Cars
Electric Vehicles Get a Jump Start
By Jessica L. Anderson, Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
March 2008
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See our slideshow:No Gas, Electric Cars
With gas prices subbornly above $3 a gallon, it’s not surprising that automakers are starting to think seriously about alternative- fuel vehicles. The next wave of green vehicles will be electric: either pure EVs (for electric vehicles) or so-called plug-in hybrids, which carry a gas engine for longer trips.
Why electric? There are no tailpipe emissions, and the cost to operate is as low as1 cent per mile, assuming you recharge at night when utility rates are off-peak.
GM has been talking about a plug-in hybrid for more than a year now (see the slide show) and so has Toyota. But while the world's two largest carmakers promise plug-in hybrids by 2010, a couple of Japanese carmakers look ready to deliver EVs before then.
Electric cars aren’t new -- in fact, GM sold the EV1 in California in the 1990s. But the new EVs depend on the more versatile lithium-ion battery (the same kind of battery as in your cell phone).
For the latest crop of electric vehicles, see our slideshow:
Reader Comments (2)
Posted by: Basil Dimitropoulos at 12/12/2008 12:59:55 PM
Dear Bloggers: The answer to OPEC is the electric vehicles...What we need is an International Public Prosecutor Intervention. Thank you. Sincerely, Basil Dimitropoulos Electrical Engineer...
Posted by: George at 03/24/2009 01:46:52 PM
How will the cars be recharged overnight for owners that do not live in a house? Will the power source be compact enough for the owner to charge in an apartment? If yes, all of the power sources should be equipped with GPS to discourage car thieves.