Disadvantages of Electric Cars

With all the current emphasis on going "green" and protecting the environment, it is no wonder that the electric car has come center focus. Especially now with soaring gas prices, consumers want to know their options. Traditional gas powered vehicles have long been the focus of those concerned with environmental issues, and so invariably inventors and car manufacturers look to improve the technologies available on the electric car.

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If you are considering the purchase of an electric car, you need to be realistic about their benefits. They've come a long way recently but they still have some significant disadvantages, and there are still limitations to their use and wide spread availability. Here are some disadvantages you may want to consider when evaluating if an electric car is feasible for your transportation needs:

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1. Electric cars are expensive to own. If you've checked into the price of an electric car, you know they are not "low end". It's not so much the price of the car as it is the price of the batteries which they run on. If you've purchased batteries you know how the costs can add up quickly, and the batteries used in electric cars are lithium-ion, which are expensive. Also keep in mind that eventually the battery packs will need to be replaced, as they have a life of approximately 3 to 4 years.

2. The batteries will need to be recharged. A second disadvantage to an electric car is that the batteries will need to be recharged. This will require advanced planning because you'll have to allow adequate time for the batteries to be fully charged. Now this might not sound like that big of a problem but if you are thinking of purchasing an electric car then you will need to make an honest assessment of how much you will use your vehicle. An extended or unplanned trip could be problematic if you haven't had time to fully recharge the batteries.

3. Limits on driving distance. If you drive long distances, an electric car might not suit your needs, so you will need to consider how far you plan on driving your car. Most of the electric cars have limits on how many miles they can go before needing a recharge. Electric car maker ZAP recently announced that their electric car could travel up to 100 miles per single charge, but many people drive more miles than that round trip on a daily commute to work. This is definitely a limitation for those who intend to use the vehicle for getting to and from their place of employment. You certainly would not want to run out of batteries if you got stuck in a rush hour traffic jam.

4. Lack of power. Another disadvantage to the electric car is the lack of power, specifically quick pickup. If you do a lot of interstate driving there are going to be times when you will need to accelerate quickly to merge into traffic.

Electric cars have come a long way in recent years but still have to overcome a few more obstacles before becoming widely embraced as a solution for many consumers.

Disadvantages of Electric Cars

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Electric Cars - What Are the Disadvantages of Driving an Electric Car?

Range: how far can I drive and where can I recharge?

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This is probably the biggest current drawback of electric vehicle technology. Not only are current electric vehicles limited by range, there is minimal current recharging infrastructure in place for high speed recharging of EV's and batteries become prohibitively expensive when trying to increase the range of your vehicle. If you typically do a lot of long distance commuting, then an electric vehicle is perhaps not the best choice. EV's are suited presently to the city as commuting distances are small and recharge points are more available.

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The Tesla has a range of around 240 miles which is a significant distance, however comes at a fairly high price point around the 0,000 mark. Less expensive electric cars have a smaller range and top speed and are suited more to city driving. These are also more affordable and are much lighter vehicles. Many potential electric vehicle owners define this as their number one disadvantage of current electric car technology.

It should be noted however that large recharging infrastructure networks are being installed around countries to offer high current low time charging solutions. Some of the faster charging options allow 20-30minute recharge times which is perfect for that coffee and a burger stop. Recharging through a standard household socket however will take many hours due to the single phase 10amp limitation of many power points.

Furthermore, lithium nickel and lithium air batteries are currently being developed in the Japan and the US respectively identifying potentially 3 - 6 times the energy density of current lithium ion batteries. Lithium polymer batteries are another good example which show that future battery technology will be far superior to that of current electric vehicle battery technology and range will become less of an issue as these technologies enter wide spread distribution at lower cost points.

How fast will it go?

This one really depends on how many batteries, what type of batteries (and really how much you want to spend on the electric car or EV conversion). You will also need a motor which matches the battery and controller combination. Many still think of an electric car as sluggish, however cars like the Tesla have proven that to be quite the opposite in some cases. The fast accelerating cars will be expensive as they require high discharge batteries, high current controllers and powerful motors. There is also a pay off with top speed. If you want a fast accelerating vehicle, it may have to be geared lower which will in turn reduce the top speed of the vehicle. Generally gear boxes are not required in an electric vehicle however as an electric motor can rev very high.

