The first electric car appeared in Des Moines, Iowa, around 1890, invented by William Morrison. Electric cars were developed but never manufactured in large quantities at that time. In recent years, there has been much discussion about electric cars, mostly claiming how great they are. Let’s take a look at the validity of these claims. 

It has been claimed that an electric car reduces your carbon footprint. This is true at your own home. However, the electricity to charge your car’s batteries comes from a power plant mostly using fossil fuel (coal, natural gas, etc.) which increases the carbon footprint at that location.   More energy is required to manufacture an electric vehicle than a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle mainly as a result of the usage of lithium batteries. Extraction of lithium for electric car batteries is expensive, energy intensive and results in toxic byproducts such as arsenic, antimony, radioactive uranium and sulfuric acid. Conventional new gasoline-powered vehicle pollution is very low. In some cities, the exhaust from a modern gasoline powered vehicle is cleaner than the air drawn in for combustion.

It has been claimed that the price of an electric car is competitive with that of a conventional gasoline-powered car. Electric cars are expensive, but with a $7,500 nonrefundable tax credit, pricing comes in line with conventional gasoline-powered cars. However, insurance costs are about 20 percent higher for electric cars, since the insurance premium is based on the list price.

It is claimed that fuel cost is reduced with electric cars. You save on gasoline, but you do have to pay for the electricity. Fuel cost for the electric car is currently about half that of the conventional gasoline powered car. A quick charge takes about a half hour and gives you about a 90-mile range. For full range (about 450 miles), an eight-hour charge is typical. You must plan your trip around available charging stations. Typically, a charging station will have to be installed in your home depending on the voltage required.

It is claimed that maintenance costs associated with an electric car are less than that of a conventional gasoline vehicle. That is true for the electric motor when compared to the gasoline engine. However, the batteries have a finite life and must be replaced. Typically, batteries have to be replaced after eight years or 100,000 miles at a cost of $1,000 to $6,000. Since electric vehicles do not currently pay road tax through the purchase of gasoline, it is not inconceivable that the government will switch to tracking your mileage and tax you accordingly.

A safety concern about electric cars is the possibility of being electrocuted. Battery voltages in electric vehicles range from 200 to 800 volts, which is enough to cause death by electrocution. One should never work on an electric car unless they know exactly what they are doing. Accidently touching a high voltage component can end your life. If you suspect a problem, take it back to the dealer. If you are involved in an accident, stay away from any damage that results in exposed wiring.

If you live in cold climates, the battery capacity and vehicle range is reduced. If you get stuck in a traffic jam on a cold, snowy evening, keep an eye on how long you are using the electric heater, which can significantly drain the batteries, limiting your range. If the power goes out for a few days after a storm and you have not charged the batteries, you may be stranded.

Finally, it is not clear what is being planned to increase the capacity of power generation and the electrical grid to accommodate the predicted significant increase in electric vehicles. Without the needed infrastructure and with increased demand, the cost of electricity is likely to increase. There also appears to be a movement to close fossil plants and replace them with wind and solar power. Talk to people in Texas about how well this worked last year during the cold spell.