Electric cars, when?

We have all heard the news. . . Electric cars arrive. But when will they be available? Will we be able to use this technology for highway driving, or will it be strictly for neighborhood trips? Will the price of the new technology be beyond the reach of the average American?

For several years, we have all held on to our hopes and dreams, that one day electric cars will be available and used by everyone. We look forward to the day we can cut our Big Oil umbilical cord, while doing our part to save the planet and the environment. And while gasoline-powered internal combustion engines have served our society for little more than a century, we realize that the time for a dramatic change has come.

Thanks to the latest technology, fully functional electric vehicles are just around the corner. Smaller vehicles such as electric golf carts, meter-maid vans, and some ATVs have been owned and operated by individuals, government entities, and organizations. They don’t go more than about 30 miles between charges, though, at best. There are a few extraordinarily expensive vehicles on the roads today that are, in fact, fully electric and perform at the desired level and consistency. In both cases, the average driver is left out of the picture.

There is a noticeable shift in today’s auto market in favor of electric cars, in part fueled by growing science-based concerns and warnings about the global warming epidemic. Global warming experts point to gasoline-powered vehicles as the main source of the problem, making it imperative that a new mode of transportation be developed as soon as possible.

Hybrid cars are the latest step in the right direction. Hybrid electric vehicles use both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, which in turn increases the total mileage per gallon of gasoline. A rapid advance in hybrid technology will soon drive the price of these vehicles down, making them more accessible to the general public.

Although there are a plethora of neighborhood electric vehicles on the roads today, also known as NEVs, they don’t come close to the driving ability, performance, or passenger range of the average consumer. NEVs, while legal to drive on the road, are basically an upgraded golf cart, and will travel at a mind-boggling 25mph. Only a few dozen roadworthy electric vehicles are dotted around the country, like the Tesla Motors Roadster, the Phoenix Motorcars SUV, and the Myers Motors NmG (which stands for No More Gas).

Several other auto companies are closing in on the electric vehicle technology of the future. While big manufacturers like GM and Ford focus their time and attention on the latest hybrid vehicles, companies like Commuter Cars Corporation, Wrightspeed, Zap and Zenn Motor offer current vehicles that are literally on the cutting edge of technology. .

Anyone who just can’t wait another day to own an electric vehicle can buy one, but should expect a hefty price tag. The Tesla Roadster, for example, is priced at just over $100,000. People who want a small commuter vehicle with an expected range of about 20 to 25 miles per charge, and who intend to drive in 35 mph or lower speed zone areas, one of the budget NEVs may be just right. what they are looking for.

When will we be able to see electric cars in every driveway in America? Soon. How soon? That is the question we would like to be able to answer!