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 Vehicle Series
New Mercedes-Benz Maybach Convertible Is An Electric Car Enthusiast’s Dream
Aug 21, 2017 06:24 am UTC|
Technology
Anyone who has been following the development of the electric car for decades will remember a time when analysts and so-called experts said that such vehicles would never be sexy enough for the masses. Then Tesla came...
Electric Vehicle Series
The economic black hole at the heart of the shift to electric vehicles
Aug 07, 2017 16:02 pm UTC|
Insights & Views Economy
The ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans from 2040 is perhaps the most significant policy announcement made by the UK government in the past decade (with the possible exception of Brexit). It feels like a...
Electric Vehicle Series
How electric vehicles could take a bite out of the oil market
Jul 27, 2017 10:13 am UTC|
Insights & Views Economy
When will cars powered by gas-guzzling internal combustion engines become obsolete? Not as soon as it seems, even with the latest automotive news out of Europe.
First, Volvo announced it would begin to phase out the...
Electric Vehicle Series
Volvo To Go Full Electric, Says Goodbye To Gas Cars
Jul 08, 2017 16:28 pm UTC|
Technology
While it still remains one of the most well-known luxury brands of cars in the business, Volvo is not about to wait until it becomes left behind by current trends. As a result, the company has announced that it will be...
Electric Vehicle Series
Electric Cars Can Also Power Buildings When Parked, Researchers Say
Jun 17, 2017 03:11 am UTC|
Science Technology
It seems there is one more reason to get an electric car other than to protect the environment. According to researchers, vehicles running on electricity can also power buildings without suffering battery drain or...
Electric Vehicle Series
How electric car racing could one day challenge the spectacle of Formula One
May 25, 2017 13:30 pm UTC|
Insights & Views Business
Motor racings most glamorous event, the Formula One Grand Prix in the glittering tax haven of Monaco is just around the corner. It is 67 years since drivers first took on the famous, twisty roads through the principality...
Electric Vehicle Series
India Aims For Complete Electric Car Domination By 2030
May 04, 2017 11:36 am UTC|
Technology
The world might be heading towards a more electric car-centric mindset, with more car companies producing excellent examples as a good indication, but India wants to be ahead of every other country in this regard. As a...
Politics 
Germany Warns of Daily Hybrid Warfare Threats
Germany is facing foreign hybrid warfare operations on a daily basis, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has warned after authorities discovered an explosive-carrying drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Dobrindt said hostile...
Technology 
OpenAI Restricts Astra AI Over Cyberattack Risks
OpenAI has reportedly restricted parts of the development of its next-generation AI model, code-named Astra, after early evaluations indicated the system could potentially carry out sophisticated cyberattacks with limited...
Nintendo Shares Jump as Switch 2 Sales Boost Earnings
Nintendo shares surged nearly 5% on Friday after the Japanese gaming giant reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter earnings and upgraded its full-year financial outlook, supported by robust demand for the new Switch...