Electric Cars Facts

Archive for the ‘Domestic Electric Cars’ Category

Unless you’ve been living under a rock these past couple of years, chances are you’ve heard about the growing trend of going green with cars. With each new season, there are more and more electric and hybrid vehicle startup companies coming into play. Here’s a list of five of some of the most promising EV companies to watch out for this upcoming year.

 

Tesla Motors – The Roadster

Tesla is by far the most publicized and hyped electric car company in town. Its Roadster is an all-electric speed machine with a top speed of 125 miles per hour and a range of 221 miles. First released back in 2008, Tesla’s EV luxury sports car is set at a base price of $98,000.

 

Think – City

A company that was well established even before it started developing green technology, Think is based in Norway and has been expanding to other industrial countries ever since. Their electric City vehicle is priced at an economical $16,000 for U.S. models. Its range is 112 miles and has a top speed of 62 mph.

 

Fly Bo – 6000/2

The 6000/2 bears a strong resemblance to the iconic Smart Car. It is produced and manufactured in China and distributed by the Spark company in the United States. The price is at an accessible $10,000. Fly Bo’s EV is an ideal local commute car with a range of 60 miles and a top speed of just 35 mph.

 

Myers Motors – NmG (No more Gas)

Aside from its clever acronym, the NmG is unique in its three-wheeled design and room for only one lone passenger. It may look like an odd thing on the road to you, but it’s been quite the popular showcase at car shows. The price tag starts at $35,000.

 

Venturi – Fetish

Yet another high end electric sports car, the Fetish by Venturi will be giving the Tesla Roadster some well-deserved competition. Watch out for pricey labor costs if you invest in a Fetish though. Venturi is in the process of developing two more models, the Eclectic and the Astrolab. Range for the Fetish is 155 miles and top speed is 100 mph.

This year in the auto market will see an addition to the tiny segment line of electric cars. As of this past spring, the Wheego company has released its first EV, the LiFe. It looks like a fusion of the Nissan Leaf and SmartCar, runs on lithium ion batteries like most EVs, and has a range of 100 miles on a single charge. Its top speed is 65 miles per hour and the LiFe is perfectly legal on freeways. It is an ideal car for routine commutes and leisurely local driving in cities and other urban areas.

Today, the Wheego LiFe has signed up across dozens of dealerships throughout the nation. The name of the vehicle was originally the Wheego Whip, but was changed to abbreviate lithium and iron (Li and Fe). It’s yet another American car that has its body and chassis manufactured in China. The LiFe has 60 horsepower in its electric motor and features a 30 kilowatt-hour lithium battery pack.

In addition, the Wheego is a two-seater that uses front-wheel drive, thus giving it a greater range. One possible setback for the Wheego is its cabin technology, which only includes a stereo head unit, CD slot, and one USB port. However, a plus is that since this is a subcompact car and weighs less than usual, this increases the LiFe’s range and mileage.

Test drives of the Wheego LiFe have concluded that the car’s driveability may be not up to par compared to other EVs hot in the market now. Evidently, there is a pause in the accelerator when you hit the pedal, reminiscent to how golf carts take off. The LiFe drives fine, but you will experience a slight pause even if you’re in performance mode.

The Wheego LiFe’s current price tag is set at $32,995. But, like any other green car, check for tax credits and incentives. You’ll most likely be able to knock off $7,500 from this original price.

In virtually any green vehicle conversation, the electric car is sure to be a prominent topic. Here are a few popular frequently asked questions about EVs as well as their respective useful answers.

 

Are electric cars really more eco-friendly than gas-powered vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen-fueled cars?

In general, yes. In order to run, electric vehicles must be charged with electricity, which may come from a coal-burning power plant. But even so, it’s more much environmentally friendly to control emissions on a single point of origin (the power plant) as opposed to the massive fleet of gas-guzzling vehicles on the road. Moreover, EVs can receive their electricity from renewable sources, including hydro-electric facilities and solar cells.

 

How far can an EV travel on a single charge?

This depends on the given model’s range. But, it’s typical for an electric car to be able to drive between 50 and 80 miles on one full charge. If you move a few notches on the EV hierarchy and purchase a Tesla electric sports car, the Model S will provide you with up to 300 miles on a single go.

 

How long with an electric car battery last me?

Again, this depends on the type of battery your EV uses. The most popular type of battery for electric cars is the lithium-ion battery, and this can last up to 10 years or longer. Lead acid batteries, which are common in the internal combustion engines of gas-powered cars, may not even last a full year.

 

Why are electric vehicles so pricey?

