Inside The Electric Car...

You may have heard about the electric car, or perhaps you even own one? the electric car is set to replace the fuel car in the future, slowly but surely.

We wanted to see how the inside of an electric car compared with a fuel one, and here is the answer:

Images and info from futurecars.com

An electric car is primarily built with three main components; the energy storage, the motor and the controller with related electronics. Are you interested in buying an electric car? Well before you do, you can read all of the good and bad points that are involved with owning an electric car that we have conveniently put together for you. Just click here. 

The Electric Car - The Good, The Bad

The Nissan Leaf - An Affordable Electric Car from Nissan

The electric car has been causing a lot of interest, even though quite a substantial amount of people don't particularly know too much about them.We can't decide whether the electric car is quite ready to take over the petrol/diesel car just yet, but what we do realise is the amazing potential these cars could have, not only for our environment, but also on our reliance of resources such as oil as well.  

We have had a look at the pros and cons of being an electric car owner.

Let's start with the Con's:

1. Not all electric cars are available at any price - the cost combined with the availability of these cars is quickly becoming an issue. Tesla's Roadster costs approximately $100,000 and Nissan's 'Leaf' has already had their maximum order of 20,000, which means it won't be available again until the next phase - whenever that may be. For a full list of prices of electric cars, click here.
2. Costs - it is easy to imagine how cheap it would be to run an electric car - just being able to plug in and charge your car up at any of the charge stations - could really offset the costs in comparison to a full tank of fuel. However, the price of electric cars are still pricey. Just like all new things, those that buy them new will always pay premium prices. Our advice, is to wait until these prices come down before committing to purchase one. Only then will you be able to see the benefit of the costs.
3. Slow Charge - these cars can take up to 4-8 hours to fully charge, some that use a typical household plug charge can take up to 16 hours. It's not a simple case of being able to hop into your car and go for a spontaneous drive somewhere, every journey needs forward planning.
4. Count the miles - You will now need to make a mental note of the miles you are travelling when you are on a journey in order to keep the car running. You will have to change the whole way you drive by planning every mile to the number.
5. Where is the mechanic? - That's a good question. Electric cars are so new that mechanics haven't learnt how to be electricians yet, this could mean higher charge prices for repairs (as demand increases, so does the costs generally speaking) and that finding one to repair your car could be more complicated than the repairs to the car itself! 

So now let's look at the pro's:

1. Environment - it goes without saying that electric cars are miles better for the environment than standard fuel cars because of less emissions and the lack of an exhaust!
2. Quieter, smoother ride - Not only is it important to reduce emissions but also noise pollution can be greatly reduced using an electric car. A smooth ride also enhances the overall driving experience that many drivers seek out in a car.
3. Cheaper - the cost to charge up your car is much cheaper than filling up a full tank, especially if you charge at off-peak times. 
4. The mileage - electric cars are quite capable of travelling up to approximately 45-70 miles at a time when fully charged. Considering the average car driver drives approximately 25 miles a day (school runs, shopping etc) this should be more than enough for most people. Although if you are driving in winter and need the heating on, this could reduce dramatically (another aspect to consider). 
5. A comment from an electric car owner (Mitsubishi i MiEV) - "Thanks to its instant performance, the car could out-accelerate most other cars in day-to-day driving. When people had a short demonstration run and could see how user-friendly and competent it was, many of them were convinced that electric cars could be a genuine replacement for petrol power." - Michael Boxwell, author of 'The 2011 Electric Car Guide', said to The Guardian. Read his full article here, it is quite an interesting read to get a perspective on someone who actually owns one and enjoys owning one.

So to conclude, we think that electric cars will eventually become a common and popular thing of the future, but there are still some things that need ironing out. We still recommend waiting for prices, availability and familiarity with electric cars to become  more apparent and reasonable before jumping in head first to buy them. 

Do you own an electric car? Please post a comment below. We'd love to hear your opinion!

Ford To Use Dandelions As Substitute to Rubber?

