Each of us has ever seen (and probably traveled) trains, trams, buses and boats that operate on electricity. What is perhaps less known is that the first cell vehicles were marketed in 1900. These electric cars had a top speed of about 14 mph and a range of about 18 miles. These cars remained popular until the development of internal combustion engine, which allows the vehicle more power, speed and range is created.

The issue of global warming caused by pollution has become a hot topic. Oil prices are rising like never before. These factors, together with the finding that the land reserves of oil will be exhausted within the next few decades, have led to renewed interest and research into electric vehicles. These vehicles have several advantages over gasoline vehicles.

The engines that power these vehicles do not emit harmful emissions. This is good news for the environment that currently absorbs millions of tons of emissions every day. This carbon dioxide emissions seen as an essential contribution to global warming, while others exhaust increasingly pollute our air.

Electricity is cheaper than gasoline, so that the battery powered cars are cheaper to run. They will be more economically viable as the price of oil continues to rise. It is estimated that the energy required to operate an electric car is about one fifth of that required for a gasoline car to run. This gap increases as oil prices continue to rise.

Battery powered cars require less maintenance. They do not need oil changes and are not subject to wear and tear itself as internal combustion engines. They also have far fewer moving parts that must be maintained.

The biggest drawback right now is the limited space that the current battery technology allows. Battery powered cars generally have a range of about one or two hundred miles before needing to be recharged, and a typical charge lasts several hours. As with any rechargeable battery, batteries have a finite number of cycles of charge / discharge and eventually replaced.

Electric cars are still very expensive, mainly due to the high cost of batteries.Research has shown that American and English consumers are not willing to pay more for an electric car with a limited range, and this prevents the passage of the masses of the petrol cars with batteries. However, as battery technology improves, we expect more battery-powered vehicles on the road. Mass production will result in lower prices.

Gasoline and electric cars have their advantages and disadvantages. However, it is becoming very clear that our current consumption of oil is not sustainable (in terms of cost, availability and pollution), and that sooner or later we will find a viable alternative. Currently electric cars offer the only alternative.