 | Eddie Walsh is the Sales Manager for Evans Motors and has worked there for 28-years. He resides in Girard with his wife Christina of 24 years and daughter Alexandria. Eddie has lived in S.E. KS all of his life and has built a good customer base by being fair and sharing empathy with them. For more information or to reach Eddie please call 620-724-6457 or visit www.evansmotors.net. |
Cars, Trucks, Vans & Automotive
2011-04-01 10:42:00
Insight on electric vehicles
Question: Can you tell us a little about electric cars?
Answer: Although many people tend to think of electric vehicles, also known as EVs, as a recent innovation, they actually have been around quite a while. In fact, the first electric vehicles were invented in the early 1800s. However, it was not until very recently that technology has advanced to the point of making the electric car a real possibility for every day use on a large scale.
Since the battery in an electric car runs everything, it needs to be strong and long lasting, something that has been very difficult to achieve until recently. This limitation has made it difficult for electric powered vehicles to compete against gas powered cars that have had a significantly wider range that can be can reached on a tank of gas versus a single charge for an electric vehicle.
As the technology used to create batteries improves, more and more major car makers are manufacturing electric car options that are beginning to rival their gas powered counterparts for most drivers.
Electric vehicles get about 100 miles to a single charge, which for most every day drivers is quite sufficient. It takes about 6 to 8 hours of charging. While the charging and range may be a drawback, it certainly has the edge on cost efficiency to run. While gas cost 12 cents per mile and is increasing, it cost about 2 cents a mile to run an electric car. Electric cars also have few costs associated for maintenance.
One of the recent advancements making the EV a real option is regenerative braking technology which uses kinetic energy from braking to recharge the battery while in use. This technology is extending the charge life by as much as 50%.
One of the concerns for most consumers is the lack of recharging stations available at present, making long trips a little problematic. In response to the demand and the many EVs soon to be available, manufacturers are starting to put recharging stations infrastructures in place. One major manufacturer has recently cut a deal with a hotel chain to let patrons and drivers of their EV charge their cars overnight.
Are there disadvantages to EVs? Certainly. As with most things, gas powered vehicles have their drawbacks as well. In most cases, the drawbacks are easily overcome and only require slight accommodations, which could be good for car buyers in the near future. In closing, all I can say is be prepared and welcome this new technology. At $4.00 plus per gallon of gas, we will all have some type of electronic car or hybrid in the near future…
