An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using electrical energy stored in rechargeable batteries or another energy storage device. Electric motors give electric cars instant torque, creating strong and smooth acceleration. They are also around three times as efficient as cars with an internal combustion engine.
The first electric cars were produced in the 1880s. Since 2008, a renaissance in electric vehicle manufacturing has occurred due to advances in batteries and energy management, concerns about increasing oil prices, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several national and local governments have established tax credits, subsidies, and other incentives to promote the introduction and adoption in the mass market of new electric vehicles depending on battery size and their all-electric range.
Electric cars are significantly quieter than conventional internal combustion engine automobiles. They do not emit tailpipe pollutants, giving a large reduction of local air pollution, and, can give a significant reduction in total greenhouse gas and other emissions (dependent on the method used for electricity generation).
As of September 2015, there are over 30 models of highway legal all-electric passenger cars and utility vans available for retail sales, mainly in the United States, China, Japan, Western European countries. By mid-September 2015, about 620,000 light-duty electric vehicles have been sold worldwide out of total global sales of one million plug-in electric cars sold since 2008. The world's top selling highway-capable electric car is the Nissan Leaf, released in December 2010 and sold in 46 countries. Global Leaf sales passed the 200,000 unit milestone in December 2015, and the Tesla Model S, released in June 2012, ranks second with over 107,000 units sold worldwide. In this series, we cover stories covering the development of electric vehicles around the world.
Electric Car Series
Hyundai Oilbank's EV charging stations to reach 200 by 2023
Oct 09, 2020 00:19 am UTC|
Business
Hyundai Oilbank will increase the number of its electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to 200 by 2023 with the help of Charzin, a company specializing in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The petroleum and...
Electric Car Series
Want an electric car, but think you can't afford one? Here's how to buy second-hand
Oct 05, 2020 14:11 pm UTC|
Business
Many Australians say they would consider buying an electric car. But unfortunately, new electric vehicles dont come cheap.
Even at the more affordable end of the market, a new Nissan Leaf or Hyundai Ioniq cost around...
Electric Car Series
Hydrogen cars won't overtake electric vehicles because they're hampered by the laws of science
Jun 03, 2020 14:35 pm UTC|
Science
Hydrogen has long been touted as the future for passenger cars. The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), which simply runs on pressurised hydrogen from a fuelling station, produces zero carbon emissions from its...
Electric Car Series
Wrong way, go back: a proposed new tax on electric vehicles is a bad idea
Dec 24, 2019 08:15 am UTC|
Insights & Views Technology
In recent years, false claims have circulated that electric vehicles are breaking our roads because they dont use fuel and so their drivers dont pay fuel excise.
Heeding such concerns, both the Victorian and New South...
Electric Car Series
Love it or hate it, Tesla's Cybertruck is revolutionary
Dec 04, 2019 11:23 am UTC|
Insights & Views Technology
With a collective gasp and puzzled looks, the world was recently introduced to Teslas newest vehicle. The so-called Cybertruck is an angular, stainless steel, all-electric pickup truck that quickly became...
Electric Car Series
Sweden's new road powers electric vehicles – what's the environmental impact?
Apr 21, 2018 16:18 pm UTC|
Insights & Views Technology
Sweden has built the first smart road that will allow electric vehicles to charge as they drive. The eRoadArlanda pilot scheme, which covers two kilometres of road outside Stockholm, is an attempt to solve one of the...
Electric Car Series
Why don't electric cars look like the future?
Jan 09, 2018 15:34 pm UTC|
Insights & Views
Electric cars were supposed to be the future or at least look like it. So now theyre here, why do they still look like ordinary petrol and diesel cars and not dazzling props from a science fiction film.
Before they hit...
Economy
Japan Posts 7.7% Growth in Machinery Orders
In a striking development that looks set to invigorate Japans economic prospects, a key gauge of capital spending in the country has seen its most significant jump in over a year. According to Cabinet Office data released...
A sustainable future begins at ground level
In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a call to action in global partnership. By 2023 it appears that our progress has been far from satisfactory in achieving these...
Politics
Who will Trump pick as his running mate?
Being second in line for leadership of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy job. But for Mike Pence, vice president under Donald Trump, things were even harder than usual.
As insurrectionists descended...