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Cars with ARB’s PZEV emission rating are 90% cleaner than the average new vehicle.
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ELECTRIC
Introduction
Electric vehicles (EVs) are cars that run on electricity
stored in batteries. EVs are often confused with hybrid
electric vehicles which combine an internal combustion
engine with a battery. EVs are truly zero emission cars
because they have no tailpipe exhaust and no evaporative
emissions from fuel systems. Manufacturers have developed
a broad spectrum of EVs - from neighborhood electric cars
which can be used for short trips around town to full
function electric cars which can be used for longer trips
and have the body of conventional cars. The availability
and styles of these vehicles vary from year to year, but
with battery technology getting more sophisticated, manufacturers
will have the ability to design electric vehicles with
extended range, faster charging and more power.
Environmental
Benefits
EVs have:
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no
tail pipe exhaust |
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no
evaporative emissions |
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no
emissions system which can degrade or fail with
time |
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no
emissions from the refining of fuel and service
stations |
With widespread use EVs can
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reduce
emissions of carbon dioxide, a green house gas that
contributes to global warming |
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lessen
our cancer risk from exposure to toxic air contaminants
such as benzene |
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reduce
oil consumption and dependence on imported oil |
Perks
and Conveniences
There are many perks and conveniences in driving a battery
electric car:
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Drive
alone in the HOV lane—bypass all that traffic |
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Free
parking in some areas |
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Cash
incentives towards the lease or purchase of an EV
from ARB and some local agencies |
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Tax
incentives from the Federal government |
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You can recharge
at your home or work — you don’t have
to make a trip to the gas station |
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Fuel costs are
less than a conventional car estimated at $1 to
$2 a day for a 30 to 70 mile commute |
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Maintenance
costs are lower because there are fewer moving parts
to service and repair |
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No noisy engine |
Charging/Fueling
EVs are fueled by electricity and can be recharged at
a charger installed at your home or workplace, or can
be found at many other locations such as Costco and your
local shopping mall. Charging time varies depending on
how “empty” the battery is, how much energy
the battery holds (or how big the tank is) and other factors.
In general, it takes approximately two to five hours to
recharge vehicles that are ¼ to ¾ full and
approximately six to eight hours to recharge vehicles
that are on ”empty.” However, you'll probably
be working, sleeping, shopping or watching a movie so
it really doesn't seem that long.
Technology
The heart of an EV has three main components: the batteries,
the electric motor controller, and the electric motor.
The controller takes power from the batteries and delivers
it to the motor. The batteries of an EV can vary in type,
number, voltage and placement. The different battery types
available now are Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel metal hydride,
Lithium Ion, and Lead acid. To recharge the batteries,
there is a charger component on the car which takes the
electricity from a power source (ultimately the power
plant) and converts the current from alternating current
(AC) to direct current (DC).
Facts
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Electric
vehicles are one of the cleanest and most environmentally
friendly cars around |
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Electric
vehicles reduce pollutants by more than 90 percent
when compared to the cleanest conventional gasoline-powered
vehicles (even when factoring in the emissions from
power plants generating the electricity to the charge
the vehicle). |
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By
driving an electric vehicle with a 30-mile commute,
you can reduce gasoline consumption by an estimated
750 gallons annually. |
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Fuel
costs for a gasoline vehicle can be over five times
greater than an electric vehicle. |
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Safety
EVs meet all federal motor vehicle safety requirements.
The batteries are sealed and all high-voltage circuits
are protected from casual contact. High-voltage circuits
are marked, color-coded and posted with warnings to advise
of their presence. These vehicles pose no additional risks
over a conventional vehicle.
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