There’s no denying that one of the most exciting types of vehicles you can buy today are electric cars. From the unique Renault Twizy to the luxurious Tesla Model S, there’s a car for everyone.
You would think that there’d be a huge take-up of electric cars. Especially given their environmental benefits. But, sales of EVs have yet to compete with those of conventional vehicles.
So, is there anything that electric car manufacturers can do to offer a more convincing case? Well, it turns out there is, and some of the following ideas are already in development:
Extend the range on a full charge
One of the biggest criticisms EV manufacturers face is the limited range offered. Many electric cars can only achieve a realistic range of just 100 miles before needing a charge.
Some vehicles, such as the Tesla I mentioned a moment ago, offer more than three times that amount. But, for most EVs, the capacity isn’t available. There are two reasons that stand in the way: technology and cost.
The former is something that car makers are working on as I type this. But, the main issue is with the latter reason: the cost. You can’t increase battery capacity without passing on the cost of extra parts. And that means fewer motorists will buy EVs.
Car makers need to increase battery capacity. And they need to do so without driving up the cost of buying their vehicles.
Wireless charging
Another bugbear that electric vehicles must contend with is charging. Sure, you can have a dedicated charging point installed at your home. And you can use one of the many public ones available in most areas.
But, that means you have to wait while your car is getting a charge before you can continue your journey. The answer to that conundrum, of course, is wireless charging!
In England, trials are due to start of under-road charging for electric vehicles. That’s thanks to a five-year, £500-million project. In South Korea, wireless charging is already available – albeit for the country’s electric buses.
If wireless or “inductive” charging were available, it would get rid of “range anxiety.” And I can tell you, I’d be the first person to sell my car with AutoTrader and get a new electric vehicle. I’d also encourage the rest of my family to do the same!
Better prices
The main hurdle with electric cars is that some of them are out of people’s reach. They cost more to buy than conventional petrol and diesel alternatives. That’s because the technology costs car makers more money to use. And that means those extra costs get passed onto you, the consumer.
Car makers and their suppliers need to reach better deals to help lower the cost of electric vehicles. There is only so much in the way of fossil fuels that we can use on Earth!
I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading today’s blog post. Do share with us your thoughts on the subject, and feel free to share a link to the article on your social media pages. See you soon!