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Top five reasons why my next car will be an electric car (aka Electric Vehicle or EV)
Febuary 21, 2010. By Arnold Rapinan

Tesla Roadster and Fisker Karma #1 From gasoline to hybrid to EV, it just seems right

I didn't think I’ll ever say this, but after switching to hybrid cars, I don’t believe I can ever go back and buy a regular gasoline car. There’s something about getting more miles using less (or no) gasoline: for me, it feels good, it feels "cleaner", somewhat addicting, and it gives me a way to fight back to ever continously increasing gas prices. From driving a regular gasoline car to hybrid car, it just seems right and natural to move on to electric car. I am convinced that my next car will be an EV.

#2Electric cars are cool

Electric cars are powered exclusively by electricity and they are cool, techie, trendy and much more eco friendly than any other cars available on the market. Electric cars produce no tailpipe emissions, reduce our dependency on oil, and are cheaper to operate. For EVs, the electric motors provide quiet, smooth operation and stronger acceleration. You can drive hundreds of miles per plug without using a drop of gasoline. See Electric Cars: A Definitive Guide for more information about EVs. My favorite EVs are (in this order): 1) Fisker Karma, 2) Tesla Roadster, and 3) Tesla Model S.

 

#3 There will be more well designed, well tested EVs on the market to choose from

In the next five years, there will be a handful of well designed, well tested EVs on the market to choose from. Currently, there is a growing number of startup companies who are developing and racing to bring their EVs to the market. Major car manufacturers are also pushing to launch their own EVs: Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus EV, BMW Mini E EV, Audi e-tron EV, to name a few, (see full list of EVs) will be available to the public either this year or in the next couple of years. By the time I’m ready to buy a new car, these EVs will be on the market for at least 4 to 5 years.

#4 Longer battery life and more convenient charging stations

The battery for EVs have dramatically improved in the last decade. Today, EVs like Tesla Roadster, Fisker Karma and Mullen GTEV are enjoying 220 miles, 300 miles and 350 miles (per charge) respectively. The battery life on EVs will continue to evolve. With President Obama's push on green technology coupled with the states green initiatives, there are a growing number of companies recieving green technology funding to build necessary infrastructure that can support EVs. Today, it is common to see charging stations here in the bay area (view charging stations via Google Map). My local Costco store (at Tully and Senter Road) has two charging stations. Coulomb Technologies, a local startup company, is building a worldwide network of charging stations (see their Locate Charging Stations tool). Other startup companies like Better Place and AeroVironment are also launching thier charging stations everywhere. I'm sure major car manufacturers will also ensure that charging stations will be conveniently available. Eventually, I think there will be a lot more EV charging stations than available diesel stations we have today.

#5 Gasoline prices and global warming

Gasoline car! <-- what is that? Ok, so that is really a cynical and rhetorical question, but the truth is that gasoline prices will continue to rise (it has been skyrocketing for the last 10 years) and the global warming issues will become more apparent and serious. For me, the idea of having a gasoline-free car is just way cool. Plus, I’m trying to do my part to help the environment so that my children’s great grand children can enjoy Mother Earth.

I believe the adoption of EVs or Hybrid EVs will be far greater than critics have claimed and will happen much sooner than we think. Consumers will be buying these cool and trendy cars as there will be a variety of well designed and well tested EVs on the market to choose from, it’s a better technology, cheaper to maintain, gasoline free, better for environment and it makes sense. There you have it, my top five reasons why my next car will be an EV!