Table of Contents Introduction 1 I. How is an electric car different from a normal one? 2 II. Why an electric car is the best for you 3 1. Driver benefits 3 Graph 2.1: The total cost of ownership of an electric car versus a traditional car. 4 2. Environmental benefits 4 Picture 2.2.1: EV Environmental benefits 5 3. Economic benefits 5 III. The disadvantages of using an electric car 6 Conclusion 7

Introduction

The electric car was one of the most innovative technologies to be constructed, and it gave new light and opportunity for the world and the people in it. It is unclear about who you could give credit to for inventing the electric vehicle, but there were several inventors who decided to take part in this incredible structure. It was invented as a small scale model powered car in 1828, and it was designed popular by Anyos Jedlik who was from Hungary. Robert Anderson also was another inventor who created an electric power carriage, and these inventions led to more opportunities for inventions. Before the electric vehicle was really implemented in the 21st century, pollution and many hazards of fuels were destroying many natural resources, but it has dramatically changed since the car was officially introduced. Cost and energy efficiency was a major reason why it had to be introduced to the world, by hopefully going green and reducing pollution. I. How is an electric car different from a normal one?

The motors of those cars are also different. As its name indicated, an electric car is power-driven by electricity instead of gas. There is no gas tank but batteries instead to save power. Just as phones, electric cars are charged on domestic outlets and discharged steadily as the car is driven. Cars using gas are made up of only one motor that burn gas to create combustion. This leads to the rotation of the engine, which as the result allows the wheels to spin. Electric cars however have one or several electric motors powered by batteries. The voltage of these batteries turns the transmission which turns the wheels. Moreover, compared to traditional cars, electric cars are made up of more wires. Gas-powered cars, on the other hand, have an abundance of hoses, pipes, and fuel lines.
However, it should be noticed that all electric cars do not work the same way. There are some that use fuel cells instead of batteries. On contrary to chargeable batteries, these ones never run down. They take in hydrogen gas, from a tank, and convert it into a steady supply of electricity. II. Why an electric car is the best for you 1. Driver benefits

* Ownership costs
The biggest benefit of electric is the fact that you no longer need gas. On average, the average American spends between $2,000 and $4,000 on gas every year. So, with an electric car, this cost is eliminated. “The average American drives less than 33 miles per day. With an average range of 84 miles, the Nissan LEAF® takes you 2½ times that distance on a single charge. And with advanced technology that adjusts constantly to reflect the changes in your battery charge levels—you’ll always know when it’s time to plug-in.” Nissan
Apart from its fuel-saving benefit, electric cars offer other ways to save costs: maintenance. Since it is purely electric, there is no longer need for oil to lubricate the engine; brakes do not need to be replaced as often as for traditional cars.
Some people stated that electric vehicles (EVs) are too expensive to buy. But the reality is they are not only inexpensive to own, they are inexpensive too to buy. The Nissan Leaf price starts at $30,000. Yes! It is not a small amount of money to spend. But when you take into consideration the available tax credits associated with it, you can easily buy your electric car below $20,000.
The graph below shows the total cost of ownership of an electric car versus a traditional car.
Graph 2.1: The total cost of ownership of an electric car versus a traditional car.

* Quick and quiet
Due to its electric motors, electric cars are very quiet, and smooth to drive engines. The pressure on the accelerator makes the power immediately deliver to the wheels, providing an exhilarating driving experience. * Safety
Safety on the road is the priority of most of the drivers. Electric cars provide that. In a case of a crash, the impact sensors will automatically cut of the electricity supply from the battery, which will make the car to stop. This helps avoiding severe injuries to the driver and its passengers. 2. Environmental benefits
Pollution is an issue that we deal with every day, we burn fossil fuels, and it creates much harm for the world and the people in it. Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles contribute to global warming and climate change. The electric car leads to 25 percent less carbon dioxide pollution than conventional cars do because of their use of oil. The internal combustion engine in a regular car gives much of the pollution to the world, so we must retire more coal plants and bring cleaner ways to the world.
According to The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) “a plug-in hybrid vehicle with a 20-mile electric range could save 300 gallons of gasoline annually, eliminating 6,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and reducing air pollution by 38 percent. EVs with even greater electric operating ranges are even more efficient and have less environmental impact”.
Picture 2.2.1: EV Environmental benefits

Moreover, regular cars run on the non-renewable energy source, so it could essentially run out of the sources it needs for the gasoline powered car. Electricity comes from renewable sources such as nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, or solar power. In addition, electric batteries can be recycled at a rate of nearly 100%. 3. Economic benefits
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, petroleum powers 99 percent of the fuel used in our cars today. With instability overseas today, the supply is limited and the price volatile. However, due to the fact that roughly 40 percent of the petroleum being consumed in the United States is imported abroad, it makes the United States very vulnerable to price spikes, which essentially means the upward and downward movement of a price level. So, a shift to electric cars will help the nation saves many hundreds of billions of dollars spend overseas each year. III. The disadvantages of using an electric car

* Short Driving Range
The battery of electric cars has a limited life, so they can run only for about 50 to 100 miles. Therefore, electric cars can be hardly considered for long journeys. There is a constant fear to run out of power where there is no charging station nearby. However, we expect the new models to have longer range. * Recharge Time
Going to the gas station for refill takes about 3 to 7 minutes. However, for EVs, the recharging time is between 8 to 10 hours for the battery to be full. The best moment for that appears to be at night. So, many drivers have to install their own charging station at home, which causes additional costs. * Battery Replacement
Although there is less need of maintenance with electric cars, batteries of electric cars have to be replaced frequently, that is every 3 to 10 years. This replacement is estimated into the thousands of dollars. For example, the Chevy Volt has a 40 miles range and sells for around $30,000. * Size and Capacity
Most of the electrics cars today are designed with only two seats, thus, do not allowed a third person. This is not convenient for family. * Increase Utility Bills
The fuel costs are not totally eliminated. To charge the battery of the engine, we need electric power. Thus, this might increase the utility bills by more than $20 per month.
Conclusion
There are a couple of things to consider if buying an electric car is the right decision for you. First, the price; Even if the costs of the cars itself is relatively high compared to normal cars; electricity is cheaper than gas, so you can save money over time when using an electric car. Secondly, you should consider the fact that it is not a sport cars, it runs at less than 60 miles per hour. So if you want to save money and have a higher speed vehicle, you may want to go with a hybrid instead.

References * A positively Charged Experience: << http://www.esb.ie/electric-cars/electric-car-driving/electric-car-benefits.jsp >> 2012 * Environmental Benefits: << http://exchange.aaa.com/electric-vehicles/benefits-of-driving-electric/environmental-benefits/ >> 2012 * Electric cars Pros and Cons:<< http://www.plugincars.com/electric-cars-pros-and-cons-128637.html >> 2014 * Advantages and disadvantages of electric cars: << http://www.carsdirect.com/green-cars/electric-cars-advantages-and-disadvantages >> 1999-2014 * Electric cars: Benefits and Disadvantages: << http://www.autotrader.com/research/article/car-tips/208155/electric-cars-benefits-and-disadvantages.jsp >> 2014 * Electric-car costs can outweigh cheap fuel:<< http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/06/11/electric-car-fuel-cost-hybrid-government/2413249/ >>