EVs are a fairly new presence in the automobile market. Each new model is often released in limited quantities, making the demand overwhelm the supply. This naturally spikes up the prices of electric cars. And, it’s also due to the fact that the most important component of an EV, the battery, is very expensive. Replacing one easily costs thousands of dollars.

 

Does it make financial sense to buy an EV instead of a “regular” car?

Right now, the pros and cons of each choice pretty much break even. Electric cars are more expensive than their traditional counterparts, but you’ll be spending a lot less on maintenance if you purchased one. Lithium ion batteries are expensive to uphold, but electricity is cheaper than gasoline and you’d be saving money on a per-mile basis. It also depends on where you live: California offers amazing tax incentives and rebates for consumers who purchase EVs.

All-electric and hybrid vehicles reduce the reliance on petroleum and reduce the emissions of pollutants. However, some studies have been conducted to evaluate whether there are hidden energy and resource costs in the manufacturing of these “green” cars that could result in more damage to the environment than in the case with gas-powered cars.

If such manufacturing damage exists, it probably lies within the battery. All vehicles on the road have batteries, but cars with an internal combustion engine have significantly more compact ones compared to the massive collection of battery cells required for EVs. This is because the battery power needs to sufficiently supply the motor in order to keep the car in motion while driving.

Take the Toyota Prius as an example. It uses a battery technology called nickel-metal hydride (NiMH). As the name implies, it’s based on the element nickel, which is considered a carcinogen. In order for manufacturers to use nickel to produce the battery in the first place, extensive mining must be done. This process is energy intensive, dangerous to the health of miners, and generates cancer-causing pollution. Not a very eco-friendly sounding procedure than what most people would think.

The good news, however, is that most popular EV models in the market today don’t use nickel-metal hydride batteries at all. Instead, the big name in electric car batteries is the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery, an advanced technology that is much more environmentally conscious than NiMH. Lithium mining is substantially less hazardous than other kinds of mineral extraction, including nickel.

All in all, electric motors are much more efficient than gasoline-powered cars. It would be useful to also think about other ways our daily routines have polluting effects, such as not replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, using plasma TVs, and unnecessarily using hair dryers and heaters. Perhaps the next green technology to focus on is personal solar panels or even wind turbines.

So you’ve made the big decision to purchase or lease an electric car. One fundamental question you must now consider is whether or not your EV will be in the auto shop as much as the gas-guzzling sedan you just chucked.

Just like with a gas-powered car, you’ll have to find a reliable, honest mechanic that will commit the time and effort into keeping your EV in good condition at a fair price. Most automobile mechanics are trained in working with internal combustion engines and may be surprised to lift your hood and discover that there isn’t one. This means that you’ll probably have to take your electric car to the dealership for repair and tune-ups more often, unless you luckily find a great EV mechanic.

The motor of an electric car is much more simplistic and hassle-free than a regular vehicle. Thus, the dealership is going to find it difficult to charge you hefty prices when servicing a brand new EV because there’s not much that can be erroneous with it. An electric motor contains at most half a dozen parts, as compared to the hundreds of operational parts in an internal combustion engine. Bottom line: There’s not much an EV motor can wear out on itself, and when it does, it’s fairly easy to fix or replace.

According to some estimates by car experts, maintaining an electric car will cost about one-third the current cost of maintaining a gas-powered car. This isn’t to say, of course, that there will be wear-and-tear issues with your electric vehicle, just like any other car. And it’s important that you routinely check the interior, exterior, gauges, and under the hood to make sure everything is up and running.

 

But, not all is golden with EV maintenance. What you’ll have to keep your eye on the most is the battery. While it doesn’t require very much day-to-day maintenance on your part, it will gradually lose its ability to hold a charge. This is comparable to how cell phones and laptop computers slowly run out of battery no matter how well you handle your devices. Battery draining will begin right when you first turn on your EV, but the draining will be extremely slow in the beginning and eventually creep up in the vehicle’s later years. Electric car batteries don’t so much completely “die” as they fade away.

The typical lithium ion battery for an EV for most models will be in good condition for the first 100,000 miles of driving while maintaining a decent driving range. During these years, however, you might find yourself recharging your battery excessively, or taking your car to the dealership for some reason, or getting the battery replaced for an issue.

And that’s when your jaw will drop when you look at your battery bill. A battery package for the Nissan Leaf, for example, costs about $15,000. As an incentive for consumers to go green, the U.S. Department of Energy plans to bring down the cost of EV batteries by 70% by the year 2014.

Regarded as a comfortable and very modern vehicle by car experts, the 2012 Ford Focus Titanium features a vast array of new electronic devices, a few more cool additions to the former model, and amazing driveability. Read on to hear about the pros, cons, and overall evaluation of this latest EV from Ford.

