Prospective car buyers now have to consider the long term effects of owning a car due to the increasing price of gasoline. This is the reason why most people are very much open to the idea of using the other means of transportation that are available to them rather than driving their own car. That’s how expensive it is to maintain a gasoline-powered vehicle nowadays.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem. As early as the 18th century, the concept of using vehicles that run on electricity has always been present and it was documented that sometime in between 1832 to 1839, the first electric-powered carriage was invented by Robert Anderson of Scotland. Since then, the world has witnessed the vast improvement of electric car technology. Automobile manufacturing companies have been constantly developing ways that are geared towards the advancement of the use of electric-powered vehicles.

Generally speaking, an Electric Vehicle or EV is a battery-operated vehicle that can be recharged. Other kinds of rechargeable electric vehicles can store electricity in ultra-capacitors or in a flywheel. There are even models that use both electric motors and another type of engine. They are what you call hybrid electric vehicles and are not considered as pure electric vehicles because they operate in a charge-sustaining mode meaning once the battery is discharged, the car automatically gets its power from the other source of energy.

It is true that buying an EV costs a bit higher as compared to purchasing a gasoline-powered car. There are even instances that a simple sedan that runs of electricity is more expensive than an all-power AUV that runs of diesel. This is one of the reasons why dealers of electric cars are having a hard time penetrating the market particularly those coming from third world countries.

But why buy if you can convert? This is where the electric car conversion comes in. Electric car conversion is the process of modifying your Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle or ICEV to an all-electric or plug-in EV. All you need is your car and you can start converting anytime you want.

There are many ways that you can do it. First option is to have others do it for you. Have your car’s manufacturing do all the work or hire a reliable company that specializes in electric car conversion. Either of the two will do.

Another option is for you to do it yourself. Read any material that has anything to do with electric car conversion. Ask around. I’m sure asking some people, here and there, won’t cost that much. Better yet, go online and buy your own guide to electric car conversion. I assure you. It will be worth it.

Ultimately, whatever option you choose when you finally decide to convert from a “fill it up” to a “plug it in” will depend on your financial capability. If you have the money, buy! If you don’t, convert! It’s that simple.

Ken Stevens knows how to turn YOUR vehicle into an electric car. Visit his electric car conversion website right now to find out exactly how to convert your car into an electric. Go there now –> Click Here To Get Your Own DIY Electric Car

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This is probably the biggest current drawback of electric vehicle technology. Not only are current electric vehicles limited by range, there is minimal current recharging infrastructure in place for high speed recharging of EV’s and batteries become prohibitively expensive when trying to increase the range of your vehicle. If you typically do a lot of long distance commuting, then an electric vehicle is perhaps not the best choice. EV’s are suited presently to the city as commuting distances are small and recharge points are more available.

The Tesla has a range of around 240 miles which is a significant distance, however comes at a fairly high price point around the $100,000 mark. Less expensive electric cars have a smaller range and top speed and are suited more to city driving. These are also more affordable and are much lighter vehicles. Many potential electric vehicle owners define this as their number one disadvantage of current electric car technology.

It should be noted however that large recharging infrastructure networks are being installed around countries to offer high current low time charging solutions. Some of the faster charging options allow 20-30minute recharge times which is perfect for that coffee and a burger stop. Recharging through a standard household socket however will take many hours due to the single phase 10amp limitation of many power points.

Furthermore, lithium nickel and lithium air batteries are currently being developed in the Japan and the US respectively identifying potentially 3 – 6 times the energy density of current lithium ion batteries. Lithium polymer batteries are another good example which show that future battery technology will be far superior to that of current electric vehicle battery technology and range will become less of an issue as these technologies enter wide spread distribution at lower cost points.

How fast will it go?

This one really depends on how many batteries, what type of batteries (and really how much you want to spend on the electric car or EV conversion). You will also need a motor which matches the battery and controller combination. Many still think of an electric car as sluggish, however cars like the Tesla have proven that to be quite the opposite in some cases. The fast accelerating cars will be expensive as they require high discharge batteries, high current controllers and powerful motors. There is also a pay off with top speed. If you want a fast accelerating vehicle, it may have to be geared lower which will in turn reduce the top speed of the vehicle. Generally gear boxes are not required in an electric vehicle however as an electric motor can rev very high.

Can I get that classic V8 hum?

Sorry buddy – electric cars are very quiet. You will hear a bit of an electric motor sound which is kind of cool (sort of mimics the sound of a jet engine), but gone will be the days of the rumbling roar of a V8 if you buy an electric vehicle.

Are electric cars safe?

