Cars that run on electricity are on the move and you had better be fast to keep up
with the green dream’ of many,including leading car manufacturers!
Choosing a petrol free alternative means you may still burn rubber, but you will not be burning a hole in your pocket when switching from a fuel guzzling vehicle to a plug-in rechargeable electric car.
Nor will you be contributing to the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and its implication in global warming and climate change!
Cars that run on electricity are the key to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, reducing pollution and easing the reliance for mobility on petroleum reserves.
If that hasn’t set the wheels in motion with regard to considering a change, think about this:
Electric cars (EV) are cheap to service and inexpensive to run. Work it out for yourself. Multiply the litres per 100kms that your car achieves, by the cost of a litre. That figure will rest somewhere between $7.50 and $18. {quotes}Electric cars can cost less than $1 per 100kms to charge{/quotes}. Did you need to look at that last sentence twice? I bet.
Still not entirely convinced? Okay – think about this. There is no need for oil, an oil filter, air filter, radiator or hoses, fan belts, plugs, points, exhaust system, fuel injection, gaskets and definitely no exhaust….(they don’t burn fuel) …..and there’s more.
With an electric car those mind-blowing service costs are simply reduced to grease and safety checks on suspension, brakes and steering. The electric motor has only one moving part. And there is one thing for this car you will not need for the fuel-thirsty vehicles – a power point!
The internal combustion engine (ICE) can reach to up 25 per cent efficiency under ideal conditions when new. The electric motor is 60 per cent to 90 per cent efficient depending on the type and speed of the motor, all through its life.
Okay, so you are under the impression that electric cars can’t last the distance. Wrong again. Ask yourself how far you want to go. Between 10,000 km and 15,000 km is the average distance travelled by Australians in a year. That is between 27 km and 41 km per day. And there will be no stopping for fuel on the way there or back.
When you get home you simply plug the energy efficient vehicle into your domestic electricity supply so that you start the day with a full ‘tank’.
Interested now but haven’t seen the car showrooms sporting EVs. Don’t worry, they will, in time. Nissan has unveiled its plans to have these environmentally sustainable cars in the global market place from 2012.
In the meantime don’t take a back seat. Move along for the ride. Convert one for yourself. Not only is it a relatively easy task but it means you can tailor the car to your own needs. Bigger cars can carry more batteries and therefore have the capacity to cover a greater distance while the small commuter vehicle will easily cover 40 km on a charge.
And it isn’t only the smaller, family vehicles that are being converted to electric. We checked out the Perth branch of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) and found many of its members are converting or have converted the following:
A Mazda RX7, Mazda MX5, Toyota MR2, BMW, Ford Mustang, Mini Moke, Renault 750 also a number of Suzuki’s, Mitsubishis, Camry, kit cars and even a Porsche.
One criticism is that charging an EV from a coal fired power station is dirty and generates more CO2 than burning petrol. Check this out. CO2 emissions, burning each litre of petrol releases between 2.3 and 2.7kg # of CO2, depending on the blend and fuel quality, this does not include the emissions related to sourcing and refining the fuel.
In contrast, 100 per cent coal sourced electricity results in approx 0.96kg # CO2 per kwh of electricity delivered to your power point.
Hopefully, the carbon tax will force producers to switch to renewable methods in the not- too-distant future. But for now, why not opt for the green power product offered by Synergy or do what Dave Waplington Chairman of the Perth AEVA has done? Install solar panels! Smart man.
Thinking about it, if the car manufacturers are pledging to drive the electric vehicle concept that offers a tantalising window to the future – why shouldn’t you?
Don’t stall, get into gear and check out the EV as a car for the future. Those with mechanical aptitude can make their own and the AEVA is on hand to offer practical hep but for those of you who would prefer to have your car converted stick to a commercial business. We know one. Just visit the websites listed for more info.
|  Want help in converting your own vehicle, visit AEVA’s website: www.waeva.asn.au They even have cars for sale occasionally. |
