The Electric Car Future Is Here, Today
As gas prices rise, many people are considering the electric car future. Car companies have unveiled new concept plug-in hybrid cars over the last year and the Toyota Prius has a kit that will turn it into a plug-in. Do these events mean that electric cars are the thing of the future? Will they compete with current hybrids?
At the moment, the verdict is still out. Electric cars exist mainly as concept items, still in development. Although the Prius has the plug-in kit available, it voids the warranty when it is used. The electric car has some work to go before it becomes a viable alternative to most consumers, but it does have promise.
An electric plug-in uses batteries, usually lithium ion, which are more powerful than the nickel-metal-hydride batteries in most hybrids. The batteries charge through an electric grid or through the car's gasoline engine. For example, the car can be plugged in for several hours to fully charge the batteries. Once the charge has been depleted through driving or other activities, the plug-in runs like a standard hybrid.
The Toyota Prius kit changes the hybrid to a plug-in. Charging the batteries adds only around 50 cents to a home's electric bill and each charge has a battery-only range of around 31 miles. For individuals with short commutes, the current configuration would work well. A 100 mile trip burns only around one gallon of gasoline with the kit. The Prius kit can cost up to $10,000 over the cost of the vehicle itself and converting the car voids the warranty on the car. Thus, most people do not choose to use this option. However, if electric vehicles became more common, businesses might be persuaded to make plug-ins available, adding to the range of the car. Car companies argue that the lithium ion batteries are too expensive right now for wide scale production. Although many of the companies express interest, no one is making strong production commitments yet. The electric car's future, though, isn't entirely stymied. Researchers argue that improvements in the batteries will continue with more research and testing. Cost is also likely to come down in the future. For the ultra-environmentally conscious, solar panels could be used to power the plug-in grid. Electric cars should be considered a gradual step in making more environmentally cars. Hybrids are already more energy efficient and burn fewer fossil fuels than traditional vehicles. As research continues, the electric car future will continue to increase in potential.
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