Electric cars Blog

December 4th, 2008 by admin

Electric cars like electric Pontiac cars, electric Porsche cars, electric Mitsubishi cars, electric Volvo cars etc are environment friendly modes of transportation. Unlike a normal vehicle, an electric car runs on battery-operated parts and an electric motor. Because of the uniqueness of its engine, an electric car needs double the maintenance. Follow these guidelines to buy quality parts for your electric car.

1. Determine which parts you need and determine the estimated cost. Gather relevant information about the car such as the make, model and engine size.

2. Get a NiMH battery from an authorized electric car dealer if the battery needs to be replaced. This type of battery is costly but runs much longer than ordinary electric car batteries. For motor and transmission problems, contact the manufacturer to inquire about prices and any special buyer discounts.

3. Purchase electric car parts online from a licensed dealer. Read the product description, including customer reviews, and compare prices from various dealers before buying the parts online.

4. Browse through the auto section of your local newspaper and look for electric car parts that are on sale. Avoid buying used electric car parts as they don’t come with any guarantee.

5. Buy parts that have a clear return or exchange policy in case you are not satisfied with the part. If possible, take an electric car mechanic with you to ensure you buy the right parts.

December 1st, 2008 by admin

The growth of the electric car market in the last 5 years has led to an increase in selection. Consumers who are concerned about the price of gas can shop through several electric car manufacturers competing in this growing market. Here’s how to select an electric car for the best long-term investment.

1. Use the driving distance per charge of an electric car as your main criterion for selection. A good electric car will exceed 100 miles per charge, which allows for a daily commute and errands between charges.

2. Purchase an electric car might be electric Pontiac car, electric Mitsubishi car, electric Saab car, electric Volvo car etc with a simple charging mechanism. Locate the recharging port and determine the equipment needed for safe charging.

3. Conduct a detailed search for local and regional dealers. A look through online lists like the one provided by the Electric Drive Transportation Association can help you pinpoint electric car dealers.

4. Stretch your arms and legs while sitting in the driver’s seat of an electric car to judge cockpit capacity. Your car should have enough storage room and passenger space to ease the transition from a spacious gas-fueled car.

5. Analyze the reputations of electric car manufacturers through the eyes of experienced vehicle owners. The magazine “EV World” offers owner journals on every electric car on the market for a firsthand look at performance, comfort and savings.

6. Read through the warranty for the standard electric car battery to get more out of your investment. The original battery should be covered for at least 30,000 miles to avoid frequent replacements.

November 20th, 2008 by admin

The conventional car has a very simple pricing system - you pay according to the horsepower, size, furnishing, and axle load, year of model or auxiliary fittings. The electric car follows a similar pricing structure but in a different way. With the EV, your price will depend on mainly the type of motor in use or the set of batteries the car is running on.

Typically, a factory made EV will cost about $35,000 but many of the electric cars we see around are home made conversions. These are cars that once used gasoline and have been converted to electric.

The price you pay for the electric car might be electric Pontiac car, electric Porsche car, electric Saab car, electric Volvo car etc will depend on how you are going about the conversion. If you are buying a kit, then you may have to spend about $2200. This cost excludes other petty fittings that you may need to make the conversion complete. Some people would rather want to buy individual components and then fix them one by one. This approach would cost about $6000 but in the end you get exactly what will fit your car so there may be no extra cost.

Choosing one motor type over the other can cause about 50% difference in your electric vehicle cost. AC conversions tend to be much expensive over their DC counterparts. The fact is AC motors provide better acceleration and higher power.

The kind of car used for the conversion will also determine how much your cost will be. Some cars require small modifications to get the conversion done, others elaborate changes. The more changes you need, the more expensive the conversion becomes.

November 19th, 2008 by admin

With fuel prices soaring and no end in sight, it only makes sense to look for alternatives. Face it, you need to travel for work, school, or shopping and without a car, these tasks are almost impossible. Not all communities and areas provide public transportation, so what do you do? Converting your car or buying an electric car makes perfect sense.

An electric car is a car that uses electric motors instead of an internal combustion engine. In essence, these cars are rechargeable. They have battery packs that are charged, thus powering the vehicle. You can even convert your already owned car to an electric. There are also cars that utilize both battery power and fuel power. These are known as hybrids and are widely available.

Electric cars are not a new concept. Some of the first cars were electric. The improvement of battery storage helped the electric car to flourish. Many early electric cars hold speed and distance records. Don’t worry about electric cars for sale being slow. They are not, this was proved on the popular show Mythbusters. Some of these vehicles can achieve speeds of up to 135 mph, and on a single charge can reach the fuel equivalent of 135 mpg U.S.

The use of Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries makes electric cars capable of distances of up to 245 miles. This is a great improvement from early batteries that could get up to 100 miles on a single charge.

