Why we are asking this now?
The world is becoming really conscious when it comes to saving the earth from further deterioration. ‘Go Green’ is the new age mantra. Products are being designed that are eco friendly and have been recycled. To save the planet earth even fuel used while driving is being replaced by electric engines that claim to power the vehicle like never before and that too sans any pollution.
Shunning all such beliefs is a team at institution’s magazine. A battery operated car that uses lithium-ion technology will hardly cover a distance of 100 miles on a single charge. It is found out that batteries not only cost heavily on one’s pocket in terms of replacement but also will spoil in less than two years. E&T professionals feel that the people will be left disappointed as the electric vehicles will never be able to match up with the conventional ones in terms of performance.
Is it really that serious?
Planning to buy an electric car? Be ready to shell more as they come with special batteries and replacing one will mean an additional $10,000 approximately. Moreover before your vehicle hits the road you will have to decide your destination much in advance as the battery will just let you cover a few miles. And if you exceed this limit be prepared to push your vehicle.
1) Lack of power: Conventional gas powered cars any day weigh more on the acceleration and performance scale. They have much more power than the electric vehicles and are swift while climbing.
2) They cause pollution: Here is a piece of news that will shake your senses a bit. Has anyone ever told you that even these so called ‘clean & green’ electric cars pump up the pollution levels? I bet not. The batteries have been made out of elements that are poisonous in nature and can discharge fumes that are not at all clean. Since the engines run on electricity, it is very much obvious that a few sources will definitely be non-renewable sources of energy.
On the other, EVs might be having lowest or rather say zero tail-pipe emissions, but the emissions are produced in the power stations, generating electricity. The fact leads us to a conclusion that an electric car that covers the same distance on single charge would emit more CO2 than diesel vehicles, for it’s heavier and demands more energy
3) Price factor: EVs are costlier than their petrol counterparts, they emit indirectly as the electricity needed to charge the batteries are generated using coal and in gas-fired power plants, emitting massive green house gases. The whole process not only increase the hidden cost but solves no environment issues.
What others are saying?
Well, it’s time for we people to let you know what some of the most reputed sites on the web say about electric cars.
Nytimes
A DECADE from now, owners of electric cars, having driven their share of clean and green miles, may encounter a dashboard light flashing an unwelcome message: Check Battery.
Dailymail
Electric cars won’t save the planet (they use too much power)
Economictimes
The hope that battery-operated cars can save the earth’s climate by reducing carbon emission is just a “fantasy”.
The developments
If you think that electric cars are a new kid on the block then let me tell you their existence dates back to the 1800’s. The first electric car designed by a Scottish inventor Robert Anderson is known to have made an appearance in 1832-1839. It was wedged with primary cells that were non-rechargeable. This lead to further developments as time passed.
1835: A small locomotive was designed by Thomas Davenport from America. He has been recognized as the first person to have built a realistic electric vehicle.
1891: After a gap of a few decades William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa crafted an electric vehicle that was a success in true sense. A lot of developments took place till the year 1980 in terms of electric modes of transportation.
1990: Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate is passed by California in this year. According to this by 1998 at least two percent of the states vehicles should have no emission and by 2003 a minimum of 10 percent.
1997: The first marketed and commercially mass-produced car named Prius is unwrapped by Toyota in Japan. In the very first production year a good 18,000 units were sold. Such eco-friendly cars were sold in large numbers during the previous decade.
Late 2009: A lot of electric and plug-in hybrids have hit the roads. Models like Chevrolet Volt, Mitsubishi i MiEV and Nissan LEAF will be seen on the roads soon. The first commercially produced and marketed car has failed to come up with a fully electric version.
The main hurdles
Electric cars have existed from quite some years and we see no stopping or stepping back. Brands that make an effort to produce electric versions are applauded and awarded, which encourages others to come up with a product based on same lines. State authorities are backing up such plans, so they are hitting the markets at a fast pace.
What can be done?
The electric driven vehicles can cover only a specific distance on a single charge after which it will leave you stranded. A lot of toxic materials and heavy metals are used during its manufacturing. This further will prove to be very dangerous when it comes to disposing the items made from such harmful metals and materials. Their lightweight can prove to be hazardous in case of an accident. No one knows that the tag ‘pollution free’ will hold true only and only if the source from where electricity is derived has the same tag.