Electric is the Way of the Future
Written by kate - who has written 52 posts on Green Thinking Blog.
According to Eco-Wordly, South Africa recently debuted their first electric car at the Paris Motor Show. The country’s Joule, an MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) was created for $6.2 million, $4.5 million of which was contributed by their Department of Science and Technology.
This vehicle can run up to 400 km on 2 battery packs, using a variety of battery styles. Optimal Energy created the car to create 0 emissions, however, they did not count for the emissions that would be created at a power station. This vehicle is designed to recharge between the hours of 11pm and 6 am when there is a surplus of energy available.
Not only that, but energy is recovered from the regenerative brake system, providing an extra charge. For all extra technical mumbo-jumbo, check out Optimal Energy’s home page.
The electric car is going to be quite the phenomenon in the coming years, Zap, Zero Air Pollution, out of Santa Rosa, California has been operating electric vehicle technology since 1994, include trucks, scooters, and sedans. While three wheels may not be completely practical for cross road trips, if you have the extra $11,000 to spend for your local commute - HECK YEA! And they come in such cute colors! I pick the green one!
Another excellent resource to further research electric, hybrid, and plug-in vehicles is EV World. Recently celebrating their 10th anniversary, they feature the most up to date articles & information on the electric & hybrid world.
Granted, no one wants to spend money on gas, but more importantly, we have to consider the pollution and the carbon emissions we are releasing into the world at each given moment. If you are now in the market to look for a new vehicle, consider researching your alternatives further - in the long run, it could prove to be the more economical & wise decision.
Do you drive an electric, hybrid, or plug-in vehicle? Leave a comment! We wanna know what the real deal is!
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 am
I call the copper one Kate!
I wish I drove a hybrid. I’m determined for my next car to be one. I need something spacious but energy efficient. Got any ideas so I can start dreaming?
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Hi Kate and Laurel,
Great posts about alternative energy and going green. (And I can’t wait to see that new line of sustainable shoes!) I’m working with a green bank called ShoreBank to promote their Online High-Yield Savings Account. Please contact me directly if you would like to know more about what they are doing to protect the health of our environment. Thanks!
October 24th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Glad to see that you have noted that the emissions the list do not include those that would be generated by the electric generating utility. Right now the impact is very light given the number of electric cars that are being recharged. However, as the number of cars and such that are being charged really starts to catch on the demand for additional electricity to support that is going to increase. As that happens, all the negative effects from things like burning coal for electric and such are going to also increase. There is still a net of emissions going into the air, just not at the point of the car that is running down the road.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Gas powered lawn mowers are far more polluting than cars. Check-out this website at whispermow.com. It is an all electric riding lawnmower that can mow over 1 acre. It is quiet and no gas, oil or pollution to run it.
To Ray. While I agree with you comments on electric power plants, if we are going to really make a difference we need to take a practical approach to the solution. So while producting electricity with coal may be carbon producing, the overall carbon foot-print will be significantly reduced with products like the electric car and electric lawnmower. Technology will allow coal to burn cleaner and other technology like wind will evolve to supplement electricity supply.