Can I get that classic V8 hum?

Sorry buddy - electric cars are very quiet. You will hear a bit of an electric motor sound which is kind of cool (sort of mimics the sound of a jet engine), but gone will be the days of the rumbling roar of a V8 if you buy an electric vehicle.

Are electric cars safe?

There have been concerns from past lithium ion battery packs exploding or over heating however with a battery management system, these issues are gradually being resolved. The biggest risk is the high voltage wiring inside your electric car which traditional petrol powered vehicles don't have. The key is to have accelerometer kill switches and automatic disconnectors which isolate the batteries the moment the vehicle is in an accident. Generally electric vehicles offer better safety if well designed and road worthy since mass is distributed lower and towards the perimeter of the vehicle, and there is no flammable petrol or gas on board.

When charging the vehicle special attention must be given to methods of recharging to avoid electric shock. Done properly through a well designed recharge point is the key to success here.

Finally the need for a gear box is removed, and this allows the driver to concentrate on the road and other distractions rather than changing gears.

Where can I service it?

Although service stations which specialize in electric vehicle servicing are minimal presently, there will certainly be many popping up as more electric vehicles enter the market. Luckily electric vehicles need minimal servicing with only one moving part on the drive side and no gear box, clutch, oil change etc. There should be one service point in your city at least and most mechanics will be able to diagnose simple problems or refer you to an electrician to fix the wiring.

In summary are EV's good or bad?

As we have seen there are a lot of downsides to electric cars, the most significant of these being the car's range. If people can't drive to their favourite holiday location 400km's away for their long weekend break then it will reduce the number of potential buyers straight away. The price and vehicle acceleration are also major issues which need looking at. Lastly things like the sound it makes, how it looks, the ergonomics of driving and servicing issues can all contribute to the decision to go with a standard off the shelf gas guzzler. As we see electric vehicle technology increase however, we will no doubt see many changed which make the electric vehicle a clear winner as it overcomes some of these drawbacks.

Electric Cars - What Are the Disadvantages of Driving an Electric Car?

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Advantages & Disadvantages of Electric Cars

With the price of oil soaring and gasoline prices rising as a result, the desire for alternative fuels is higher than ever. Electric cars are one alternative mode of transportation that eschews the use of gas. Electric cars have both advantages and disadvantages as an alternative mode of transportation.

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Advantages of Electric Cars
Electricity is everywhere and easy to come by. We do not need to set up electricity stations on the corner to re-charge our cars. It can be done at home. Electric vehicles are noiseless. There are no emissions from electric vehicles. As a result the environment will be cleaner with less smog and greenhouse gases. Electric cars are easy to assemble. They have few moving parts so they require less time and effort to put together. Electric cars require less maintenance. So not only will the owner save money on gas purchases but there will be less maintenance costs. There may be tax credits or rebates possible if an electric car is purchased. Check with your city and insurance company to see if they have any specials rates or rebates if you purchase an electric car. The power plants that produce the electricity for the cars do pollute the environment but pollution from these power plants can be controlled better than gasoline engines.
Disadvantages of Electric Cars
One charge on a battery can take the car approximately 160km. Therefore if you plan on traveling a long distance this is not the car to use. It takes 6-8 hours to fully recharge the battery. You can not expect to be ready to go in a few minutes after wearing down the battery. There is no battery charging stations along highways for long distance travel. And if there were it would take too long to completely re-charge your car. Your home must be outfitted with a charging station to recharge the car battery. Your electric bill will probably increase as you have to draw power from your home electrical system to charge your car. Electric cars cannot compete with gas powered cars in terms of speed and acceleration. Technology has not yet developed an electrical system as powerful as a gas powered vehicle. Accessories such as air conditioning will drain the battery faster.Today electric vehicles work wonderfully for short distance travel and would be ideal for the weekend or for the individual that works at home. Electric vehicle manufacturers are working hard to make this car efficient and worthwhile for everyone. In the meantime the gas/electric hybrid is an effective substitute for the long distance driver. While it does save on gas there is no need to re-charge the vehicles battery.

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Advantages & Disadvantages of Electric Cars

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