What’s Wrong with Electric Cars? What’s Wrong with Electric Cars?

At first glance electric cars look like a very green alternative to our current gas powered cars. At first glance electric cars look like a very green alternative to our current gas powered cars. Before you buy an electric car, ask yourself these questions first. Before you buy an electric car, ask yourself these questions first.

Question 1 Question 1 If the car makers produced a car that ran on coal? Would you buy it? Would you buy it?

What powers power plants

Power Plants Coal power generates over 50% of our electricity and is the single biggest air polluter in the U.S. Coal power generates over 50% of our electricity and is the single biggest air polluter in the U.S. source ucsusa.org, epa.org source ucsusa.org, epa.org Coal plants emit carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and many other pollutants.

Question 2 What if you forget to plug your car into its charger or your electric car’s battery runs ‘out of gas” when you are miles from home? Where do you recharge it?

Recharging the Electric Car Electric cars have a range of approximately 100 miles Electric cars have a range of approximately 100 miles Recharge time- at least three hours Recharge time- at least three hours Recharge stations- not currently available Recharge stations- not currently available The infrastructure needed to support and recharge electric cars will be costly to build. The infrastructure needed to support and recharge electric cars will be costly to build.

Question 3 How easy is it to repair a broken-down electric car? How easy is it to repair a broken-down electric car? Parts are expensive and hard to find due to low demand and they are complicated to install. Parts are expensive and hard to find due to low demand and they are complicated to install. You have to be a licensed electrician and a licensed to work on them You have to be a licensed electrician and a licensed mechanic to work on them

Batteries A replacement battery will cost between $1,000 and $2,000 and will need to be replaced every four years. A replacement battery will cost between $1,000 and $2,000 and will need to be replaced every four years. Hard to dispose of since the batteries are either Lithium-ion or Nickel metal-hydride and not the lead-acid type used by most current cars. Hard to dispose of since the batteries are either Lithium-ion or Nickel metal-hydride and not the lead-acid type used by most current cars.

Question 4 Could the electromagnetic interference (emi) from handheld devices like cellphones cause the electric car to dangerously malfunction?

Source: USA Today

The Dangers of EMI Can cause improperly shielded critical systems such as Can cause improperly shielded critical systems such as steering, brakes and throttle control to malfunction with dangerous results EMI has been suspected as a cause in recent hybrid car malfunctions. EMI has been suspected as a cause in recent hybrid car malfunctions. Electric cars generate more EMI than hybrid cars Electric cars generate more EMI than hybrid cars

Other Problems A lack of mechanical parts and linkages. A lack of mechanical parts and linkages. Electrical cars are control by wires and sensors instead of linkages (drive-by-wire) Electrical cars are control by wires and sensors instead of linkages (drive-by-wire) A simple electrical failure could leave the driver unable to steer or stop the car. A simple electrical failure could leave the driver unable to steer or stop the car.

Summery Harmful to the environment Harmful to the environment Fossil fuel-powered electrical plants Fossil fuel-powered electrical plants Batteries not eco-friendly Batteries not eco-friendly Expensive to buy, maintain and repair Expensive to buy, maintain and repair Could dangerously malfunction due to electrical problems Could dangerously malfunction due to electrical problems