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You are here : home > Gadgets & Gizmos > Related Articles For Gadgets & Gizmos > Electric Vehicles - The Future of Transport

Electric Vehicles - The Future of Transport

Electric Vehicles - The Future of Transport

With rising petrol prices, conventional vehicles have become too expensive to operate. Here is a look at some of the alternatives.

A few decades ago, owning a car was considered a luxury. Today, almost every household has at least one vehicle. From the humble two-wheel scooter to flashy vans, all types and brands of vehicles are represented on the road. Having your own vehicle is a boon because you are no longer dependent only on public transport. However, taking care of it is quite expensive. Vehicles require regular service checks and their parts need to be replaced. In addition, fuel costs too have risen greatly. This has led people to look at alternative means of operating their vehicles. One alternative that has emerged is electric vehicles.

What is an Electric Vehicle?

In the automobile world, the battery-electric vehicle is commonly referred to as an electric vehicle. Rechargeable battery packs serve as the power source for the car. The batteries themselves contain chemical energy. Battery-operated vehicles were among the earliest automobiles built. In the 1830s, Robert Anderson built the first electric vehicle i.e. an electric carriage. From there on, many other people also designed and built battery-operated automobiles.
The early electric vehicles were popular because they did not require any hand cranking to start, unlike the combustion engine-based vehicles. However, they began to lose out once the electric starter was invented for combustion engines. These vehicles slowly started improving technologically, which greatly increased their performance. By the 1930s, battery-operated vehicles were phased out of the market.
These vehicles did not disappear completely. From time to time, companies continued to manufacture electric cars, mostly in the United States. But since petrol was still cheap, most people opted not to go in for these models. By the 1990s, petrol prices slowly started rising. This prompted renewed interest in alternatives like electric vehicles. Consequently, more companies have started to produce these vehicles. At the same time, sales have also remained steady. In India, Reva is the chief manufacturer of electric cars while electric scooters are manufactured by almost all big companies.

What are its Advantages?

The battery-powered vehicle has a number of benefits. Although these vehicles are more expensive to purchase, the overall working of the car makes it cost-effective. This is largely because the cost of the electricity required to charge a battery is much less than the cost of fuel required for the same distance. Some electric cars have proven to be almost ten times cheaper than fuel-powered ones, in terms of distance covered versus cost.
Battery-powered vehicles are also eco-friendly. These vehicles do not produce any exhaust fumes, and hence do not emit any greenhouse gases or other poisonous fumes. They are also much quieter than conventional vehicles.
Since the vehicle runs on electricity, it also has fewer moving parts. This makes the vehicle cheaper to both build and maintain. Electric vehicles also have a regenerative braking system. This puts less stress on the brakes themselves and reduces the friction on them. The relatively easy maintenance means that the vehicle can be used by anyone. In fact, most electric vehicles are targeted at women and teenagers.

What are its Disadvantages?

The disadvantages of electric vehicles are mostly related to its rechargeable battery. The battery can be recharged but has a relatively short lifespan. Replacing the battery is an expensive proposition due to the high cost of the batteries. The batteries may be charged at home or outside, using a suitable energy source.
On an average, a battery may take up to an hour to charge, depending on the type of the battery and charging source. Battery efficiency also varies between different cars. Generally, batteries are calibrated for a specific car model and will be less effective in a different model.
Another disadvantage is that an electric vehicle can only travel a certain distance before it needs to be recharged. Since recharging stations are currently not available everywhere, an individual cannot take his car out for a long distance drive.

The electric vehicle is not completely ready to displace its fuel-powered counterpart. Yet, with continued research, the scenario is changing. It is expected that one day, electric vehicles will replace their fuel-driven rivals.



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Rajnath
Rajnath.10 years ago
I think electric cars are a good choice. as for frequent charging, government should soon make charging points so as to encourage these vehicles.
 
 
 
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Suketu
Suketu.10 years ago
Electric vehicles will not work in the long run as they need to be charged and this is very difficult when going for a long distance.
 
 
 
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Sudesh
Sudesh.10 years ago
Electric vehicles are the answer to all fuel problems. they will be much cheaper and less polluting.
 
 
 
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Discussion Forum - Recent Posts
What do you think of electric cars? Would you consider buying one for your family´ s use? Do you think electric vehicles can ever challenge traditional automobiles?
Vinod Vinod
I don' t really think that this type of vehicle will work in our country. This is not like a mobile phone where you can carry your charger around and just plug it in whenever you need. Unless the infr...
read reply
Kirti Kirti
Nowadays, owning a car has become so expensive. Petrol prices are just rising and rising. Also looking after your car and getting parts replaced is also such a pain. I wish I could have an electric ca...
read reply
Neeta Neeta
You are simply being negative. So what if electric cars can only be used for short distances for now. At least you are still not wasting petrol. I' m sure that after a few years, we will be able to us...
read reply
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