There are several advantages to driving an electric car. It can save you thousands on fuel cost, and with our economy in the shape it’s in, this is reason enough. Electric cars are also cleaner, helping the environment. It costs about $1 to charge your electric car and gives you about 100 miles. Driving an electric car might be electric Pontiac car, electric Saab car, electric Porsche car, electric Volvo car etc also makes you eligible for tax credits from the federal government for driving a car that hosts clean fuel.

It’s not an expensive process to convert your car to electric. This can be achieved for about $300.00. With the process being cheap and all the money that you will save, an electric car is perfect for everyone. There are several resources available that tell you what types of tools you’ll need, along with easy to follow instructions on how to convert your car to electric.

Among some of the first vehicles produced, electric cars are an economical solution to combat rising fuel costs. They are clean fueled vehicles which are good for the environment. You can get tax credits from the federal government for driving a clean fueled vehicle, and they save you money on rising fuel costs. They are not slow, and make perfect since when searching for an alternative!

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 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.

October 27th, 2008 by admin

Soaring gas prices and environmental concerns, electric cars are becoming popular as an answer to some of the problems of the auto industry. However, do electric cars have a spotless reputation?

The following are their disadvantages of EVs voiced for some time now:

1. Charging Woes: Electric powered vehicles require charging stations, and for people to travel long distances there needs to be a network of such stations located strategically. Also recharging of batteries often takes about 3 hours, which nowhere matches efficiency of a gas refuel. And of course there’s the charging equipment you need to carry along.

2. Travelling distance (Range): The electric cars might be electric Mitsubishi car, electric Pontiac car, electric Saturn car, electric Saab car, electric Volvo car etc, can travel only about a 100 miles on an average, and on a single charge. The technology of Chrysler’s proposed EVs is supposed to have the cars run longer, though.

3. Lack of power: In general electric cars are still behind gas powered vehicles in their ability to to accelerate and climb quickly.

4. Overloaded batteries: At the heart of electric automobiles are the car’s batteries. At the same time, as all other car accessories viz. radios, car air conditioners, etc. use up electric power from batteries, they’d drain quickly. And recharging them takes time!

5. They are expensive: Batteries that power these cars are a costly affair. Consider this: The promising and long-lasting lithium-ion batteries cost about US$10,000 each, which for the most part make these cars expensive. And if the batteries last only about 4 years, they could add to the maintenance costs.

6. The cause pollution: Yes, the ‘clean & green’ electric cars cause pollution too, albeit indirectly. While themselves being clean, there are toxic elements within batteries and which could spew toxic fumes. Further, the car’s engines are powered by electricity, and all of which isn’t generated from renewable energy sources. Which means electric power production per se entails pollution.

7. They’re Heavy: Batteries are what makes these vehicles heavy. A battery pack of an average electric car can weigh up to a 1,000 pounds or 450 kg (approx.) This a disadvantage because weight puts pressure on batteries and they drain out faster.

While the prospect of electric vehicles seems promising, electric vehicles don’t appear to be a panacea and have their own share of shortcomings. Consequently, a purchase decision in favor of EVs or hybrids might not be all that simple.

October 23rd, 2008 by admin

You can actually buy an electric car today. There are various car under this category like electric Volvo cars, electric Mitsubishi cars, electric Pontiac cars, Toyota etc.

There are good reasons for their growing popularity. For starters, if you’re on a green electricity tariff, you can run an electric car theoretically emitting no carbon at all — aside from the initial carbon splurge required to manufacture the car. They’re also green for the local environment as well as the planet. Because electric cars have no combustion engine and therefore no exhaust pipes, they don’t spit out any nitrogen oxides and particulates like diesels notoriously do.

If the eco benefits aren’t enough to make you friends with electric, try the cash savings. Electric car-owners are Congestion Charge exempt, enjoy free parking in central London, don’t pay road tax and fall in cheap insurance bands.

Sadly, all this goodness doesn’t come without sacrifice. The range of these cars for sale is still limited to city driving, with the G-Wiz managing 50 miles before it needs recharging and the NICE Mega City travelling a mere 40 miles before needing the plug. The ’smart ed’ fares better with a 72 mile range. Fortunately, topping them up to full takes five to eight hours and the process is as simple as plugging into any normal three-pin mains socket. Realistically, you’ll need a driveway at home to run the cable to the car.

Electric car drivers in London are better catered for than elsewhere in the country. The capital has several on-street and car park charging points for when you’re away for home.

The driving experience of today’s generation of electric car is also miles away from a petrol car. Don’t expect boy racer thrills — these things accelerate relatively slowly and cap out at maximum speeds of 60mph, meaning motorway driving isn’t massively practical.

Lastly, there’s the quality of the fittings and the size of the interior. Due to the issues of range and speed, the current crop of electrics falls into the supermini category and have very little boot space. The standard of the internal fittings (dash, seats and so on) varies enormously, from the rather good ed to the reasonable Mega City and ultra rudimentary G-Wiz. Despite their shortcomings, electric cars are a lot of fun, cheap to run and green to boot.