With mainstream America finally beginning to embrace the concept of the electric car, there are a lot of questions that prospective car buyers have in purchasing a vehicle that plugs in instead of filling. While not readily available at the moment, a host of electric vehicles are poised to hit the North American market within the year. They may not be right for everyone, but switching to a zero-emission vehicle in the future can greatly impact the environment as we strive to move away from fossil fuel dependency.


How much greener are they?

Contrary to what some people believe, an electric vehicle is not carbon neutral. Even though they may not be burning fossil fuels directly, the electricity they use is often generated through non-sustainable coal and natural gas power plants. In addition, an electric car still takes a lot of resources to manufacture, burning barrels of oil to build, just like any other car. That is not to say they aren't a greener choice. Having no vehicle emissions cuts down on the amount of air pollutants released in the city, creating less health hazards. And being more efficient than gasoline powered cars, electric vehicle are definitely better for the environment overall. As more power plants are converting to using renewable resources (such as solar and wind) to generate electricity, electric cars will only get greener as they age.


Are they reliable?

One of the biggest concerns regarding buying an electric car is the range of the vehicle and the lack of charging stations in the US. However, this "range anxiety" is greatly hyped and in reality, an almost nonexistent factor to most drivers. Almost all modern electric vehicles have the capacity to go 100-300 miles on a single charge. As commuters rarely exceed this driving to and from work, they should never have to worry about running out of power if they plug the car into the wall at night like a cell phone. While there are almost no public charging stations, many parking garages and workplaces are incorporating wall sockets in their complex for electric and hybrid vehicles. With the implementation of higher voltage charge centers, it will be possible to have an electric vehicle receive a full charge in less than an hour.

In terms of mechanics, electric vehicles are actually more reliable than traditional internal combustion engine cars. They have a lot less moving parts and because they utilize electricity that is easily converter to mechanical energy, they require no gearboxes or cooling systems. In addition, they require no oil/filter changes, saving even more money and resources. Down the line, the only major replacement will be the batteries, which are a big cost of the vehicle. However, as battery technology improves and more people turn to electric, the costs will drop significantly. In addition, battery recycling is being embraced by much of the auto industry and programs are already being developed to to recycle the next generation of lithium batteries.


Are they up to par with performance?

The Tesla Roadster electric car goes from 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds. Although their motor power outputs may be smaller, because power flows directly to it, rather than having to rev up, electric cars have constant torque, even at low speeds, creating optimal acceleration. Here's a video comparing it to the new 2011 Porsche Boxster:
 


Many of the currently available electric vehicles are not capable of highway speeds not because of technology, but because of design. Built for short distances to keep costs down, they are primarily used for city driving but by end of the year we will see more commercially available electric vehicles that will perform on par or better than current gas models.


Are they more cost efficient?

In terms of everyday use, at $0.10 kW, driving 40 miles in an electric car will run about $1. At $3 a gallon for gasoline, a traditional car will cost almost $5 to do the same. According to Nissan, the five-year cost of running an electric car will be $1,600 compared to $6,000 for a gas-powered car. With little maintenance needed, electric vehicles are far cheaper to drive than the traditional internal combustion cars.

Unfortunately, as electric cars are still a new market, the actual vehicles are quite expensive and in many cases, such as BMW's electric Mini, are only available on yearly leases. Unlike the European market where electric vehicles are widely available, few fully electric cars are available in North America.

Currently, the only fully equipped electric car that is (relatively) readily available in the US is the Tesla Roadster, which starts at $100,000 - a fair price for a high performance sports car, but impractical for the average family. However, they do plan to release a sedan model in 2012 that will start at $50,000.

Miles Electric Vehicles based in Los Angeles has a few models of electric cars and trucks starting at $20,000. However, they are low speed vehicles that are incapable of highway driving. The ZENN follows suit, pricing in at $12,000-$16,000, but also meant for city driving only.

Phoenix Motors of Delaware is planning to release an all-electric SUV this year, starting at around $45,000. Mitsubishi also has an all-electric vehicle, called the iMiEV that should make it stateside by end of the year.

Nissan is currently taking reservations for its all electric Nissan Leaf vehicle that is due to come out end of this year and become readily available beginning 2011. At a MSRP of $32,780, it is a very affordable vehicle once you factor in the tax savings and can come out to less than $25,000 in some cases. With a 36 month lease of $350/month, expect to see these on the streets shortly. If you are interested, check out their website: http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/

There are also a host of electric versions of popular gas models being tested around the country, including the BMW Mini E, the Ford Ranger EV, and the Toyota RAV4-EV, but these are merely pilot programs and are not currently commercially available yet. With enough demand, though, they should see mass production in the future.


While it is inevitable that the prices of electric vehicles will drop as technology progresses and they become mass-produced, the US government is also doing its part by offering tax credits of $2500 to $7500 for new electric vehicles based on their battery capacity. At an estimated average cost of $45,000 for an electric car that will be available this year, this tax credit can greatly offset the difference in going electric, which may end up saving a lot of money in the long run as a driver will be saving upwards of $4,000 a year on fuel. Hopefully this will all lead us into a greener future.

For those who want to know more about the history and stunted progress of the electric car, pick up Who Killed the Electric Car?. Its a fantastic documentary exploring why everyone in America isn't already driving one. For those that are contemplating going electric for their next vehicle, Plug In America is the best resource!