There have been concerns from past lithium ion battery packs exploding or over heating however with a battery management system, these issues are gradually being resolved. The biggest risk is the high voltage wiring inside your electric car which traditional petrol powered vehicles don’t have. The key is to have accelerometer kill switches and automatic disconnectors which isolate the batteries the moment the vehicle is in an accident. Generally electric vehicles offer better safety if well designed and road worthy since mass is distributed lower and towards the perimeter of the vehicle, and there is no flammable petrol or gas on board.

When charging the vehicle special attention must be given to methods of recharging to avoid electric shock. Done properly through a well designed recharge point is the key to success here.

Finally the need for a gear box is removed, and this allows the driver to concentrate on the road and other distractions rather than changing gears.

Where can I service it?

Although service stations which specialize in electric vehicle servicing are minimal presently, there will certainly be many popping up as more electric vehicles enter the market. Luckily electric vehicles need minimal servicing with only one moving part on the drive side and no gear box, clutch, oil change etc. There should be one service point in your city at least and most mechanics will be able to diagnose simple problems or refer you to an electrician to fix the wiring.

In summary are EV’s good or bad?

As we have seen there are a lot of downsides to electric cars, the most significant of these being the car’s range. If people can’t drive to their favourite holiday location 400km’s away for their long weekend break then it will reduce the number of potential buyers straight away. The price and vehicle acceleration are also major issues which need looking at. Lastly things like the sound it makes, how it looks, the ergonomics of driving and servicing issues can all contribute to the decision to go with a standard off the shelf gas guzzler. As we see electric vehicle technology increase however, we will no doubt see many changed which make the electric vehicle a clear winner as it overcomes some of these drawbacks.

Richard Watson is an electric vehicle enthusiast and webmaster based in Australia. For more about electric car pros and cons, vehicle to grid and sustainable energy issues in Australia: http://www.sustainableenergy.com.au/electric_vehicle.html

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1. The History Of Electric Cars

At one time in the past, electrically powered cars were very popular in United States roads as gas cars produced a lot of smoke and made a lot of noise. However, after new methods to make gas were found, electrically powered cars were slowly taken over, and gasoline cars became the standard method of traveling.

With more efforts being made to promote a cleaner environment and cleaner cars, electric car conversion has become a very hot topic. I managed to find and download this guide called Gas 2 Electric that has helped me convert my vehicle to run with electric easily.

2. How Does An Electric Car Work?

These cars use electrical energy stored in batteries to run the motor and turn the wheels. No gasoline is burned during the process, and I have found this method of powering a car to be much cleaner and more cost efficient.

3. What Are The Batteries Needed To Run An Electric Car?

Up to 24 batteries may be needed to power an electrical car. To charge the batteries, I will usually plug them into the regular electrical wall outlet at night. These batteries may be nickel cadmium type or lead acid type, and the Gas 2 Electric guide will explain to you how different batteries differ in terms of capacity of energy it is able to hold and which ones are able to last the longest.

Is Gas 2 Electric guide a scam? Visit http://www.top-review.org/gas2electric.htm to learn more about this electric conversion guide!

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In the 1830s and 1840s, several electric cells (batteries) were invented for use in electric cars and, as storage improved, giving them longer lasting performance, electric cars became very popular. Unlike most other cars of the day, electric cars gave off no noise, vibrations, or smells, plus started with having to hand crank them. Initially, electric cars outsold gas-powered cars 10-1.

Unfortunately, while electric cars were fine for getting around town, as roads were built and travel between communities became possible, their lack of range became a then-insurmountable problem. Plus other car improvements, such as Henry Ford’s mass-produced cars, the invention of the electric starter, and cheap gas prices, made the electric car obsolete.

Starting in the 1960s, though, more and more people began to see the need for alternative fuel vehicles as a way to reduce pollution as well as our dependence on foreign oil. While electric cars still suffered from a lack of range, they became alternatives in certain environments. For example, the US Postal Service used a fleet of them as delivery vehicles, while the use of golf carts as transportation in many senior communities started burgeoning.

It wasn’t until the last 15-20 years, though, that electric car technology has really taken off, both as purely electric cars and as hybrids. In part this is due to government regulation requiring more stringent air emissions…some states have even issued Zero Emission Vehicle mandates…and partly due to advancements in the technology itself, including the electric cells themselves, such as nickel metal hydride and lithium-ion battery packs. Improved batteries allow for longer storage as well as quicker recharging time. And, like the earliest version, electric cars have fewer moving parts to break down.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles will be seen more and more on the road today. While hybrids also have an internal combustion engine, they operate as an electric car during charging and using their electric power and, depending on how they’re used, may not ever actually use their gas engine. Just plug them in and recharge your electric car’s battery!

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