2008 – the Year of the Electric Car?
689 Comments | Add Comment | Blog entry posted 8th January, 2008
The beginning of a new year is usually the time for resolutions, spring cleaning and a renewed sense of optimism, but 2008 has got off to a miserable start so far.
In quick succession, oil prices hit $100 a barrel, npower announced it was hiking prices by 27%, and British Gas looks set to be the first to follow suit.
The anxiety over a looming energy crisis, increasing fuel prices, and the knock-on effect this has on petrol, food and other commodity prices, has been brewing for some time now. The voices that maintain that we cannot continue to consume energy at the rate we currently are (let alone increase consumption) are getting louder. New technology, such as the electric car, has been touted as a way to sustain our current lifestyles, but has so far has failed to make any considerable impact. However, with electric cars on the market that boast acceleration of 0-60 in 4 seconds, the idea that we could all be driving electric cars and filling up at power stations rather than petrol stations is not as far in the future as you might think. Could 2008 finally be the year of the electric car?
Electric cars are not new. Before Henry Ford invented the petrol powered car, electric vehicles (EVs) were a common form of transport. By the 1960s petrol cars had effectively forced their electric cousins into extinction, but growing concerns about a fuel crisis have sparked a renewed interest in electric cars as a more efficient, environmentally-friendly method of personal transport.
Early forays into the consumer electric car market, notably the EV1 by General Motors, were scuppered by high prices, a poor range and a lack of public support (although many felt the EV1 was never really given a chance). Hybrid technology, a combination of electric and petrol power, was heralded as a compromise, and by 1997 the Toyota Prius was available to the general public. It was the first mass produced and commercially marketed hybrid car, selling 18,000 units in its first year. It is still a popular car today, thanks to a variety of celebrity endorsements, and demonstrated that the public appetite for alternative transport does exist.
But environmental purists argue that hybrid technology doesn’t go far enough – that it is simply lip service to the concept of greener transport. Luckily, ‘pure electric’ vehicle technology has advanced enough to make EVs for the masses a reality, without compromising on speed, power or style.
Electric cars have had a bad press in the past from petrol heads, because they often fall down in fundamentally inportant areas – price, performance and aesthetics. However, a new wave of EVs are about to hit the market which will change all that, and some EVs are already available at affordable prices. The G-Wiz is one of the most popular EVs in London because of its compact design. It costs less than £9000 brand new, and as little as 1p per mile to run – G-Wiz claim it pays for itself within a year. It’s practical, and has all sorts of money-saving benefits, but with a range of 48 miles, it’s not exactly practical for anyone living outside a big city. Plus, it looks like (and has the street cred of) an oversized frog.
The Mitsubishi i-EV, although still in development, is slightly more attractive that the G-Wiz. When it does hit the UK, you’ll be able to drive over 100 miles before needing to charge it again, and as with the G-Wiz, it will cost around 1p a mile to run. An average tank of fuel for a petrol car costs £40 – for the same price you can get a year’s worth of energy in an EV. When you do the sums, turning your back on petrol seems a very attractive prospect. Unfortunately though, there seems to be no release date as yet, but you can register for alerts in the meantime.
The Phoenix Sports Utility Truck, however, is available to buy now. Happily, it looks less like a toy and more like it means business – it can do 0 – 60 in 10 seconds, with a full car, and you’ll get over 100 miles from one charge. It’s top speed is a much more respectable 95mph, and you can get 250,000 miles from one battery. At the moment the company is focused on the fleet car market, so there are only a limited number of cars available to the public (the public of California, that is), but like so many things, where the US goes, it is only a matter of time before the UK follows.
The G-Wiz and the Phoenix are both practical, everyday cars, but another criticism often directed at EVs is that they’re not fun – they’re purely functional. This is simply not true anymore – there are cars on the market to rival even the super cars. The Tesla Roadster, assembled by Lotus in Norwich, gives you a glimpse of what is now possible. It offers 0-60 in 4 seconds, with full torque available from the moment your foot touches the pedal, and a top speed of 125mph. One charge will take you 250 miles, and in case you get caught out, it comes with a mobile charging unit, which uses an ordinary 240v wall plug. The only problem is getting hold of one – there’s a pretty big waiting list.
