Change is imminent in the transportation industry with the certain arrival of electric cars.  The arrival of these cars will encourage us to move from internal combustion engines to vehicles powered by electricity. These cars herald a time of clean emissions and revolutionary technology and should entice all to give up dependence on gas powered vehicle.

It is important that we know what plug in cars are. Plug-ins are cars which use cheap, clean and safe domestic electricity for all or some of its power. The difference between plug in or all electric vehicle(EV) and hybrid vehicles (PHEV) is that plug in cars use store all energy in batteries but hybrid cars  store only some energy in batteries and depend on gasoline to extend their performance. PHEVs depend entirely on gasoline and cannot be powered by electricity.

If there is one word to describe electric cars it is “reliable”. These cars do not need tune ups or oil changes and work just as well with 10 times fewer parts than ordinary cars.

These cars provide the ideal option to bring down carbon emissions. Making optimum use of the renewable aspect of electricity to power transportation is the first step to ecological safety. Electric vehicles are the only way to ensure sustainability of environment and fuel price stability.

Isn’t it amazing!

Where can one get an EV?

Procuring an electric vehicle is very challenging as most vehicle manufacturers do not have electric versions of their cars. This is because of the oil and auto industries rallying hard to withdraw the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate proposed during the 1990’s. With the mandate withdrawn, auto giants were under no pressure to sell electric cars and consumers were denied any choice in the matter. Cars were in fact confiscated and destroyed despite pleas from owners.

In 2005, DontCrush.com campaigned hard for electric vehicles and had companies like Ford and Toyota cease crushing their electric cars. The success of the DontCrush.com campaign has encouraged companies like Plug In America to provide customers with electrical choices in vehicles.

Change is Coming

Better times have arrived for Evs. Several auto manufactures have begun to offer Plug in cars. Chevrolet launched it VOLT at special dealerships in 2010 and Nissan has launched its LEAF. 2011 brings in electric cars from the factories of Ford, Coda, Think, MINI and smart into the market.  All major auto manufacturers along with a few start ups have announced a new range of plug in vehicles, but only consistent pressure from environmentally conscious sectors of society will ensure that these cars will be sold.

Where can I buy a Plug in?

Plug In America’s Plug in Vehicle Tracker is the best way to stay up to date with news about electric vehicles in America. Updated twice a month, all details pertaining to highway- usable electrical cars and trucks are provided here. The Tracker is only for informational purposes and does not certify or sponsor any specific brand.

Action to be taken

It is up to the people to ensure that they are provided with the right choices in vehicles. They have to insist and demand that all auto manufacturers build and sell plug-ins. Only persistent efforts to encourage plug ins will ensure sustainability. Contacting local dealers and signing Plug in America’s petition is the first step in the right track.

These kinds of vehicles are duel powered and use the help of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor to power up the vehicle. This category of car is slowly gaining acceptance as they are proving to be a cheap alternative, is energy efficient and helps the owners reduce their carbon footprint. Carbon Footprint is defined as the amount of pollution we generate individually that depletes the environment.

They are more advanced than electric vehicles that run wholly on plug-in batteries. The major issue with electric cars is with the limited range they have, on a single charge and needs regular charging. Hybrid vehicles works with the help of internal combustion engine to get started and later the electric energy stored in the batteries is used to keep the automobile running.

Nearly every domestic and foreign car manufacturer makes such vehicles, with Toyota and Honda being the leaders in this technology. Currently Toyota Prius is the largest selling hybrid car. Ford Escape and Mountaineer, from the stable of Ford is the largest selling U.S car manufacturer of hybrid cars. As the U.S. economy rebounds, more manufacturers will start offering newer models to car buyers. It is a fact that by now, car enthusiasts have developed a following for hybrid cars and this will only grow with increased offering from manufacturers.

