produce no CO2 since they do not burn fossil fuels in a combustion engine. However, EVs are often charged using energy obtained from burning fossil fuels. Unless an EV is charged using power from renewable energy sources (i.e. solar, wind etc…) it will still have a carbon footprint. Even when charging an EV from a power source derived from fossil fuels “life-cycle analyses of electrical generation suggest a greenhouse gas reduction of 47 percent over the equivalent amount of gasoline.”

The federal government offers a tax credit of $2,500-$7,500 for consumers buying EV cars.

Three EV cars are now on the market: Tesla’s Roadster ($101,500), Mini’s model E (leases for a one year trial period of $850/month) and Myers’s NmG (under $30,000). Because of limited production numbers, there are waiting lists for buyers.

There are 24 different EV cars slated for production by 2012.

Sources: http://www.cars.com/go/crp/buyingGuides/green/article.jsp?channel=green&id=buyingElectric

http://www.cars.com/go/crp/buyingGuides/green/article.jsp?channel=green&id=goGreen2008#electric

(Reliability: 9 )