But if you are interested in getting an EV, and you want to get on a waiting list, the Lightning car is the one to be on. It won’t be cheap (the deposit alone is £50,000) but it will be a landmark in British automotive engineering when they are delivered in 2008. The Lightning will be a luxury 2 seater sports car, with over 700bhp and a top speed of 130mph. It promises to do 0 – 60 in 4 seconds, and have a range of 250 miles per charge. It might not be a economically viable option for the majority of us to start with because of the initial price tag, but if we are capable of producing cars like this today, it will only be a matter of time before the price drops and production increaces. And more importantly, what will we be capable of tomorrow?
One of the main attractions to all the EVs above is the fantastically low running costs. There are a few areas where EVs positively triumph over petrol cars. First, they’re exempt from road tax because they have no emissions. In London, EVs are also exempt from the congestion charge, and are often entitled to free or heavily discounted parking. There are even a number of free charging stations dotted around the city in case you get caught out. To reduce the cost of charging an EV at home, you can sign up to special green energy tariff, which reduces the cost of power at night, so it can cost as little as 40p for a full charge. On top of all this, EVs are in the lowest insurance group, and as a company car they are charged a mere 9% tax. If UK petrol prices are making it too expensive to run a car, electric cars are surely the way forward. And in addition to saving money, you can feel smug about helping to save the environment. Assuming they are charged using renewable sources, all the cars listed above are carbon neutral. And they release no pollutants, making the air cleaner for everyone.
Electric cars are the future of motoring – very few people are prepared to give up their personal transport, and as fossil fuels die out (or become too impractical to rely on), EVs will be there to fill the void, without compromising our current lifestlyes. The gap between EVs and petrol cars is closing fast, and it is only a matter of time before the performance of the Lightning becomes as cheap as the G-Wiz, and before the UK follows the US in terms of availability. It won’t happen overnight, but with increasingly impressive tech-specs and a growing army of followers, 2008 looks set to be the year that we reach the all-important critical mass of supporters, and start to accelerate towards a cheaper, cleaner future.
What do you think? Do you think electric cars are the future of transport? Would you like to slash your fuel costs and save the environment at the same time?
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Replies to 2008 – the Year of the Electric Car?
Car Shipping April 22, 2011
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox
and now every time a comment is added I get four emails with the identical comment. Is there any manner you possibly can remove me from that service?
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Dump Trucks July 8, 2010
Concept of electric car is good. But, limits on driving distance. If you drive long distances, an electric car might not suit your needs, so you will need to consider how far you plan on driving your car. One more disadvantage of this electric car is lack of energy.
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Henry Hawksworth July 22, 2008
Oh yeah also. I forgot to add, when you do need to recharge your electric car you could charge it by using solar pannels fitted to your house. That way it will be using just natural energy to power it. What a great idea!?! I seem to have the most logical and best way to go green. Also, who cares if they don't sound like a V8 engine, does that really matter? If people are so fussed why not add some sound effects, stupid I know so it don't really matter.
Thanks again.
Henry Hawksworth July 22, 2008
People, you don't seem to understand. There is ALREADY an electric car company that has invented and uses a energy battery generation system (EBGS). This charges the battery as you drive along, you do still need to recharge it on the mains sometimes but alot less than normal. Try to pay more attention in the world, because if you did you would already know about that.
Thank you
Steven Dobbs May 26, 2008
electric cars are more efficient overall despite the need to produce the electricity.
the efficiency is gained from less idle power, the potential for regenerative breaking so they are particularly good in urban environment.
They may also, possibly be lighter.
A very important factor is that an increasing percentage of our electricity is generated by renewables, so that is energy which is CO2 free.
As for fossil fuel - turbines are more efficient than combustion piston engines. they generate much more useful energy. Infrastructurally it then simplifies and streamlines overall national objectives to reduce CO2 by simply finding better ways to produce electricity.
And a possible big boost for us, is that in general we will be charging such cars at night where there is often a lot of excess production.
there normally has to be excess production because coal fired power stations cant be switched off iirc. The kilms can crack - and nuclear power has similar problems in that they have to produce constant power - or certainly the reactors that i've seen in studies do.
So yes, electric is probably the way to go.
Mo Abba May 23, 2008
theaircar.com
Bob Dushon May 4, 2008
Why are we all moaning about rising fuel costs?
The solution is simple - DUMP THE US$.
Crude is priced in that currency and as the world economy sinks further into the mire due to the dollar decline, so the cost of crude goes up.