Electric car batteries are restricted in volume as other batteries we use in our daily lives. So, it can supply limited quantity of electrical energy. The running of your electric car is dependent on the volume of energy and the usage of it. Typically, your electric car should be able to last from 150 to 300 miles if they are fully charged. These cars can be recharged through a plug in the wall, so the anxiety of cost for an electric car battery is not a problem.

Amplitude and Volume

The limitation of work held by the electric car batteries depends on the bulk of their dimensions and the substantial matter that is used in it. Right now, the major ingredient to make an electric car battery is lithium but you may know that this is kind of energy producer which costs most. This might not be long when the technology advances and we might see some charming and effective batteries.

It costs more for a battery that is of higher volume, and few car producers, e.g., Tesla Motors, provide you the facility as which kind of battery you want to fit in your car. The work power of a battery can reduce so it is your duty to keep a constant check on it and make it run well. Also, as we take care of plugging other appliances, same care should be taken as plugged in constantly would damage the performance of the battery.

Capable Drivers

If you are capable you can drive without recharge for long time. Slow speed and stops at lights would increase the energy of your car battery. Using brakes lesser makes energy go up.

The eStar is the first fully-electric van produced at Navistar plant in Wakarusa, Ind. To be backed up by a powerful A123 System battery. This battery has been developed in M.I.T. a decade ago. It is equipped with a nanophosphate lithium ion technology. The company has held various affiliates with large carmakers as produces for the electric platforms of their respective vehicles.

When the eStar goes out into the market in the U.S., it will be the first electric powered 2C-3 van to be sold in North America. Already, FedEx has delivered the first production eStar to its shore last month. The eStar is said to be priced for about $150,000.  Navistar also plans to produce 400 of its kind by the end of this year.

The eStar rivals the Ford Transit Connect Electric in terms of curb weight and payload. However, both vehicles have their own purpose, but it’s comforting to know that electric option will be made available to fleets requiring more hauling power.

The Suzuki Burgman fuel cell scooter is the first fuel cell vehicle of its kind to be awarded the prestigious Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) from UK’s Vehicle Certification Authority. There have been previous concerns over the usage of hydrogen fuel-cell technology and on its safety. That is why this technology has never been fully put to test.

Suzuki Motors plans to release the scooters in Europe by 2012. In accordance with this, there has to be a reliable hydrogen refueling network.

The Burgman was put to the test and was being run through the busy streets of Europe unaided and not needing inspection and approval of member states. No other fuel cell run vehicle has ever achieved this feat. Currently, the scooter is yet to be priced, but energy secretary Chris Huhne confirmed to make it in line with traditional petrol price range.

Mercedes has pushed efforts to promote and use hydrogen fuel cell technology. This cutting edge alternative will be made available after field tests will be conducted in the year 2012. With the expected shortage of other fuel products such as diesel and gasoline, this hydrogen fuel cell alternative will prove to be very beneficial indeed. It is also noted to be budget-friendly, as it will be priced at about the same amount as its other readily available alternatives.

The Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation has stressed and urged carmakers to makes their products more competitive. This is because more attention is given towards producing more electricity and plug-in stations for hybrid cars. If this is the case, potentials of fuel cell technology may never come into fruition. The Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation has called for more inventive ways to enhance marketing strategies as a result.

