Electric cars Blog

November 11th, 2008 by admin

The Principle Of How You Can Build Your Own Electric Vehicle :

With the cost of gas these days, a few consumers accepted that having and operating an electric car will be more efficient and cheaper in the long run. If you choose to build your own electric car, there are whole lot of resources accessible to help you understand and run through the process of changing a gas car to an electric car.

If you have a long commute everyday, an electric car might not be your best choice, since on average, electric vehicles can run from 30-70 miles each day. This is totally dependant on the driving conditions, the weight of the vehicle and the battery quality. Also consider how you will be recharging the batteries. If you live in an apartment complex with no garage, it may be impossible to charge the car’s batteries every night.

Important Considerations :

First you have to decide what type of car you want to use to build your own electric vehicle. Smaller cars will usually be ideal, but larger vehicles can be used as well. You will most likely want to use a car that has a manual four or five speed transmission, since manuals are more efficient. Interestingly, since electric motors are so efficient, shifting up and down constantly won’t happen as much as it does in a gas fueled engine.

When you build your own electric car, the additional systems can add anywhere from 200 to 500 extra pounds to the total weight of the car. So, when choosing the car you want to work with, make sure that the total weight of the car with the modifications isn’t completely ridiculous and is within reason.

A few things that are optional and not used often when you build your own electric car might be electric Porsche cars, electric Saab cars, electric Pontiac cars, electric Nissan cars etc are power steering and air conditioning. The power steering would require another motor to make the power steering pump work. Air conditioning drags on the batteries, but you can hook up air conditioning using a special magnet system to work the compressor.

If you want to build your own electric car, there are plenty of resources out there to help you do the job right. As time passes, electric vehicles and hybrids will become more and more popular simply because the price of gas seems like it is going to stay fairly high and for many people, gas is almost not affordable. Take a look and decide if you want to build your own electric car; you might be surprised at how fairly easy it is to convert your gas guzzler into an electric vehicle.

November 10th, 2008 by admin

When one thinks of electric car or hybrid, speed may probably be the last thing that comes to his mind. But this may be the thing of the past. Nowadays, eco-friendly cars could make enthusiasts forget about sacrifice and enjoy more mileage, more power and also more credit for saving the pathetic earth.

Green cars are now engineered to bring out an all-new level of power and performance. The first speeding ticket in the United States could be traced back in 1904 when a hybrid vehicle with a gasoline engine and a battery pack was introduced to the industry. The early proof of blending high performance and environment friendliness was delivered by Harry Myers of Dayton, Ohio, who was ticketed for going 12 mph. Critics concur to the fact that both features need not be forever exclusive like they were centuries ago. They could be blended pretty fine.

Over 700,000 hybrid, diesel and ethanol vehicles were sold in the first half of the previous year. And most of the vehicles do not have that jaw-breaking performance for those who crave the rugged kind of speed. Moreover, the demand for high-performing eco-cars grows more intense than before.

Green supercars are now easy to acquire. Though the waiting lists are lengthy, prices soaring and the chance of having one is elusive and they are still easy to own than supercars in the past. The present day supercars are close to handcrafted but not even close to just equipping them with good GMC cold air intake, engine, brakes and suspension.

For propulsion, most of the eco-supercars use electricity. Battery life remains the biggest hurdle in developing electric cars, just as it is for laptops and cell phones. Few people are willing to drive a performance car that can rarely exceed a range of 250 miles on the latest lithium ion batteries.

There’s always the expectation of a breakthrough in battery technology. Electric cars like electric Saab cars, electric Pontiac cars, electric Volvo cars, electric Nissan cars etc are still too expensive for even limited mass production, largely because of their batteries. The current challenge is how to make electric vehicles affordable.“You can’t make a cheap electric car, but you can make a wonderful electric car.”

November 7th, 2008 by admin

Electric remote control cars use high capacity compact batteries to drive brushed or brushless motors via an electronic speed control. They run on small but powerful electric motors and rechargeable nickel metal hydride, nickel-cadmium, or lithium polymer cells. Electric batteries take a while to charge, but quick chargers can help save time. High-performance motors must be allowed to cool down after use, in order to avoid demagnetizing the permanent magnets. Electric cars might be electric Pontiac cars, electric Saab cars, electric Mitsubishi cars, electric Volvo cars, electric Volkswagen cars etc tend to be lighter than nitro models because they have fewer components in the drive system. They also have more consistent torque and faster throttle response than nitro vehicles.