Come on PETROL PRICES.COM start up a campaign to have crude priced in a more stable currency
Hawk May 3, 2008
Well.. nice ideas..tesla and the lightning car..but from my opinion the best way to sell that electric stuff for any purse.. a full convert kitt for al vehicles..
take a car.. get of the engine,exaust,transmission,full deposit and everything that you did not youse.. and putt on the electric wheels and the rest of the elctronic stuff..well more complex but that must work.. and its more cheaper.
works with every car.. a litle power generator with diesel or gas engine and thats it..i think thats the future
Grant Gardiner April 15, 2008
It's amusing though. The reality is that we need money to enjoy our lives; to earn this money we have to get a job; to get to work we need transportation; public transport is rubbish so we get a car or bike instead. But we want more things, so we get better jobs; we commute further and consume more resources in doing so. Cars are produced heavier with more security features because of nanny bodies like NCAP (my current car is two and a half times heavier than my first car - 16 years). There is a constant push for NEW and BETTER cars, the industry is massive. Gone are the days where cars can be easily maintained or repaired. There are vast resources used in the manufacture of these new and improved cars (that are supposedly more efficient), metals, power, heat, PLASTICS etc.
Yet, ironically enough, even though I work in computing our bosses don't want us working from home. How ridiculous. STOP ALL THE COMMUTING.
But my pet hate is the mums/dads who take their one child to school in the enormous tin raincoats (Aka 4x4). It's not like they can't walk it, nor that they need a 4x4.
Grant Gardiner April 15, 2008
An electric car may well be a good idea, but what if you forget to charge it? How long would a charge take? It takes me less that 5 mins in a petrol station to be able to do another 300 miles of driving, how quickly can you full charge an electric car to do the same?
I wouldn't want to be at a charging station for an hour waiting!
Besides I doubt the EVs will sound anything like the V8 cars of today.
At least for the moment we can choose if we want an EV , but how long will that last?
Steve Young March 31, 2008
I have just purchased a Vectrix electric scooter and it is amazing!! 0-50 in around 6.8 seconds, max speed 62mph, it looks cool, handles brilliantly and can carry a passenger, as well as storage under the seat and glove box. The range is 68 miles at 25mph and around 40 miles at 45 to 60mph. I would recommend one. Please contact me for test drive/ more information.
Sam Dodge March 6, 2008
hybrids are balls
Sssssssss March 6, 2008
prick face hybrid cars suckwilly
Andy March 1, 2008
TAX TAX TAX,
U have been reading some of the comments on this site about save the planet cars.
We are so far away from mass produced electric cars it un real to even think about this issue seriously. What about Biofuel? it maybe a short term answer but bet you bottom dollar as soon as any people change from petro and diesel the goverment will tax you on this. You will not be any better of in your pocket and the people in this country should realise this. We have no economy, most major employers are looking to china and cheaper labour, this has an impact on the number of well payed jobs hence the income for the government is affected.
Get rid of the tax on petrol and people will feel much better, or give some of this money to reaserch new power supplies. Oh, how many cars are there that run on electric, carry 7 people and are affordable????? I need a car to do this role for my family having 3 kids and a dog, yeahh it does not add up to seven but the extra room for other family members is a must.
Lets get the car producers to find a better and more cleaner way of making cars? This will cut down on the Co2 emmitions.
Viva le revolution, Sack gordon Brown.
Mike R February 26, 2008
Martin Lancashire, I agree. Something I was aware of also that once the £1 was reached the prices would go up much quicker. Already £1.04 a litre here in Hampshire.
Obviously people like yourself will need a car for work. I have mine to make life easier, yet I would be prepared to sell my car as a protest because the car is not essential to me. I`m sure there are thousands/millions? like me it this position.
The problem with the general public is that it believes they have very little power to change things, not true.
What governments and oil companies for example fear most is mass boycotting yet they have thus far been smug enough to realise the general public acts in a herd mentality and complains but does nothing about it.
We the general public have enormous power to make changes when we know we are continually ripped off, so isn`t about time we used it?
Eben February 14, 2008
The CO2 is moved from the car to the power station but its still way less CO2 then driving a normal car and these cars are going to get way better in the future
you can get 250 miles out of the smaller sports cars because they are lighter but new materials are being made what are lighter and stronger wich will make the cars lighter saveing battry power even more.
John Robinson February 3, 2008
Re Helen Fletchers comment and Freds request, the electric car which uses braking power to charge 'capacitors' is a reality. The company in Alton mentioned before is PML flightlink. Check out their website and see the new volvo electric car being launched this year. I do not know the cost, but this will be the start of electric cars. There goes our reliance on oil. If you cannot live with a 1000km range and a top speed of 250kph then sorry, you will have to stick with the old way.
