Electric cars are currently the main focus for reducing fuel dependency in America. There are plenty of schools of thought and novel ideas for transportation without fossil fuels, but none are being pursued more actively than the electric vehicle. The idea behind the electric car was once no more than a novel idea, but today it is becoming a reality.
Electric Car Consumer Questions
EV’s or electric vehicles have the potential to do much for our dependency on foreign oil and to go a long way towards cutting emissions to help heal the environment. For all their good graces, though, the EV still has some pitfalls. Currently the biggest issue to overcome with electric vehicles is the feasibility of owning one. If you can’t get the consumer to buy the car, then the vehicle fails. Two questions that are very likely to cause a potential customer to turn away from purchasing an EV are ‘Can I afford this new technology?’ and ‘Where is the infrastructure to support me as I drive my new EV?’
The Cost of EV Ownership
The technology of the electric car is still emerging. Its evolution has the potential to become something amazing. It will likely evolve on the level of what the internal combustion engine did in the last century, starting out small and limited in capacity but growing over time to a powerful solution. So what’s the problem? Emerging technologies are expensive. The cost of these early electric cars are high. This is a hurdle that will have to be overcome. The current economic climate, soaring poverty levels and escalating unemployment rates push the average consumer to look for cheaper alternatives.
The Charging Challenge
For those who can afford the new technology, there is the simple question of where to charge your vehicle when you are away from home. There are gas stations on every corner, but finding a charging station can be extremely challenging. If the EV market grows as hoped there will come a day when charging stations are as common as gas pumps, but for now the infrastructure is simply not there.
Making Strides
These issues are problematic, but there is hope. While most models of electric cars range from $30,000 and up, there are a few companies who are trying to make the EV affordable. The Ford Focus Electric is one example. As more EV car makers offer more affordable models the technology will make strides. The infrastructure looks to have a champion as well. With companies such as 350Green, who are currently adding 400 new EV charging stations to their existing 600 station network here in the USA, the infrastructure stands a good chance of becoming a sustaining force for the EV market.