Electric cars have been around for nearly two-hundred years. Robert Anderson, a Scottish inventor, developed the first electric vehicle in 1832. However, it wasn’t until the 1870s that they became practical. In the United States in 1890, William Morrison created the first successful electric car. It was effectively not much more than an electric wagon. However, it triggered an interest in electrically driven vehicles.
Electric cars, however, became more of a reality in 1900 through Thomas Edison, who worked on electric car batteries throughout the first decade of the 20th century. Electric cars made-up 28% of total car sales in the US.
Gasoline vehicles
Two decades later, the popularity of electric cars declined significantly as they were unable to cover longer distances, which did not please consumers. Over the next 20 years, electric cars where nearly completely forgotten by the general population. People had clearly shown a preference for gasoline cars.
Sales of gasoline cars grew dramatically, as did CO2 emissions and their associated environmental damage. CO2 stands for carbon dioxide. As car pollution increased during the last century across the globe, consumers and producers gradually began to become interested in electric cars again.
Today, electric vehicles are the focus of many Governments’ industrial strategy.They are regarded as part of the solution to air pollution, global warming, and climate change.
A renewed effort in the creation of efficient electric cars emerged 2006 with the introduction of Tesla’s masterplan to launch electric vehicles. Tesla’s electric vehicles could travel up to 200 miles on a single charge.
In 2017, global sales of electric vehicles hit an all-time high of 649,000 units – a 46% increase from the previous year. Statistics point to an increasing mainstream adaption of electric cars. With the strict enforcement of CO2 emission regulations, automotive manufacturers are now much more focused on developing electric cars.
Electric Cars have a Bright Future
Not that long ago, being able to afford an electric car with a long range in between charges was something we could only dream about. What was once a dream has now become reality.
Car manufacturers are currently prioritizing electric cars over their gasoline counterparts. This is happening in both developed and developing countries. Additionally, governments and regulatory bodies have contributed significantly to the growth in the mainstream adaption of electric cars. They have introduced various initiatives including tax exemptions, subsidies, and grants to manufacturers and consumers. Some have announced target dates by which gasoline car production will cease completely.
The UK government, for instance, made an announcement to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans from 2040. By then, all vehicles produced will be electrically driven.
Government tax income will decline considerably if they no longer receive fuel duties. However, they can make up for some of this loss by taxing vehicle charging. Even if this new tax does not make up for all the fuel tax lost, governments say they will push ahead with the shift towards electric vehicles regardless.
What are the Benefits of Electric Cars?
As mentioned earlier, electric cars come with numerous benefits. They are energy efficient, easy to operate, and not so much of an issue when it comes to weight. A growing number of gasoline filling stations also have fast-charging facilities. As more electric cars hit our roads, so will new recharging stations.
Other benefits include:
Cheaper to run and maintain
Electricity is cheaper to run compared to gasoline or diesel. Basing on the cost per mile, an electric car costs a third or less than its gasoline or diesel counterparts. Additionally, electric cars have fewer components compared to traditional petrol or diesel cars. This means that they are much cheaper to maintain.
Environmentally friendly
Electric cars do not emit toxic fumes or CO2. Even if we factor in the generation of the electricity in power plants, they are still more environmentally friendly. When you compare the difference in greenhouse gas emissions between the two types of vehicles, electric cars are clearly the winners. In large cities such as Los Angeles and Mexico City, where smog is a serious public health problem, going electric makes sense.
If people use renewable energy to recharge their vehicles, they will be able to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions even more.
Comfortable and quiet
Electric cars provide an exhilarating driving experience thanks to their electric motors which are quiet and still provide high levels of torque with smooth acceleration.
Safety
Electric vehicles tend have a lower center of gravity than gasoline-driven cars. This means that their likelihood of rolling over is lower.
If a gasoline car crashes, there is a seirous danger of fire or even an explosion. This is not the case with battery cars.
Conclusion
Electric cars, which are commonly referred to as plug-in electric vehicles, are fun, practical, and significantly reduce greenhouse gases emissions. They also save you a lot of money.
As more and more electric vehicles come onto our roads, we might have to face some serious challenges ahead. We will need to make sure that our energy infrastructure can cope with the growing demand for electricity. In other words, we will need to make sure we can generate enough electricity and have plenty of recharging points.
Battery recycling is another growing challenge we will have to deal with. You cannot simply throw a battery away. Consumers will need good sources of Auto Advice so that they are better able to choose the best electric cars to suit their needs.