Electric Cars For Sale: Revenge Of The Electric Car
February 12th, 2010 Posted in Green Living & News
Electric cars are the future. They are one of the few ways we can help save the Earth’s valuable energy and get around.
Some electric cars were developed in the 90’s, but did not succeed in becoming a staple in the American economy. However, there has been a recent push to make the electric car more accessible to the regular American family.
The electric car gives you the ability to get around with ease and at the same time not pollute the air. By just plugging in your car at night, you are able to charge its battery and drive at your leisure soon after. Many people today are even personally converting their cars to be electric and as a result more eco-friendly. Smart cars (popular mostly in Europe) have also begun the change over to electric.
Originally developed in the early 90’s, the electric car did not make it too far because of many contributing factors. In the documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?, the director points out all the breakthroughs that were made with the development of the electric car, but how many tried and succeeded at making it an unsuccessful venture.
Oil companies, consumers and the automotive companies all contributed to the auto industry staying the same and not being affected by the development of this new type of car. Many think its life was short lived and that too many people got in the way of letting the electric car thrive. Therefore, any hope of developing and distributing an electric car died.
Recently, this has changed drastically. The United States government has put billions on an electric-car future in hopes of spurring change in the industry. By giving money to auto companies, they can help give them incentive to build, distribute and sell electric battery run cars.
This is a gamble, but at this point it is a move we have to take. It doesn’t stop here. The United States government has also given out loans to companies in hopes of developing more electric trains, buses and other forms of transportation.
Some of these developments have already been put to use in the United States. The green minibus is the perfect example of one of these successful ventures. The bus has mobile solar panels the capture sunlight and turn it into energy to run the buses engine. It has gained much popularity in the D.C. area where this new technology has debuted.
By making this push towards eco-friendly transportation the United States government is helping to ensure a brighter future. If the popularity of these new means of transportation continue to rise (along with endorsements of the Federal government) it looks like the electric car will get its long overdue revenge.
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By joe p on Feb 12, 2010
What’s the point of this article? The author doesn’t discuss the many shortcomings, expense, impracticality of why the electric car failed in the 90’s that are still true today. Both the EV1 and RAV4 EV’s from the 90’s supposedly had a range of 100 miles. Today’s electric cars like the E Mini and Nissan Leaf haven’t improved on that range.
Significant Federal subsidies are putting EVs in the news, but the market will determine if it’s a sustainable design.
The only development that makes sense are hybrid designs or maybe plug in hybrids, because they offer the same capability for only an incremental cost increase. Neither the Mini E or Leaf can claim that.
By Julia Costa on Feb 13, 2010
I watched that documentary and was shocked that the car companies destroyed all those electric cars that could have been put to good use in helping the environment.
By EcoSMART Brian on Feb 15, 2010
Hello Joe,
Thanks for the discussion.
I agree it will be the market that determines whether the electric care will be successful.
I’m just pointing out the potential of this emerging market, the factors that have and will influence it, and the government’s attempt to spur its the growth.
Check this article out about the government’s attempt to support the electric car and alternative fuel markets:
http://www.energy.gov/news/8581.htm