Top 7 Myths about Environmentally Friendly Cars
One can never believe every word in online or newspaper articles by 100 percent because there are always misconceptions and false information. When it comes to green cars, which include electric, cell-powered, hybrid and solar cars, we discover several myths about them as well. Some of them are just useful for car manufacturers; the others come as a result of common misunderstanding. Nevertheless one should think those facts over if one considers buying a green car.
Myth #1 – Greenest Cars Are Very Expensive
Most people believe that environmentally friendly cars are sold at a high price and are not affordable for people with low income. However there are some electric cars that cost as much as average gasoline vehicles.
Myth #2 – With a Green Car There Are No High Maintenance Expenses
Even though a green car may seem to be a reliable mechanism made of durable parts, driving and using such a car has some hidden maintenance expenses. Since electric cars run on rechargeable batteries they need to be recharged quite often which might be rather costly considering the price for electricity nowadays. Moreover sooner or later rechargeable batteries will have to be replaced with new ones which are quite expensive as well.
Myth #3 – Greenest Cars Are The Most Environmentally Friendly
It’s true that green cars help to reduce pollution and produce less exhaust fumes than most conventional gasoline vehicles but as a matter of fact greenest cars are not that green. Even though some hybrid cars run on electric power or hydrogen at low speeds combined with usage of a gasoline engine only at higher speeds, they still use a lot of gas and do pollute the atmosphere. Some specialists believe that buying a small economy car is more environmentally friendly than buying a powerful hybrid car.
Myth #4 – Greenest Cars Are Widely-Spread
With all the big talk and spirited debates about green cars one may come to a conclusion that these cars are best-selling, widely-distributed and they start “driving” gasoline cars out of the car market. However the production of green cars makes only 1.8 percent of the whole US car market and it will take quite a long time before they start playing any considerable part in it.
Myth #5 – All Green Cars Are Absolutely Safe
Driving some types of environmentally friendly cars such as most cell-powered and some hybrid cars with hydrogen engines makes them extremely dangerous on the road. In case of any collision the explosion of hydrogen accompanied by oxygen which is also used in such engines might cover vast areas.
Myth #6 – Most Green Cars Are Small and Uncomfortable Inside
This statement might be fair only if we talk about such a representative of green cars as a Smart car. However the majority of environmentally friendly cars is as spacious as conventional vehicles and has a rather big storage space.
Myth #7 – Electric Cars Can Operate Long Hours without Recharging
In fact most electric cars can be driven only 35 miles. After that the batteries need to be recharged. Thus if you travel long distances by car an electric vehicle is not what you need.
August 11th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I think a lot of your “myths” are inaccurate.
Here is an electric vehicle that gets 100,000 to 150,000 miles on the original batteries, and has a range of 100 to 120 miles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_RAV4_EV
August 11th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
As mentioned in the article “MOST electric cars” run 35 miles after which they need to be recharged. We are not speaking about any particular models.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
You would be interested to know that electric cars should be using the invention of Edwin V. Gray. In 1975 he won the Inventor of the Year Award in the USA, for his “pulsed capacitor discharge electric engine.” This type of engine will dominate the electric car market if and when any auto manufacturer begins to use it. I suggested this type of engine to several car manufacturers beginning in 1980, but there has been little response. I believe some of the best new electric cars may use this system; perhaps ZAP at zapworld.com , or possibly others. Look for any good quality electric cars with very high distance range per charge and very fast recharge times. I believe some of these may be using pulsed capacitor or pulsed electrocapacitor technology. The 8-hour recharge systems are not going to gain wide acceptance. The cap systems will have perhaps 10 minute recharge on standard household AC current, for a 350 mile distance range at speeds of up to 150 US mph, such as Zap-X’s Crossover SUV model (in the pipeline but not yet manufacturer). This vehicle will be made using Lotus Engineering for the body and subsystems, thanx to a very foresighted Tata Motors manager who pushed for a linkage between ZAP and Lotus Engineering.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Correction to previous post by me:
i said pulsed electrocapacitor above, meant to write: pulsed ultracapacitor. see Maxwell Technologies for new ultracapacitors please
New green cars will benefit by using the new RMI.org superefficient carbon fiber composite forming technology also.
In fact when carbon fiber composites come into increasing use, perhaps from Toray Industries replacement parts for existing automobiles and trucks, there will be an exponential realization that the new materials make superefficient VTOL small aircraft very affordable or at least commercially competitive and preferable to surface vehicles.
Very lightweight strong nonrusting construction makes it clear that the heavy wheels, steel undercarriage, transmission, brakes etc., heavy fuel, heavy outer skin etc., of existing cars has kept us locked to the Earth’s surface for far too long. Lightweight construction will boost the interest in affordable VTOL aircraft for everyday use.