Before delving into its many plusses, one of the main disadvantages of the Focus hatchback is its poor gas mileage, which racks just a total of 28.8 miles per gallon. This isn’t a terrible number per se, but compared to others in its class, the Focus will have to fight to get to the top. Its six-speed PowerShift automated manual transmission version, on the other hand, receives 28 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway, for a combined EPA rating of 31 mpg. Not too shabby, but again, it could be better. This EV is also a great car to maneuver small, winding mountain roads, thanks to enhanced modifications to its technology.

In terms of its exterior, the Focus’s modern styling will surely make it stand out from the rest when you’re cruising down the highway and has been said to surpass the Prius’s design. Its body is crisp and expressive, without overwhelming the un-intrusive modern look of the car. Inside the cabin of the Focus, the dashboard and instrument panel is able to neatly handle a multitude of controls, screens, and vents, all while looking stylish at the same time. The only thing with the interior is that the radio controls on the base version looks a bit cluttered.

If you are interested in an even higher fuel economy, consider the optional SFE version, which brags a 40 mpg highway mark. The combined average fuel efficiency rating for this edition is 33 mpg and is thanks to the SFE’s aero aids, higher gearing, and low rolling resistance tires.

What’s your take on the new 2012 Ford Focus Titanium? What are some of its other advantages and disadvantages?

Tesla, a leading electric car manufacturer based in Palo Alto, California, is currently working on a small sport utility vehicle that the company will call Model X. They plan to release the model in 2014.

Though it will be branded as a small SUV, Model X will feature a very spacious interior for comfort. The electric drive train and components will take up a lot less space than a conventional gas engine and transmission, so this allows for the roomier cabin.

Tesla is also forming a partnership with Toyota to develop an electric version of the latter’s RAV4, which is a compact sport utility vehicle, which the two companies plan to release to the market in 2012. In the mean time, Tesla continues to work on its Model S sedan at the company’s factor in Fremont, California for the next couple of years until its expected sale, also in 2012.

Tesla’s plan is to produce 20,000 of these EV sedans on an annual basis. The vehicle will have a retail value of $57,000 and the government will offer an additional $7,500. The specifications on this Tesla EV will definitely make it a strong competitor in the green car market: The Model S is expected to accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in under six seconds. On a single charge, it will be capable of a 300 mile range. What’s more, it will have trunk space in both the front and rear end of the vehicle. If this isn’t enough to knock your socks off, it will also have an extra row of fold-up seats for small children in addition to its existing five-passenger capacity.

Industry politics will always play a hand in the fermenting EV movement. During this past June, Tesla sold its shares to the public, making it the only publicly held automaker based in the state of California, as well as the first car manufacturer to float an initial stock offering since Ford Motor Company went public back in 1956.

What are your thoughts on the Model X and Tesla’s role in supporting the green car movement?

This year, many anticipated electric cars will be showcased. Here are just three of the many new and exciting ones to look out for at the next showroom event.

 

Chevrolet Volt – $41,000

The Volt is an 84 horsepower plug-in hybrid from General Motors. It has 25 to 50 miles of all-electric range and a four-cylinder engine that creates power for a 16-kilowatt hour batter back and drive motor. Its 0-60 mph acceleration time is approximated at 8.5 seconds. The Volt won’t be raking in a whole lot of revenue for GM, but it’s the company’s effort to gain eco-friendly credibility and join the growing trend of hybrid vehicles. This is because GM has been known better in its past for producing gas guzzling SUVs.

 

Nissan Leaf – $32,780

The Nissan Leaf is Nissan’s golden nugget and will be manufactured worldwide. Its top speed is at 90 miles and it packs a 24-kilowatt-hour li-ion battery pack paired with an 80-kilowatt electric motor. Although Nissan has yet to release an official 0-60 statistic yet, experts have described the acceleration of the Leaf as sprightly and easy to handle. The company has put a great deal into the marketing and promotions of this car. The Leaf is already iconic for its unique design and will surely be a top competitive in this year’s car market.

 

Coda Sedan – $44,000

Based on the design of a Chinese car, the Coda Sedan’s top speed is limited to 80 miles but has a strong acceleration. In these past few years of its development, this electric four-door sedan has undergone numerous upgrades and passed the U.S. crashing test. Compared to the Leaf, the Coda has a larger pack and thermal battery management, making it a bit pricier as well. It will initially be only available in California, but the company promises that it will eventually cover the rest of the U.S. soon.

The new wave of EVs this year are a bit on the pricey side, but the purchase can be offset by an incentive from the government, which offers a $7,500 federal income tax credit, state rebates, and tax credits with your new purchase.

What’s your favorite new EV and why?