Fuel-powered cars, also referred to as nitro cars, use glow plug engines. These are small internal combustion engines fueled by a special mix of nitromethane, methanol, and oil that is usually a blend of castor oil and synthetic oil. Nitro engines, like full-sized gas engines, take time to spool up and for the clutch to engage. Nitro remote control cars are completely air cooled, and may be run continuously without any breaks for cooling down. In addition, they may be refueled and returned to action in a few seconds, unlike electric models that need to have the body shell and battery fasteners removed to replace a discharged battery.

Gasoline-powered vehicles run on premixed oil and gasoline. These types of remote control cars are also called fuelies. They cost more than electric and nitro cars, and are much bigger, thus needing more space. Gas cars don’t usually have high top end speeds compared to the other models, but have plenty of power and don’t need a lot of fuel to run. Gas powered motors rarely require tuning and have a very long lifespan.

November 6th, 2008 by admin

The ever increasing gasoline burden is making people think afresh about alternative sources of energy and with the alarming effects of the greenhouse effect the need for gas and electric cars has become more pronounced. These vehicles are known as hybrid vehicles and a number of different types are available using alternative sources of energy. The mo-ped is a good example and will surely have been used by many Americans at some time or the other.

A standard benchmark for an electric car or even the gas powered car is that it should have a driving range of at least 300 miles, can easily be refueled and also not be a traffic burden in that it should keep up with other vehicles on the road. The higher price tag on gas and electric cars is more than offset by the reduced operating costs of these cars because of the better mileage that is obtained through use of gas and electric cars.

Driving a hybrid car like the gas and electric car like electric Mitsubishi car, electric Pontiac Car, electric Porsche car, electric Nissan car etc is not as simple as there is the constant urge to own a fancier gasoline driven vehicle because you may want a certain sense of pride and make heads turn when you drive by. But, compromising on these vanities and settling for the more mundane and easier to operate vehicles has its own advantages. Firstly, there is the problem of driving slow which is far more difficult in the gasoline driven cars than in the gas and electric car. And, driving slow is not only safer but also more economical.

Probably the greatest advantage for the gas and electric cars for sale is the lower fuel bills because there are simply lesser visits to the fuel station. The lower operating costs tilt the balance in favor of the gas and electric cars. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. has announced that it will be launching its hybrid cars in the US and will call the vehicle as Honda Insight and due to its innovative design and sleek manufacturing should be able to give 70 miles to the gallon average mileage consumption. This, while meeting the Ultra-Low-Emission-Vehicle standards.

November 5th, 2008 by admin

The emissions from gas-powered cars are not only a cause of the diminishing ozone, but they the American Lung Association has said that it is a frequent cause of lung disease. This, in addition to waning fuel supplies and increased gas prices, has lead automobile manufacturers to begin making zero-emission vehicles. A zero-emission vehicle, also called a ZEV, is an automobile that does not create pollutants.

Zero-emission vehicles can be powered by two different sources: electricity or hydrogen. Some forms of both electric cars and hydrogen cars, those that are powered by fossil fuel plants, however, also pollute. The true types of zero-emission vehicles run on solar or wind power.

The first zero-emission vehicle was the electric car. When powered by batteries that are recharged with solar or wind power, electric cars do emit pollutants.

Zero-emission vehicles can also be powered by hydrogen. Those that use fossil fuels may produce just as much pollution as gas-powered cars. Hydrogen cars that use solar power to generate hydrogen from water do not produce emissions.

Vehicles such as hybrids are not true zero-emission vehicles. Hybrids are cars that operate both by gas and environment friendly means, such as electricity. These are called partial zero-emission vehicles because, though they produce far less pollution than traditional fuel-powered vehicles, they still emit pollutants.

One problem that has hindered the production of zero-emission vehicles is the cost associated with producing solar and wind power. The pressing need for vehicles powered by a source other than fuel has consistently been lowering the additional costs.