Ray Tait February 3, 2008
Electric cars are for sure the not to distant future, it will push people into this market with no choice and that's not to say its a bad choice, there must less chance of mechanical failure as there are less moving parts to go wrong. I agree with previous posts there will be a huge reduction fuel and noise pollution however most traffic noise is generated by the road surface itself especially on faster roads.
Charging technology, such as a wall socket, solar energy, wind energy and regenerative braking and power stations will give the user more options of where to obtain their energy. The efficiency of all of these devices will improve over time when there is more demand and competition. I can't help thinking that there will be conversion kits for the existing vehicles out there as a set-top box for non digital tvs.
Electric car technology will for sure improve on its journey length
Breaks into the EV market will often be the cheaper brands breaking the price barrier into affordable family EV's such as the Amstrad and Albas of this world
Whilst there are incentives to convert, it won't be long before you are taxed to death on these vehicles just like the humble combustion engine. I agree with the previous posts that energy companies will hike the price of electricity once every ones on board.
Geoffrey Day January 29, 2008
Re Helen Fletcher's blog. In the 1930's - so far as I recall Electric trolley buses in Hull (for example) used the principle of motion regeneration to good effect for off-trolley movement such as garaging, turning etc. It surely should be possible in these enlightened times to up-date this techniqiue and get a little nearer towards perpetual motion.
Thomas Naylor January 27, 2008
petrol prices will go up, there is two way in sorting this out, we take over the company meaning we would get the profit. we make eletric car cheeper and so it is easyer. we can tell people that run these companys that we are not happy, but what does are cars run on? we are making some else money. how many driver are there out there? more than i can count. so if all us drivers stuck together we stop using feul or take them over. but we must rember the oil will not last for ever, so this would go so much futher if mor eletric car, where borght together the prices will com down, low or no road tax and every one would be happy. if you are one that is intrested e-mail car@naylor.demon.co.uk
James D Kelly January 24, 2008
USE YOUR HEADS CAR MAKING COMPANYS WILL NOT STOP PETROL CARS
AND ELECTRIC WILL NOT TAKE OVER PLUS OIL FIRMS WILL NOT ALLOW IT
THEY STAND TO LOOSE TOO MUCH.
WE NEED FUEL PRICES DOWN NOW.
Alan Ward January 24, 2008
I really don't believe that fuel prices have yet gone high enough to force people to save fuel, and/or consider alternatives.
Doesn't the average motorist 'gun it' between traffic lights in towns? And leave it idling on frosty mornings ready to drive off, or leave it idling while someone else runs into the shop? And exceeding the speed limit sends fuel consumption rocketing!!
A long way to go yet.
Louise Stevens January 23, 2008
I would love to change my current car to become green. If only there was a simple way doing it by taking out all necessary parts from the car as it is today, and putting in replaced items to make it green. Without having to buy a new car from the start. My current car is a Toyota Yarris WJ57 reg. out brand new 1st September 2007. I would apreciate the help to get it done with no cost all for the purpose of willing to be green to the environment and have less in charges for road tax etc.
Martin January 21, 2008
Hi as for the price of electrity look at the work of Dr T HENRY MORAY
You will see there was the chance to solve all energy problems but it was stopped by outside forces..... (read his story )
Adam January 20, 2008
yes there is alot of word being seid, and alot of people and groups very! agenst other power supplys, but i think it would be a great idea to get nuclear power, and the argument with petrol prices and other fuel prices, well they seem to alway hike up at the correct time around chrismas time? and us brits just seem to take it! like whimps other countrys wouldn't tollerate this!, i feel that the prices on everything has gone up, the only reason why is phasing out of other revinue i.e ciggerettes the next will be booze! there will be a element of control when this has been taken from us, but the way it is taken from us is from the money we have in ower pockets! but thats the great plan, take take take! never give or help! speed cameras,petrol prices,food prices,enegry prices, living prices everything is just so exspensive! why!!!!!!
John Thompson January 20, 2008
I am going to turn things on their head. There is no need to come up with solutions for the reduction of carbon dioxide production or introducing electric cars. I have the answer to global warming, flooding, bad weather, etc, too.
Research needs to be carried out to discover which plants consume the most carbon dioxide and generate the most oxygen. The flood waters from all over the world need to be collected and transported (by pipeline) to desert areas where the best carbon/oxygen plants can be grown. If these plants can be also used to produce boifuels, then so much the better. There will be no need to reduce carbon emissions as these plants will convert them.
