With the ever increasing price of gas and no end in sight, the interest in motor vehicles that use alternative sources of fuel is growing. As of 2008 there are at least 18 brands of electric cars on the market.
Many automobile manufacturers are turning towards offering electric cars to consumers. One of the newest to get in on the sector is Tata Motors. The Company chairman’s report at an annual general meeting revealed that the electric car will be produced in collaboration with a company based in Norway. The Tata electric car should be available by the end of 2008 and internationally by sometime in 2009.
In mid-July, Mitsubishi Motors announced that their i-MiEV electric cars should be on the market beginning in 2009. The Company plans on completing and selling at least 2,000 of the i-MiEV within the first year of its launch.
The continuing research and interest in electric cars have led to major development. One area where the most focus is being placed is on increasing the mileage between recharges. Currently this is the biggest challenge facing the industry. Currently electric cars using lead-acid batteries (the most common type) are said to travel up to 80 miles per charge. The newly improved lithium ion batteries boast a range of 250-300 miles per charge. However, these are quite expensive.
Nissan recently revealed that the company plans on rolling out electric cars in the USA and Japan by 2010. The automaker plans to extend its range by introducing an international roll out of these cars by 2012. Nissan is not the only automaker planning on extending its range of electric cars in the foreseeable future. According to Nissan, electric cars should generate a profit in just a few years.
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Interestingly, not only are some car manufacturers looking at improving the abilities of electric cars, but some like GM, are thinking ahead. GM is also looking at the infrastructure available to recharge electric cars to ensure consumer safety. In the latter part of July, General Motors reported that it was forging ties with a US organization, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), to look at issues such as: how many garages have the correct plugs needed and if these plugs are in the right place in the garage, how many persons do not have garages, and putting in place strategies for public charging facilities. In March, Ford Motor Company also revealed that they are working with EPRI to determine how the Ford Escape can “fit into the nation’s electric power grid…”
The major innovations and improvements so far has been in the batteries used to power electric cars. One company already working hard on improving battery-power is Superlattice Power Inc. Superlattice is working on a material that will work with the standard Lithium Ion Polymer battery to increase both speed and range of electric cars. With this new technology, Superlattice envisions that its new battery will enable electric cars to be driven at least 200 miles before needing to be recharged.
In the next three to five years, many countries will have seen an increase in the fleet of such cars on the road. Thailand for example is looking at offering improved incentives to its automakers to produce hybrid vehicles as a matter of priority.
For those who want to keep abreast of developments in alternate-fuel vehicles, there are many sites on the Internet that are useful. Not only do they have helpful articles, but they provide current data to keep you informed.
Most challenges facing electric cars have been solved except for the battery issue. Many are now larger and therefore roomier than before. Like regular gas-powered cars, electric cars also have onboard GPS systems and radio. The future is still ahead of us, but electric cars are bound to have all the bells and whistles of a traditional gas powered car due to all the attention this technology is currently getting.
Thank you to Jessica McCurdy Crooks for this “Electric Car News” article.