Tag Archives: electric car range

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The Choice Conundrum: Are Electric Cars All The Same?

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For enthusiasts of green motoring, the last few years have certainly brought more good news than the decades that went before them. With governments worldwide looking at moving away from fossil fuel vehicles within the next few decades, companies that want to keep up with the changing marketplace are being forced to look into new technology. Electric and hybrids seem to be the way of the future, but what does this change mean for right now?

We do know that, traditionally, there’s been less choice for the green motorists compared to petrolheads. Given we’re now well into the age of non-fossil fuel cars, are the choices improving for the green-minded car enthusiast?

The good news is that some vehicles are appearing on the horizon that answer that question in the affirmative; choice is no longer the reserve of the piston engine.

Manufacturers Are Accepting The Inevitable

The news of more and more countries looking at going electric is a positive step for the environment, but most announcements have come with an underwhelming deadline of the late 2030s. However, the effect on manufacturers has been a pleasant surprise, as they are beginning to see the futility of continuing to develop all-fossil fleets.

One result of this acceptance is that electric vehicles are going to join the true, reliable heavyweights of the road. A great example of this is the forthcoming Land Rover PHEV LSE. With a sturdy workhorse frame, this is an electric vehicle that gives a feeling of safety on the road, and a welcome addition to the Chevy Bolt in that respect. As a result of its reassuring sturdiness, the feeling of needing a car accident law firm number to hand “just in case” of any unexpected surprises, should diminish with the PHEV LSE.

The Electric Car Range Problem Is Getting Better

Until recently, if you could find an electric vehicle that would do more than 200 miles per charge, you held onto it for dear life. With charge points not exactly around every corner, range has been the defining issue of all electric cars to date.

Good news, then, comes in the shape of a few cars that are soon to be released to the market. The Tesla Model S is capable of hitting 295 miles before needing a charge. Furthermore, Mercedes have announced that their EQ — slated for 2019 — will have a range of 311 miles. These models show that the improvements in range might be slow, but they are getting better.

“Affordable” Will No Longer Mean “Awful”

The inconvenient truth for many electric car fans is that, if you want quality, you either have to pay a lot or accept a small range. Fortunately, the gap in the market for a longer range green car that you’ll actually want to drive is now in the midst of being filled. As you might expect, Tesla are the ones blazing the trail, with their Model 3 about to hit the streets at an affordable $35,000– and a 215 mile range. Electric cars that are affordable and go the distance? The future might just be green after all.

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How Manufacturers Can Make A More Convincing Case For Electric Cars

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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:

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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!

Ford Focus Electric, Mitsubishi iMiev, Model S, Nissan Leaf

Electric Vehicles Available Now

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Since 2008, we have been covering the electric vehicle market, and things have certainly changed since then.  Back in the day, an electric vehicle startup, Tesla Motors, perked international interest with the Tesla Roadster.  Then dozens of concepts, specialized automakers, and eletrofitters rolled in. I remember when it was only the little guys like ZAP, Think, Tesla, Zenn, etc. We’ve seen exotic supercars and concepts like the Eliica, Aptera, and Lightning GT, and low speed, neighborhood electric vehicles like the BG-100 and REVA. Some came to fruition, some did not.  This international attention  garnered the interested of the major automakers like Ford, GM, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.  These majors not only created concepts, but have begun delivering electric vehicles in mass.  Here are a few fully charged, highway capable 2012 models for the masses that you can order for delivery right now. In the US, these all qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

The 2012 Ford Focus EV is one of my favorites because, from the outside, you can’t even tell that it is an EV. The Ford Focus EV is built on the same glider as the third generation ICE model. The EPA rated its range at 76 miles per charge and a fuel economy of 105 MPG equivalent. Production began in December 2011, in Wayne, Michigan.

I had a chance to drive the first model of the  Mitsubishi i-MiEV at the 2010 New York Auto Show. I preferred it too the Mini-E, because it had more natural coasting and braking, and the battery was tucked under the carriage instead of being jammed in the back hatch area. On the Japanese test cycle, the vehicle has a 100 mile charge, but the EPA, the harsh critics they are, rated it at merely 62 miles. Over 20,000 of these little buggies have been sold worldwide. Prices vary widely regionally and so do tax incentives. In the Japanese market, the i-Miev is only $23,000 after subsidies, in Europe and the US it’s about $30,000, and $50,000 in Australia.

I have already spotted a few 2012 Nissan Leafs  in the wild already.  Although, I don’t know why so many people choose the seemingly trademark, “blue ocean” color.  The EPA rated this hatchback at 73 miles-per-charge. After tax incentives in the US, the price is solidly below $30k at $27,000.  Nissan is claiming an increase in range and a pretty significant decrease in price in the next model year.

We are all still wrapping our heads around a company from Palo Alto, California won the Motor Trend Car of the Year with the 2012 Tesla Model S. Not Detroit, Japan, or Germany, but essentially a company founded by a guy who made his first millions from PayPal. The award really means something though: that technology, innovation, and thinking outside the box in the automotive world can really evolve the industry in ways not possible through traditional thinking. Motor Trend states the $50,000 supercar (after US tax credits) “smoothly effortless as a Rolls-Royce, can carry almost as much stuff as a Chevy Equinox, and is more efficient than a Toyota Prius.” This simply was not possible before.