Image from Wikipedia

Dandelions are typically known throughout the World (USA, UK, Russia, Germany, Sweden and Spain) as a weed, a pest and a lawn nemesis! However, recently in the state of Ohio in USA, research is being implemented to find out if the Taraxacum Kok-Saghyz Dandelion commonly known as the dandelion (a Russian strain of dandelion) could replace rubber used in most cars. The study is taking place at Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center (OARDC).

Ford have sprung into action again with a chance to make their cars of the future even more eco-friendly than ever before. With pineapples and banana's set to replace plastics in the future for the automotive company, it is no surprise that they are outsourcing for other materials to use as well, in this case, the Russian dandelion is the new contender. 

"We’re always looking for new sustainable materials to use in our vehicles that have a smaller carbon footprint to produce and can be grown locally,” said Angela Harris, a Ford researcher. “Dandelions have the potential to serve as a great natural alternative to synthetic rubber in our products.”

Image from Google.com

The dandelion contains a milky-white sap-like substance within its stems and leaves which can and has been used as a replacement for rubber (it temporarily replaced rubber in WW2 when oil was limited) but further testing is needed to see whether it would be suitable to replace rubber components on cars. 

Rubber was traditionally made from rubber tree plants but it is now made from oil, so this new venture into replacing non-sustainable resources for more sustainable ones could really impact positively on Ford's carbon footprint, thus helping our environment in the process. Good on you Ford!

 Ford researchers will assess the initial quality of the material to evaluate how it will perform in a variety of plastics that are used in vehicles to ensure it meets their very high durability and quality standards before any decisions are confirmed. 

Consumer Reports: Some Used Cars Have Fewer Problems Than New Models

Consumer Reports found eleven 2008 models had about the same or even fewer problems than similar 2010 models in the same class.

Consumer Reports has put together a list of 'the best of the best' - to guide consumers of the 2001 to 2010 models that scored well in road tests when new and have been consistently reliable. Here is the list here:

Best Used Small Car:  Honda Fit

Best Used Family Car:  Toyota Prius

Best Used Upscale Car: Lexus ES

Best Used Luxury Car: Acura RL

Best Used Sport & Sporty Car: Mazda MX-5 Miata

Best Used Minivan: Toyota Sienna

Best Used Small SUV: Honda CR-V

Best Used Midsized & Large SUV: Toyota Highlander

Best Used Pickup Truck: Honda Ridgeline

If you'd like to read the full article along with all of the findings from Consumer Reports, then please click here.

How To Make Your Used Car Last Longer

Here are some tips from Tara Baukus Mello from Bankrate.com on how to make your used car last longer:

Stay on schedule: All cars require regular maintenance, and you'll make an old car last longer if you stay on top of the manufacturer's recommendations. Follow the maintenance schedule that's listed in your owner's manual to keep your used car in tiptop shape. For most drivers, it's not necessary to increase the frequency of the maintenance (such as more frequent oil changes). Nor is it critical to have other services performed that are not on the manufacturer's list of recommendations for that specific mileage. Doing either is often a waste of money.

Give it a once-over: At least once a week, spend a few minutes walking all the way around the car to make sure all the lights and turn signals are working. Check the tires for uneven wear and other damage. Lift the hood, checking the battery connections for corrosion and the hoses for cracks or wear. Check the fluid levels.

Watch the tires: Your car's tires are the only part of your car that actually touches the ground, and those four patches of rubber need to be in top-notch shape in order to provide optimum safety as well as fuel economy. In addition to inspecting tires regularly, check tire pressure once a month and add air as necessary. The proper tire pressure (written in pounds per square inch, or psi) is listed in the car owner's manual as well as on a label on the driver's side doorjamb. Maintaining proper tire pressure will help prevent issues that could require expensive repairs, such as excessive wear on suspension components or blowouts that can result in accidents. It will also help your fuel economy -- a nice bonus with today's rising gas prices.

Drive wisely: Your driving style can affect an old car's life span. Leaving a traffic light like you're in a race, jamming on the brakes at a stop sign and taking turns at high speed are all very hard on your car's engine, brakes, tires and suspension system. This type of driving can lead to excessive wear and tear on these parts of your used car, requiring pricey repairs or replacement. While you don't need to drive like an old lady, taking a bit more care will help increase the life span of your car without expensive repairs that hurt your wallet.