Electric
Cars
 Necessity is the mother of invention and perhaps it is repeated
in different versions for electrically driven vehicles.
Now the supremacy of petrol run cars is under threat with
the scarcity of petroleum resources. Electrical vehicles
(EVs), while overcoming their earlier drawbacks, are announcing
their revival.
Origin and Growth of EVs
Electric cars (EVs) first appeared in Europe
during the 1880's followed by the United States. But during
the early 1900's, petrol-engine cars became more powerful
with better performance and hence dominated the roads.
The cost effectiveness showed by the petrol engine cars
ensured the disappearance of EVs by 1920.
Increased concern about air pollution and falling supplies
of petroleum during the 1960's brought back people's
interest in EVs and resulted in their limited production,
but sales were never high. Being expensive with limited
travel range and relatively poor performances, the car
was not a success. But manufacturers experimented on
making the EVs more efficient and economical. One similar
effort was reflected in cars known as Hybrids, which
had all the components of an EV in addition to a type
of fuel engine.
The Advantages
- Their operation produces no exhaust and that prevents
air pollution.
- They do not consume exhaustible petrol.
- The lack of engine noise is welcome in today's ever-growing
noise-polluting traffic.
- Their batteries can be charged at home or at the
work place and avoids the inconvenience of refueling
at the service station.
Which factors are limiting their usage?
- They usually cannot travel more than 160 kilometres
unless their batteries are recharged.
- In extreme weather conditions that may require high
use of electric power.
- Electric cars also have below-average acceleration.
- Most electric cars use expensive lead-acid batteries
that may have to be replaced several times during
the life of the vehicle.
Enhancing the power pack of EVs.
- The use of nickel metal-hydride batteries can increase
the range that can be driven on a single charge.
- Fuel cells that are used in Hybrid cars are also
a better option. They produce electricity from a fuel
and an oxidizer, a substance that combines with the
fuel. The fuel and oxidizer react chemically at two
separate electrodes to produce the direct electric
current.
 EV in the Indian
Context
Bangalore based company Maini group plans to
launch their REVA electric car in January 2001. The
main focus will be on easy mobility in cities along
with economical and eco-friendly drives. The company
is expecting a greater response for EVs from across
India. The Managing Director of the company, Chetan
Maini, says that their REVA is going to be unique
with features like safe and gearless car driving.
So, can we say 'Goodbye petrol cars, Hello EVs'? Only
time will tell.
- Charan CS
|
4:45:16 PM 
