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MNN.COM > Eco-Glossary

Electric Vehicles

 
Electric vehicles (EVs) were first developed in the late 1800s, originally little more than electrified horseless carriages. They were appealing because they lacked the vibration, smell and noise of gasoline cars and did not require difficult gear changes. Gasoline cars improved and electrics all but disappeared by 1935. The next three decades were dead for EVs, until the '60s and '70s saw a need for alternative fueled vehicles to reduce the problems of exhaust emissions and to reduce the dependency on imported foreign crude oil. Many attempts to produce practical electric vehicles have occurred from 1960 to the present.
 
Several legislative and regulatory actions have renewed electric vehicle development efforts. Primary among these is the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment, the 1992 Energy Policy Act and regulations issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). In addition to more stringent air emissions requirements and regulations requiring reductions in gasoline use, several states have issued Zero Emission Vehicle requirements. Thanks to these improvements, EVs are well favored by environmentalists because of their relatively low environmental impact. Extensive research and development in recent years have been devoted to EVs to make them more accessible and prominent for common use.
(Source: DOE / Photo: Flickr)

Recent Stories


Five myths about electric cars

Wed, Mar 17 2010 at 1:54 PM EST

Electric cars are not slow, they're not dangerous, and they're not dirty simply because they recharge from coal plant-created energy.


Sneak preview: Chevrolet Volt

Tue, Mar 16 2010 at 3:00 PM EST

General Motors gets back into the electric car business with a sleek four-door hatchback.


Sanyo sets up solar parking for electric bikes

Tue, Mar 16 2010 at 3:17 AM EST

System uses lithium-ion batteries to charge 100 of Sanyo's 'eneloop' bikes, with power left over to illuminate the parking lot with LED lights at night.


Japan targets global electric car standard

Mon, Mar 15 2010 at 7:57 AM EST

New group working toward formalizing the charging infrastructure, which is vital to making electric vehicles popular.


Porsche 918 Spyder offers 718 horsepower, zero to 62 in 3.2 seconds, and 78 mpg

Thu, Mar 11 2010 at 11:33 AM EST

The plug-in hybrid drivetrain, a first for Porsche, can move the car 15.5 miles on battery power alone. But is the mileage figure all smoke and mirrors?


Predicting sales of alternative fuel vehicles

Mon, Mar 08 2010 at 8:00 AM EST

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, alternative fuel vehicles could have a nearly 50% market share by 2035.


MNN gets the first drive in the Wheego Whip Life, an affordable electric vehicle

Wed, Mar 03 2010 at 3:16 PM EST

Wheego is a very lean operation, with just five employees. Their new highway-capable car will sell for $32,000 (but there's a $7,500 federal tax credit).


From the man who brought you the $100 laptop, an electric vehicle for the developing world

Fri, Feb 26 2010 at 2:12 PM EST

Yves Behar's battery car has modules that are the same front and back, making it cheaper to produce. A solar panel on the roof and LED lights? Of course!


Lease a Tesla Roadster today

Thu, Feb 25 2010 at 1:49 PM EST

Tesla Motors announces a new lease option for its electric supercar -- only $1,658 per month.


Electric bikes on a roll in China

Tue, Feb 23 2010 at 11:40 PM EST

Bikes have been hailed as an ecologically sound alternative because their rechargeable batteries leave a smaller carbon footprint than a car.


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