Air pollution is a major contributor to global warming, it leads to respiratory diseases and it destroys plants and animals. Over 100 million tons of pollution is released into the air every year in the U.S., and in 2005 over 122 million people lived in U.S. counties that did not meet the clean air standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

One of the biggest contributors of air pollution is fuel emissions from automobiles. One answer to this global problem is the zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV), which is a vehicle that produces no harmful emissions or pollution into the air. And the electric car is the perfect example of a zero-emissions vehicle.

What is the purpose of an electric car?

The purpose of an electric car is to provide significantly less pollution into the air. The electric vehicle is powered by electricity that is stored in a battery, so the engine creates no tailpipe exhaust or other harmful greenhouse gases. They are best used for short trips around town within a 50-mile range since the battery’s energy does not last forever, but more sophisticated electric engines are being manufactured to extend the distance traveled by the electric car.

How does an electric car work?

An electric car is run by three main parts: an electric motor, a controller and a battery. When the pedal is pushed on an electric car, the controller delivers electrical currents from the battery to the motor.  This gives the car acceleration. When the vehicle is idle there is no electrical current being processed, so energy is not being used. To learn more about how an electric car works you can click here.

Electric cars can be charged through any electrical outlet at your home or business. The time it takes to charge the battery depends on how much of the battery’s power is left. For best results you should give the car from 6 to 8 hours to charge, so you should plug it in overnight or if you’re going to be away for the day.

What are the different types of motors used in electric cars?

There are two types of motors used in electric cars:

1. DC Motor – A DC motor runs on DC electric power that can generate from 96 to 192 volts of electricity. These motors are best used for short burst of acceleration.
2. AC Motor – AC motors are driven by alternating currents that can generate up to 240 volts of electricity. They can achieve fast forward and rewind operations without all the extra gears and clutches.

What are the advantages of having an electric vehicle?

There are many environmental benefits and personal perks for having an electric car:

• Most electric motors can travel up to 100 miles before they need to be charged
• No tail pipe exhaust means less greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide
• Less oil consumption means no reliance on foreign oil
• You can recharge your car whenever it’s convenient for you
• More cost-effective than regular cars because of long-lasting battery use
• You can get a tax incentives from the government when you purchase them
• Cheaper to maintain because they have fewer moving parts
• Creates less noise pollution because the engine is silent

Are there any drawbacks?

Even though electric cars offer great advantages over traditional cars, there are some drawbacks. Electric cars are more expensive than traditional cars because of their unique batteries, and you often need to plan ahead of time before you go anywhere so that you have enough time to charge your battery. If you don’t plan ahead, then your battery can die out and you can get stuck in the middle of nowhere!

What are my options if I want to get an electric vehicle?

There are few car manufactures out there that offer the unique electric car. The most notable are Tesla Motors, Zenn Motors, Miles Automotive Group and Phoenix Motorcars.

If you are interested in promoting the development of electric cars and electric technology, you can become a member of the Electric Auto Association and help get the word out to the public.