A Col Crawford LifeStyle Cars Special Report
Electric Cars: Millennial Milestone or Passing Fad?
Electric cars are at the forefront of today’s technological push for sustainable transportation. As the next decade unfolds, electric cars will become the norm, especially as scarce resources become ever more expensive.
By Steve Crawford of Col Crawford, Sydney Car Service Experts
Electricity is one of the oldest automobile propulsion methods, enjoying popularity in the 1830’s to 1890’s, until petrol engines took over due to their longer range and more affordable fuel source.
However we are now in the midst of a revival of mass market interest in electric cars. Dual powered cars are already popular– with Hybrids drawing on two different power sources – generally using electricity for shorter trips and petrol for longer.
Electric cars will run using a rechargeable battery. This means a zero emission car – your car will not pollute as you get from A to B. Nor will you have to go to the dreaded petrol station again. Just plug your car into a domestic 240V system or recharging station and your vehicle will be fully charged at a fraction of the cost of a petrol-powered car.
The electricity you need to power your electric car has to come from somewhere, but if that charge is from solar power cells mounted on your own house roof, then you will have a 100 percent zero emissions car in your garage.
The biggest initial hurdle electric cars face is their limited range - currently about 160 kilometres before you need to recharge. However, an overseas study found that over 90% of return journeys are for less than 150km’s – so that may be less of a problem than people like to argue.
An interesting criticism of electric cars is that they don’t make enough noise – citing they will increase both vehicle and pedestrian accidents. One fix for this is that electric cars may have downloadable “engine noises” – like a ringtone for your car. The USA and Europe are exploring legislation to establish a minimum level of sound for electric and hybrid electric vehicles.
A similar scenario of how the electric car revolution will play out is the evolution of the mobile phone. Consider the dramatic miniaturization and technological development over just the last year, 5 years and 10 years. This afternoon, go and look at your car, then think ahead a year, 5 years and 10 years. What do you see?
Of course electric cars won’t immediately meet every consumer’s needs. Initially you will have to be able to tick several boxes before you invest on one. But you also have to imagine that soon wherever you go there will be fast charging stations where you’ll be able to get a complete charge in 20 minutes or less.
Future electric cars will employ technologies that mean the batteries recharge themselves as they drive. We are seeing that sort of technology now with regenerative braking (Honda, BMW & MINI) which means energy under braking is sent directly to the battery, which tops up the charge.
Electric cars are at the forefront of today’s technological push for sustainable transportation. As the next decade unfolds, electric cars will become the norm, especially as scarce resources become ever more expensive.
Drivers will be pleasantly surprised at how well electric cars perform, and they will adapt easily to charging their cars instead of filling them up with greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels. I think most people will wonder why they ever paid over $1/ litre at a petrol station when the sun shines for free every day.
More Expert Advice by Stephen Crawford
How to Improve Your Car’s Environmental Impact
Stephen is the Managing Director of Col Crawford Lifestyle Cars, which has been the Northern Beaches automotive centre for over 42 years. Steve has lived and breathed cars all his life.
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