Another problem in manufacturing solar-powered cars is the need for sunlight. Solar-powered cars need sunlight to run, so factors like weather, time of day, and time of year must all be considered in order to ensure a consistently powered vehicle.

Buyers interested in purchasing a zero-emission vehicle should start their search early. Companies that manufacture hydrogen and electric cars do so in small numbers, and there are usually waiting lists.Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, and General Motors all manufacture some form of zero-emission vehicle.

Buyers may also be encouraged to become zero or partial-emission vehicle owners due to the associated tax breaks. Some states in the United States provide driving benefits to zero or partial-emission vehicle owners; that is, single drivers of zero or partial-emission vehicles in some states may drive in the carpool lanes.

It should be noted that though these vehicles are emissions-free, they don’t minimize the level of pollution produced in the manufacturing process, and the effects of pollution caused by wear on the car have not yet been determined.

November 4th, 2008 by admin

An electric car is, quite simply, an automobile that is powered by electricity. These cars usually look just like their gasoline-guzzling counterparts, at least on the outside. This is especially true of gasoline-powered cars that are converted into electric cars. However, there is one thing that may serve to make identifying an electric car easier, even before taking a look under the hood. Sound can help in identification, as electric cars are practically silent.

If you look under the hood of an electric car, you’ll see some major differences from what you could expect to see under the hood of a gasoline-powered car. An electric car has an electric motor and a controller for powering the motor. Rechargeable batteries are used to provide power to the controller. In comparison to traditional cars, electric cars have more wires. Gas-powered cars, on the other hand, have an abundance of hoses, pipes, and fuel lines.

Many people think the electric car is a new invention. This is a misconception, as they’ve been around for many years. In fact, electric cars were among the first automobiles and dominated the market at one point in time. In the early years of the twentieth century, electric cars held records for both speed and distance over land.

The electric car is gaining in popularity once more as people search for ways to cut transportation costs and reduce pollution. However, electric cars tend to be pricey in comparison to traditional gas-powered vehicles. Many predict that costs will eventually decrease in response to higher production volumes and improvements in the manufacturing process.

If you’re interested in purchasing an electric car might be an electric Nissan car, electric volvo car, electric Pontiac car, electric Volkswagen car etc, you might choose to buy one that has been converted from a gas-powered vehicle. There are companies that specialize in converting cars, as well as businesses that sell electric car conversion kits. However, an individual should do research before buying such a kit to ensure that the converted vehicle meets federal crash safety standards.

The new or used electric car for sale offers many benefits. Top among these is the fact that a car powered by electricity does not require the purchase of high-priced gasoline. Instead, an individual owning an electric car need only pay to recharge the vehicle’s batteries.

November 3rd, 2008 by admin

If you are like most people and driving and other forms of travel is essential to your work and life otherwise than this article is for you. With gasoline prices finally getting as high in this country as they have been in the rest of the world for some time people are starting to feel the crunch that it is causing on their budgets. Enter the electric car the so called savior of personal transportation in this country.

The technology that makes the electric car possible has been with us for decades now. There is little reason for them not to be mainstream now other than the fact that oil has been a huge part of our economy and that we use so much that we have been getting bargain prices for all of these years. Now that the bargains are vanishing though alternative fuel sources and other alternative means of getting around are becoming more priority as expected. There are electric Saab cars, electric Porsche cars, electric Volvo cars, electric Mitsubishi cars etc available for sale.

This is making a lot of people happy too. Lots of people are especially worried about the environment and the effect of burning so many fossil fuels and creating the green house gases responsible for global warming. This is especially true now that Al Gore’s movie has been released raising the concern to new heights. So besides the economy of the electric car the cleanliness with respect to the environment is also a major appeal.

The electric car is not the only new form of transportation that is on the table however. The hybrid cars are receiving stiff competition from other alternative fuels like ethanol and hydrogen cells. These are both very renewable sources of energy and have very clean working engines. The hydrogen cells are especially cool because the only byproduct of combustion in this engine is water! Nothing could be cleaner than the environment than water. We’ll see… probably in 20 years when hydrogen cells are mainstream we will find out that the extra production of water is going to flood our country with rising sea levels and throw the planet’s spin off kilter or some crap like that.