The Electric Car
In the early 1900s there were more electric cars than gasoline cars. Back then gasoline was expensive and you were required to to turn a hand crank in the front of the car to get it started. In addition, the gasoline cars were very noisy and put out a lot of smoke.
With the invention of the electric starter and new methods to produce cheap gas, the gasoline powered car took off and became the main method of transporting people. At the same time, the electric cars seems all but forgotten.
Now lets fast forward to the present. With gas prices at an all time high and a push for “greener” technologies, the electric car is making a comeback. Consumers are looking at the electric automobile as a means to reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and to reduce the cost of powering their vehicles.
Electric vehicles use electricity stored in the car battery. Currently it sometimes takes 12 or 24 batteries just to power the car. They employ an electric motor to turn the wheels and a battery to run that motor.
How do you “fill up” an electric car? By plugging it directly into a electrical wall outlet or through a larger outlet that provides more current, similar to a 220 line used to run some air conditioners and clothes dryers.
The Electric car battery can be a lead acid batteries or ni-cad (nickel=cadmium) battery. Lead acid batteries are used today for running your flashlight or your standard car. NI-cad batteries are used in portable video recorders and video game players. The downside to both is the distance you can limited distance you can drive before having to recharge the batteries. Another concern is the safe disposal of the lead batteries when they go “dead”.
Electric automobiles are a viable alternative to those who don’t travel long distances or have a short commute. You can bet that scientists are working on making a more efficient battery so that it’s use can be more widespread.