The rain forests are the lungs of the world and deforestation should be stopped or even reversed.
Carbon emissions can be counter acted by growing masses of carbon/oxygen plants all over the world.
The cost will be high but what price can be put on the health of the planet and of course man and animal kind?
Zakalwe January 19, 2008
If you want to rant about people having it easier abroad, don't mention the US. It isn't cheap there either (I don't care if you get two dollars to the pound, we're not living there so the comparison is moot). In Venezuela, it costs 45p to fill up a 60 litre tank of petrol.
Of course, Venezuela is the seventh largest oil reserve holder and subsidises its fuel, but even so, I imagine when they get hit by growing internal demand and cut back on exports, they'll soon see what expensive really means.
Chris Marks January 19, 2008
People who work hard,should be able to enjoy life and spend there money as they wish.Our P.M. is in China,and want's the U.K.to flog China our top of the range gear.Replace 9 million bike's with car's?.So when Mr China man get's his V12, will it him cost more to run his V12.Than me to run my V6 in the U.K. i don't think so.While Jag,Aston,Bentley,Land Range are shipping in there model's of V8,10,12's.Will that be alright because it's over there and not here,just like the factory's producing E.V. batteries,all Prius driver's,E.V. drivers should be made to take a holiday every year next to a battery factory and eat local produce.Because E.V.s is just another sheet of paper to cover up the crack's!.No one will stop consumerism so it will consume us all. SO ENJOY LIFE
Malcolm Hopper January 18, 2008
Has anyone thought about what will happen to our planet by the time they have removed all of the gas and oil, will the planet implode, look at America a couple of states are over a water shelf and because they are using upmore water than nature can replace the land has sunk down I think as much as two feet, the programe was on T.V. last year or the year before.
Are the oil and gas extractors filling these undergroung resevoirs with sea water so that they can extract the last gallon/litre and if they are we surely don't have to worry about the ice caps melting and flooding all of the low lying land, if it does implode I'm sure it wont happen before I've popped my clogs, but we should be worrying about our childrens children and stop being so selfish like some who are saying to pot with you I'm going to enjoy my life to the full and to hell with everyone else.
John Cane January 18, 2008
Today is the 18th March 2008. Petrol prices are soaring and the government and fuel companies are taking us for mugs.
Yesterday in Ohio, U.S.A. they REDUCED diesel by 45 cents a (US) gallon, which is smaller than our. If they can why cant we??
Surely enough is anough now!
Chris Marks January 17, 2008
639 seen cover story what car Feb 08,brilliant new jaguar xf co2 299g/km say's it all .car makers are still pushing big motor's,what about the Toyota Land Cruiser up to 387 co2g/km.So on and on petrol is still here, and staying,
how many people have removed dishwasher's,ride on mower's limited there household to one t.v.,p.c. done away with hairdryer's, food mixer's.mircowave,s.that's why i enjoy my V6.Life will change in the next forty years private transport will be gone .Two letter's A.I.
Chris Marks January 17, 2008
639 my v6,has not been used since sat 12th,i walk to the shop's a mile away.The estate will be used for the weekly shopping,visting family,it's alway's has more than the driver,because it's a family car, the only car.Most of the time has three in it or more.Holiday's are taken in the U.K.not jetting around the world,air travel twice to spain in 52 year's i know my carbon footprint is lower, than some of the solo Prius driver's 20,000 miles PA, hammering up and down our motorway's.Taken there holiday's halfway round the globe,it's not one thing it's your overall.So one is for sure i will never be in a desert,lost and short of water,because i will be enjoying life
Anger January 17, 2008
For those who think fuel is about to run out tomorrow checkout this attatchment from google.
GREED
is the selfish desire for or pursuit of money, wealth, power, food, or other possessions, especially when this denies the same goods to others. It is generally considered a vice, and is one of the seven deadly sins in Catholicism.
We are chatting here because we fear no matter what alternative fuel there is we will pay too much for it.
Now tell me again that we need to pay higher fuel prices and I will throw the whole dictionary at you.
Peakoil January 17, 2008
END YOUR IGNORANCE ABOUT OIL PRICES NOW.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON 'PEAK OIL' SEE THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:
en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Peak_Oil:_High_Tide_for_an_Oil_Addicted_World
WATCH THE FOLLOWING FILM ABOUT 'PEAK OIL' AND BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHY OIL PRICES WILL CONTINUE TO ESCALATE IN PRICE:
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-703701197044020456&q=a+crude+awakening&total=177&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=3
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