Electric vehicle

An electric vehicle is a vehicle that is propelled by electric motors. Examples: The term is used in particular for electric automobiles, the most common of zero emission vehicles . The rest of the article will pertain to those.

Variety

[[General Motors EV1]] The energy used to power the motors can be obtained from a variety of sources including fuel cells or batteries arranged into a Battery pack. Strictly Solar Powered passenger carrying electric cars and model cars are used only for technology-proving races. There are a variety of battery electric vehicles that have been produced ranging from golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles to SUVs and sports cars. The chief problem with battery electric vehicles is their limited range in comparison with gasoline powered vehicles and the limited number of charge–discharge cycles provided before battery replacement is required. The problem of range could be addressed through the use of gas-electric hybrid vehicles which use an electric motor and grid-rechargeable batteries for acceleration and slow speed driving, with the ability to switch to gasoline power for cruising. A number of hybrid vehicles are being sold; however, none of these have grid-rechargeable hybrid capabilities. The future of electric vehicles is dependent upon the availability of batteries with higher energy densities and longer life at reasonable cost, as all other engineering problems of motor control, power delivery, and regenerative braking have been solved. While auto manufacturers have active programs developing fuel cells which could replace batteries to power electric cars, battery electric vehicles would have an advantage over fuel cells because fuel cell cars require as much as four times more energy per unit distance than an electric car when hydrogen production energy is included (assuming both vehicles use the same electric motors, the same tires, the same rim size, have the same weight, and share aerodynamic characteristics). Battery electric vehicles also have an advantage over fuel cell electric vehicles because they do not need expensive membranes made of platinum and other rare metals in which to develop their energy. Drawbacks are batteries have a very slow recharge time compared to fueling times for fuel cells and internal combustion engines, have a relatively high life–cycle cost and most have environmental disposal issues. It has also been difficult to build electric vehicle power systems with a range comparable to conventional vehicles. Batteries used in electric vehicles include Lead-acid, Nickel metal hydride, Li-ion, Li-poly and Zinc-air batteries. The last two battery types in electric vehicles have demonstrated energy densities and ranges comparable to conventional vehicles. With Zinc-air being very promising in future electric vehicles as a hybrid between fuel cells and batteries. Electric vehicles have been noted for being more environmentally friendly than conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) automobiles. Although the power for the car still has to be generated from a source, this energy can be provided by environmentally friendly technologies such as tidal, solar, wind or hydroelectric power. In addition, electric motors are several times more efficient than an ICE because they are not limited by thermodynamic (heat difference) considerations and have no significant friction creating sliding mechanisms. Electric vehicles can also reclaim kinetic energy when braking through a regenerative process (as can hybrid vehicles). Electric vehicles can potentially last longer as their motors have one moving part and do not require the large number of pressure sealing devices of an ICE. They also often do not require a transmission, and without a transmission they do not require a clutch. Overall system efficiency may be reduced by transmission losses from electricity distribution, but this is less of a consideration if the vehicle owner adds photovoltaic power production.

Critics

Critics of electric vehicles point out that in addition to the contrast in range, the large batteries needed to store energy in the vehicles are a serious environmental hazard. These claims are often refuted by environmentalists because the batteries can be recycled with minimal environmental impact and more advanced batteries such as lithium ion and nickel metal hydride batteries might give the cars the range of conventional gas cars. Due to lack of production volume, these batteries are currently 3-4 times more expensive than conventional Lead Acid or Nickel Cadmium batteries. Firefighters and rescue personnel require special training to deal with the higher voltages encountered in electric vehicle accidents. Critics also note that years of research have so far failed to yield economical or long-lasting batteries. In addition, battery recharge times are longer than practical in many situations. The fastest recharge times are achieved when quick charge technology is utilized, allowing charging times of under 30 minutes -- a number still not practical for refueling stations.

Fans

The greatest fans of electric vehicles are those who have obtained and used them. Owing to the fact that electric vehicles have not been promoted by the major manufactures in the United States, this is a self-selected group, so their enthusiasm may be misleading. Fans point out the following:

United States

1912 Detroit Electric The United States produced many electric automobiles, such as the Detroit Electric, during the early 20th century, but production dropped to insignificant numbers with the triumph of gasoline powered internal combustion engine vehicles in the 1920s. In recent years, electric vehicles have been promoted through the use of tax credits. In California, the California Air Resources Board attempted to set a quota for the use of electric cars, but this was withdrawn after complaints by auto manufacturers that the quotas were economically unfeasible due to a lack of consumer demand. However, many believe this complaint to be unwarranted due to the claim that there were thousands waiting to purchase or lease electric cars from companies such as General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler in which these companies refused to meet that demand despite their production capability. Others note that the original electric car leases were at reduced cost and the program could not be expected to draw the high volumes required without selling or renting the cars at a financial loss. Since the California program was designed by the California Air Resources Board to reduce air pollution and not to promote electric vehicles, the zero emissions requirement in California was replaced by a combination requirement of a tiny number of zero-emissions vehicles (to promote research and development) and a much larger number of partial zero-emissions vehicles (PZEVs), which is an administrative designation for an super ultra low emissions vehicle (SULEV), which emits pollution of about ten percent of that of an ordinary low emissions vehicle.

International

In London, electrically powered vehicles are one of the categories of vehicle exempted from the Congestion Charge. Similarily in all of Norway, where zero-emission are also allowed to use the bus lane.

History

Electric vehicles were among the earliest automobiles, and before the preeminence of light, powerful internal combustion engines, electric automobiles held many vehicle land speed and distance records in the early 1900s. They were produced by Anthony Electric, Baker Electric, Detroit Electric, and others and at one point in history out-sold gasoline-powered vehicles. Internal combustion engines replaced electric drive with the invention of the electric starter by Cadillac. For more information on this subject, see history of the electric vehicle.

Productions

Recent or current production electric vehicles sold or leased to fleets include:

Prototypes

Recent prototype EVs include:

Production announcements

Hobbyists, research, and racing

Aside from production electric cars, often hobbyists build their own EVs by converting existing production cars to run solely on electricity. Some even drag race them as members of NEDRA. Universities such as the University of California, Irvine even go so far as to build their own custom electric or hybrid-electric cars from scratch. A non-profit programhttp://www.calcars.org/ at the University of California, Davis, is attempting to convert a hybrid Toyota Prius automobile to operate as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) through the installation of additional batteries and software modifications. Such a vehicle will operate as would a pure electric for short trips, taking its power from household and workplace rechargers. For longer trips the vehicle will operate as it does at present - as a "strong" hybrid vehicle. A prototype (using sealed lead-acid batteries) is undergoing tests. It is expected that a production conversion would use a more advanced battery. (Advanced batteries are under development and soon for production in the support of hybrid vehicles.) They are currently soliciting donations of additional vehicles and funds for this project. Electric vehicles are also highly popular in quarter mile (400 m) racing. The National Electric Drag Racing Association regularly holds electric car races and often competes them successfully against exotics such as the Dodge Viper.

See also

See also "http://www.driveclean.ca.gov" for an official California site on ZEVs and PZEVs. A page on this site, "http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/vsearch/cleansearch.asp" will also list the available cars in various categories, especially informative if you are looking for an electrically powered city car (that page has no entries).

EV News Stories

Category:Automobiles Category:Automotive technologies Category:Climate change Category:Energy Category:Green vehicles category:Transportation de:Elektroauto fr:Véhicule électrique ja:電気自動車 ru:Электромобиль tt:Trolleybus

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