Electric Cars

Electric cars use alternative energy source to power the car. An electric drive vehicle needs electricity, which comes from sources such as batteries or a generator. This flexibility allows the drive train of the vehicle to remain the same, while the fuel source can be changed. The electricity used to propel the vehicle may be provided in several ways, some of them more ecological than others. Examples would be a rechargeable electric storage system like batteries or capacitors or more economical methods like solar power or the new fuel cell being developed by Honda in the Clarity FCX hydrogen fuel car.

Electric vehicles have several advantages over a regular petrol/ diesel engines.

• They are more energy efficient and use up to 85% of the energy stored in the batteries where as regular engine only uses approximately 20%of the energy stored in the petrol/diesel tank.
• Electric vehicles emit no C02 through the exhaust although the battery generator may emit some.
• Electricity is a domestic power source which means it is readily available and easy to come by.
• Electric vehicles require less maintenance are much quieter and are smoother to operate than a regular petrol/diesel engine.

The disadvantage of Electric vehicles are.

• In cold weather to heat the car a considerable amount of energy is required from the battery to heat the interior of the vehicle.
• With a regular petrol/diesel engine this comes from the waste heat in the engine coolant system. To counter this effect newer electric vehicles are being designed with extra insulation so the body heat of the passengers can help to heat the cabin.
• Electric vehicles have a limited range generally an electric vehicle will travel only up to 100-120klms with good quality batteries where as a regular petrol diesel engine can travel up to 600klms on a full tank of fuel.
• Electric vehicles also have long recharge times some up to 8 hours for a full charge, and you would have to charge your vehicle at home as there are very few recharging stations available.

Good luck,

LDrivers.ie