The power train in the new Hyundai Sonata hybrid is significantly different from the in other hybrids. One result it class-leading highway fuel economy.
The Sonata hybrid can go upto 75mph propelled by an electric motor. This velocity far surpasses the top speeds in electric-vehicle mode of competitive hybrids, including the Ford Fusion hybrids and the Nissan Altima hybrid, and cuts the Sonata’s fuel consumption. The EPA rates the Sonata’s highway fuel economy at 40mpg.
Better aerodynamics help boost fuel economy; shutters behind the grille close at highway speeds and the cars underbody is sculpted to reduce drag. But the new Sonata’s fuel economy is mainly because of its innovative power train.
Hyundai’s solution replaces a typical hybrid’s transmission-motor assembly with a standard automatic transaxle modified to work with what Hyundai calls a transmission mounted electrical device. The TMED includes two main parts: A powerful electric device motor and a solenoid activated clutch pack. These pats fit in about the same space as a traditional torque convertor.
The fine control over the wet clutch pack makes it possible to use a conventional automatic transmission without a torque convertor. The TMED enables 40mpg highway mileage and high speed EV operation. Because the torque from the motor runs through all of the transmission’s six gears, we can keep the motor running at its optimal RPM. Electric motors are more efficient running at lower speeds. The clutching system enables the gearbox to receive power from the 30kw (40.8 hp) electric motor, the 166 hp, 2.4 Atkinson cycle, 4 cylinder gasoline engine, or both.
Parallel Hybrid
The vehicle’s ability to run on any mix of engine or motor power means the Sonata is a parallel hybrid.( In a series hybrid, the driven wheels only receive power directly from the electric motor). Hyundai rates the combined horsepower of the power-train at 206hp. Hyundai Mobis Co. Of Seoul supplies the main motor. The starter motor-generator comes from S&T Daewoo Co. Remy International Inc. supplies the starter motor in the non-hybrid Sonata.
The hybrid starter-generator motor is rated at 8.5 kilowatts, significantly less than the eAssist’s 11kw, but more than the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid’s 2-kw belt alternator starter. Hyundai’s does not provide torque to the engine beyond what is required to repower the engine for stop-start.
Better Batteries
Another departure from most hybrids is the Sonata’s batteries. LG Chem partnered on the development of the 72- cell lithium polymer battery array. The new manganese-spinel cells perform better then nickel-metal hybrid batteries by holding more power in less space and at a lower weight. Compared with other battery chemistries, Hyundai notes that lithium polymer cells hold a charge 25 percent longer than nickel-metal hybrid cells, helping the Sonata start and drive away on electric power even after the sedan has been sitting for several days. This further reduces fuels consumption and emissions.
A conventional 12 Volt automotive battery is still required to help power vehicle accessories.

When you car start up and you don’t hear anything, that’s the sound of the future. And the sound of silence from Nissan’s Leaf is almost deafening.
It is deceptively easy to clip along at 60mph without even trying solely because there Is no engine growling under the hood and no telltale transmission shifts. The uninitiated electric-car driver- meaning all of us- is likely to keep pushing the pedal instinctively, waiting for that engine rumble. Instead the Leaf glides noiselessly and effortlessly around Nissan’s proving ground outside the Oppama plant, where production began in October 2010.
Engineers say it goes from 0 to 62 mph in a little under 10 seconds. The car is so quiet that Nissan feels obliged to equip it with some new bells and whistles-literally. In electric cars, pushing the ignition button normally would elicit o sound because there is no gasoline to ignite. But Nissan solves what would have been a slightly unnerving phenomenon by adding a startup chime.
And to warn pedestrians that a stealth car is coming, Nissan composed another synthesized tune reminiscent of a jet engine hum that kicks in at low speeds, when tire noise isn’t a factor. But the good part is that you can’t hear it in the cabin.
Hands-on experience unveiled a few insights:
A solar panel on the roof recharges the regular lead- acid battery that runs the car’s electric devices, such as windshield wipers and windows.
The recharging cable is stored in a backpack like bag tethered to the side of the trunk.
There is a large circuit-breaker switch on the back seat floor for emergency power shutdown.
The Leaf is Nissan Motor Co.’s gambit to leap to the front of the industry in environmentally friendly cars. The car, powered by in-house lithium ion batteries and an electric motor, can go 100 miles on a full charge. But the question is whether customers will accept a certain amount of range anxiety in exchange for a clean, peppy, futuristic car.

