Electric Vehicle Pros and Cons: The Good, the Bad and the Green
By Elizah Leigh
January 10, 2011
Recyclable parts and reduced emissions are great, but what are the downsides to the infiltration of electric vehicles?
Getting from point A to point B is no longer as simple as hopping in a car, stepping on the gas pedal and screeching off to our chosen destination. For those who have ever enjoyed the pleasure of carefree driving, treasure those memories, because we're living in a very different world where global warming and peak oil have taken front and center.
These days, considering the carbon footprint of your vehicle is fast becoming far more important than whether your ride is easy on the eyes or packs a testosterone-laden punch, but convincing the general population to get with the program has admittedly been a tough sell.
For a very long time, we've been quite comfortable with slick, roomy, gas-guzzling vehicles and yet, given the choice, what consumer in their right mind wouldn't want a more efficient option, particularly if it takes the burden off of his or her wallet in the midst of a depressed economy?
With electric vehicles (EVs), it just so happens that the deal gets even sweeter since Mother Nature catches a much needed break, too.
One-cylinder gasoline engine (ca. 1910)
Piston
Internal combustion engine mode banned. All-electr...But you want the cold hard facts, don't you? This must be your lucky day, because here are a few electric vehicle pros and cons to sink your teeth into:
Advantages of electric vehicles
Dependence on fossil fuels reduced
Ever wonder just how much oil the U.S. currently uses to fuel its transportation sector? Of the two-thirds that is earmarked specifically for planes, trains and other assorted vehicles, a solid 40% of the petroleum that we consume is reserved specifically for personal cars...