"Understanding the Future of Sustainable Energy"

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The concept of battery electric vehicles is to charge batteries on board vehicles for propulsion using the electric grid.  The main advantage is that no pollutants are emitted directly from the vehicle and gasoline is replaced by electricity.  The electricity stored within the battery can be generated by any source, including renewable, nuclear, natural gas, coal and petroleum.  Depending on how the electricity is generated pollutant and greenhouse gases will still be emitted from the electrical power generation.  However, because electrical stationary power does not have the size and weight constraints typical in transportation engines, stationary power plant are generally cleaner and more efficient then engines used for transportation.

Efforts were made in the 1990's to develop and largely commercialize battery electrical cars for the general public.  However, battery electric cars never became mainstream.  While it is possible to argue "who killed the electric car," two main arguments sum up the story best.

(1) The amount of batteries required for decent range (<150 miles) is huge (see the picture of Toyota RAV4 below).   Large batteries represent a substantial capital cost and 150 mile range is low, especially considering batteries must be charged slowly (hours) to maintain durability.  It was speculated that the general public would not buy battery electric cars on the large scale due to range and charge up time limitations.   

(2)  Automotive companies (e.g. GM, Ford, Toyota) saw the potential to make more money from traditional gasoline cars.  Batteries are expensive and the automotive companies know how to make gasoline cars.  Why would they promote a risky new technology that may make them less money?

Battery electric cars are becoming more and more attractive with the advancement of new battery technology (Lithium Ion) with higher power density (i.e. more range with less batteries).  In terms of urban pollution, and dependency on foreign fossil fuels battery electric cars provide a great alternative.

The Toyota RAV4 EV was powered by twenty-four 12 volt batteries. source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rav4evdrawing.jpg