With so much interest being shown by car manufacturers, EVs have become all the rage, at least overseas. But are they a real solution for low carbon transport or a technological red herring? Members of ATA’s Geelong and Melbourne Electric Vehicle Branches investigate.
Like anything new, there is usually a mismatch between the public understanding and the reality. Remember when CDs first appeared we were told that they were indestructible! Electric vehicles have seen similar problems, although it would be more accurate to say that electric vehicles have been ‘rediscovered’ as opposed to calling them new.
The beginning of the 20th Century marked the beginning of electric vehicle dominance in the pleasure car field. In 1900 in the United States, 4200 cars were sold—38% electric, 22% petrol and 40% steam powered.
As members of the ATA Geelong and Melbourne Electric Vehicle branches we do have a passion for this technology. Several of us have been driving electric vehicles for some time, and if anything, we have found the passion to be stronger now, since we have become hooked on the experience of relatively quiet, arguably clean, oil independent, nearly service free, low-cost transport.
Acknowledging our bias, the following is our best attempt to address some electric vehicle myths and present what we can of the ‘facts’.
Batteries cannot store enough electricity for a useful driving distance
The fear of running out of battery charge is called ‘range anxiety’ and is certainly seen as the Achilles heel of a battery powered car. However, more than 90% of commuting trips in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne are 30km or less. This is well within the range of electric cars, which can currently give at least a 100km range, with many models going much further.
It takes too long to recharge
Interestingly, whilst recharging can be done at any point where the car is parked to give further distance, overseas experience has shown that this is rarely done as people prefer to charge at home while the car is garaged overnight. The actual time taken to recharge is arguably more accurately reflected in how long it takes to plug the car in at night and unplug it in the morning (as compared to the time spent finding a petrol station, pulling into it, waiting in the queue, refilling, waiting to pay and then pulling back into traffic).
Aren’t you just moving the pollution out of the cities to the countryside?
This is by far the greatest perceived issue with an EV. If you use solar panels as the charging source or elect to use accredited GreenPower, then running the vehicle is virtually emissions free. However, if you use the normal peak period electricity supply in Australia, with its fossil fuel generating plants, then there is pollution associated with charging an electric car.
This entry was posted on Monday, December 12th, 2011 at 10:53 am