They’re three to four wheeled cars and trucks that don’t use an ounce of gas. Sound like a dream?
For an average of $15 a month, you can recharge these electric cars that can get you moving about 50 miles per hour. Not too shabby for short commutes and driving around town.
Kentucky just gave the green light to these green cars, although there are select few of them in the state.
Interest from ZAP Cars, one of the largest electric car manufacturers wants to build them in the bluegrass. ZAP stands for “Zero Air Pollution” which is what your electric car would emit.
ZAP Cars is looking four about 200 acres of Kentucky land, which would include a 2.5 mile test track. The new prospect would create about 2,500 much needed jobs around the state. So far the company is looking at six undisclosed sites to house their electric product.
This is an opportunity for Kentucky to develop a reputation as an energy capitol, and recruit and retain more people in a growing field. The industry seeks to benefit the environment and people who are roughing-it through hard times.
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said in a recent keystone speech, “With skyrocketing gas prices, Kentucky is faced with choosing between fuel for their cars and food for their families at a time when the government failed to adopt an energy policy.”
So what are the pros can cons of electric cars, and are they practical for our future?
We already talked about the economic benefits of electric vehicles, like NOT having to buy gas, creating jobs in the area, and having the ability to drive from point A to point B without polluting the earth.
Electric motors convert about 75% of the chemical energy from the battery to the wheels of the vehicle. They also decrease our energy dependence because electricity is a man-made domestic energy source (which pretty much means we can have as much of it as we want).
Lets take a look at the downside of electric vehicles. Most of them have a short driving range. The average electric car can only go 150 miles (or less) before having to be recharged. For comparison, my 2000 Honda Accord can go about 400 miles without having to stop. So once your electric vehicle needs juice, it takes four to eight hours to recharge its battery pack. Oi. That would be one terrible stop and go drive to the beach for those of us residing in the bluegrass. Also, (like any battery) the battery loses charge over time. The more you drive your eco-efficient vehicle, the less it will be able to run in the future.
To sum it up, if you do a lot of heavy traveling or are a bit irresponsible with charging your iPod and cell phone, the electric car may not be the most practical choice. For daily commuters, these vehicles might be a god-send. Only time will tell.