Fast charging is beginning a slow rollout for electric vehicles in the United States.
Although fast charging; also called Level 3 charging, faces obstacles such as high prices and uncertain standards, it could make EV charging much more convenient. And that could help pave the way to broader use of EV’s.
Level 3 chargers provide 480volts and recharge a battery to 80 percent of full charge within 30 minutes, although charger companies are targeting shorter times. Other EV charging options are less expensive but take longer. Despite high prices, the convenience of Level 3 charging intrigues automakers.
The ideal scenario would be: An EV driver with a low battery pulls into a filling station, plugs into a Level 3 charger, and while waiting the 15-20 minutes for a charge, goes into the station to spend a little cash on snacks.
A few Level 3 chargers are to appear around the U.S this year, largely subsidized by automakers and government programs. Chargers can cost $50,000 or more, compared with the roughly $2,000 to install a 240-volt Level 2 charger in a home. Low initial volumes make Level 3 prices steep, says the President of Aker Wade Power Technologies, a charger make in Charlottesville Va..
Many people feel that the Level 3 technology is not a earth-shattering technology and has been earlier used to recharge machinery such as forklifts for years. Innovation and scale will lower the price. However, the two major questions that arise; one marketing and one technical, must be resolved before Level 3 chargers are used widely.
1. Marketing Question: Who will buy them?
Level 3 can go into existing service stations, where operators will make money from selling electricity, perhaps along with food and other products to motorists. But people are not sure if that’s viable at least until many more EV’s are in use. At least the likely initial buying of Level 3 could be businesses trying to attract customers or promote a green image, as well as employers providing charging for employees.
2. Technical Question: Which plug will be used?
SAE International is developing a national standard for Level 3 connector, the plug and the receptacle, but probably won’t decide until next year. Mike Muller, SPX product manager for EV’s and a member of the SAE panel working on the standard, says that SAE is testing equipment and plans to propose a standard in the first half of 2012.

With increasing fuel costs many people are looking for alternatives. Electric vehicle kits are one such alternative that is gaining popularity, especially the Do it yourself types. It has become so simple that anyone with the elementary knowledge of cars can convert the conventional gas powered vehicle to the one powered by electric current.
But the idea of converting a regular gas powered vehicle to electric vehicle can be a daunting task. One should have an interest in such tasks. For conversion extensive modifications of parts have to be done. All components, from engine, radiator, heater and air-conditioning to the gauges in the panel. Additionally, electric vehicles must be manually charged, meaning you must have the services of a filling station nearby as well. A good potential source of powering electric vehicles is solar power.
Can any ordinary vehicle be converted to electric car?
The answer is, unfortunately NO. All cars cannot be converted to electric vehicles. However, the most common kits seem to be that of the Chevy S-10 pick-up kit. Another good vehicle for conversion is the Chevy Geo, especially the models 1989-1999 ones. Such cars are good for converting to electric vehicles. Vehicles that are similar to Chevrolet Geo Metro like Chevy Sprint, Suzuki Swift and Pontiac Firefly are also good vehicles for conversions.
Disadvantages of using electric vehicle kit
Earlier many people thought that electric powered cars generate lesser power and are slow on roads. But over the years, significant developments have been made in this field and all the old perceptions are slowly changing. With the current technology being used I electric cars, they can reach top speeds of 70-75 mph. But this technology still has got certain drawbacks.
The biggest disadvantage is the regular recharge of the battery. For instance, the Chevy Metro kit needs to be recharged every 25-45 miles, based on the battery quality and driving habits of the individual. This would be ideal for city driving. But for any long traffic jams it may nit be an ideal choice.
Another model, the Chevy S-10 that is installed with an electric kit can run for upto 40-60 miles. This again depends on the battery size and the driving habits of the individual. Few S-10 models are also equipped with solar panels, which helps reduce the need for charging, atlest while driving in daylight.
It must be kept in mind that converting a vehicle is not a cheap affair. Most kits cost anywhere between $8,500- $10,500. The cost of labor in installation is extra and also the battery costs. Close access to recharging stations must also be kept in mind.