what do you think of electric cars?

Answer 1

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Technology doesn't stand still, and the majority of electric car negatives on peoples' minds have already been solved.
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Unfortunately, the EV has a bad reputation to overcome, based on numerous past attempts to revive the technology. You can see this, based on some of the other answers here, and elsewhere on this site. Most of these negatives are unfair, even to old technology electric vehicles.
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For instance, electric vehicle technology is very reliable, and it has always been so. I drive an EV built in 1981. The electric motor has never need service in 25 years. How is this possible? Electric motors have only one moving part. There is nothing to break. No oil changes, filters, coolant, or anything else is needed.
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Another example: Are EVs dangerous to the environment because of power plant pollution, or toxic battery chemistries? No, they are not. EVs are far more efficient, so even if dirty fuel is burned at the plant, much less pollution is generated, compared to gasoline powered cars.
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But it's not even this bad, because only 50% of electricity is made from coal, and only 3% from oil. And this situation, unlike gasoline, will steadily improve as the power grid gets cleaner.
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Also, newer battery chemistries, like Li-Ion and supercapacitors, use much less harmful substances (the EPA doesn't consider Li-Ions to be hazardous), have much longer useful lives (supercapacitors should last the life of the car), and are fully recyclable. So-called 'battery pollution' needs also to be compared in context with used motor oil and coolant from typical cars, as these substances pose far greater risks to the environment than used batteries do.
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How about electricity demand? Won't EVs strain the grid to the breaking point? Again, no, because EVs, for the most part, charge at night - when electricity now goes to waste. That's right, plenty of electricity goes to waste overnight because power plants can't shut completely off when demand eases. Several million EVs can charge overnight before any additional capacity will be needed.
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Also, large amounts of electricity is used to refine gasoline! This electricity can simply be shifted over to directly power EVs.
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How about the driving range problem? This problem is being addressed right now with some exciting new technologies like supercapacitors:
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http://imdb.com/title/tt0489037/board/thread/64444673?d=latest&t=20070119204822#latest
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And by new Li-Ion battery designs:
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http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/957
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And here's a car that puts it all together. This car can go up to 250 miles per charge, carries 5 people plus cargo at 95mph, and can charge in only TEN MINUTES. The battery technology used is expected to have at least a ten-year life span, and over 200,000 miles of driving. The Phoenix can be pre-ordered right now for delivery later this year, it is a real car:
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http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet.html
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Answer 2

I think electric cars are great, as long as you have enough energy stored in your batteries to get you from your home to the desired destination. Personally, I think solar driven cars are better. So far the only cost to the consumer would be the initial cost. I have never known of anyone yet charging a person for sun light.

Electric cars would get us away from foreign oil, only if we uses coal or some other source to create the electricty which would be used in the cars. The electricity has to come from somewhere.
This is a good question.

Answer 3

You refering to the ladies' cars of the early 1900's. Little historial fact they are not new. They were made in the early 1900's and bought mostly by ladies because they had none of the hassles of gas powered cars.
They were used mainly in the cities because of their short range between having to be charged up back then. And when the electric starter; started beng put on cars they fell out of favor.
However today they are a good idea of city short range urban driving. But as back then they do not have the cruising range between charges needed to be a serious road car.
Oh! by the way hybrid cars are nothing new either. They were also made and sold in the early 1900's as well.
But what I want to see them bring back is the Stanely Steamer. In 1904 it broke the land speed record of 191 miles an hour which held for many years. By the way that was a stock off the show room floor Stanely Steamer that did that.

Answer 4

I like the idea (if not the shape of MOST of them) due to the non-pollution capabilities.

The fastest production car IS electric. It is called the TZero, and it is capable of unlimited miles with an auxiliary generator.
(The generator looks somewhat like a motorcycle wagon)

I would love to see AC Propulsion put a car on the drag strip
(if they have not already done so) A few high profile wins would peak a LOT of interest. They only need to work on the high price.

I think the solution to the mileage ability, will be solved by an auxiliary generator system that is kept on-board.
WHEN is the question.

Answer 5

That is the future. It is viable even today. People need to push harder for it. Majority of people do not exceeddr 50 miles per day. That is why electric cars are possible even today even if batteries are not perfect. As far as know toyota,honda,ford are working on something.

Answer 6

I live in ohio: assuming no energy is lost in battery storage an electric car is only as eco-friendly as the source of its power (here your car would be running on a mixture of coal and uranium)

Answer 7

solar cells on the roof or somethin and some kind of power source like the magnet shakeable flashlights but get the wheels going with the electric motor then as the magnets and the copper coil in each tire spin fast enough dis engage the main motor and have the wheels power themselfs with foward motion

Answer 8

I think as long as there is money to be made in petroleum,the electric car market will never have a chance. The oil moguls will never allow it to happen.

Answer 9

I'd like to see some of them on the road! Combine them with solar panels for a truly non-polluting source of transportation and I'm sold!

Answer 10

Conceptually, they are great. Quiet, high speed, good accelleration, low maintenance.

They just aren't ready for prime time because there isn't a good battery for them that charges fast, is light, and hold enough of a charge. There's also the issue of not having enough power generating capacity.