The Electric Car - Old Idea, New Spark

Contrary to popular belief, the electric car is not a new idea. The first electric car was built in 1832-that’s right almost 180 years ago!. The recent popularity of the idea has been spurned on by unrest in the Middle East, rising gas prices, and concern over environmental effects of the burning of fossil fuels. But why are we interested now instead of 180 years ago?

The first advanced electric car was designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

In 1897, the first commercial application of electric vehicles was instituted in New York City with fleet of Taxi’s. In 1899, a Belgian built electric car set a land speed record-68 mph. Electric cars were easier to use with no gear changes necessary, cleaner than gasoline cars and easier to start than the steam powered option of the day.

In 2011, the electric car has resurged with new interest. With the strife in the Middle East, a booming Chinese demand for oil and the natural disasters that come from large oil spills such as the one in the Gulf coast-the public was asking for new alternatives. 

The Chevrolet Volt

The automotive industry has responded before with electric vehicles but they were unable to create mass appeal as gas was about $3 cheaper per gallon. So the idea was scrapped-literally. Until now, like a Phoenix struck by lightening, the electric vehicle has emerged from the scrap yards and into mass production.

Vehicles like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf have captured the imagination and wallets of Americans who have become pump weary. The chief complaint about electric vehicles is the need for recharge stations. 100 years ago the same thing was said about gasoline powered cars.

Moving forward, we will need to have energy dependence from fossil fuels. It is a well known fact that there is a finite amount of oil in the world whereas electricity is a renewable resource. If we couple that with hydrogen-the most plentiful element in the known universe- in an electric/hydrogen fuel cell and our energy crisis has been solved.

 

There are detractors saying that a switch to electric vehicles would kill thousands of jobs in the oil refinery business. First of all, we use oil for many things outside of gasoline and oil changes. Secondly, people can learn new things. We are not talking about old dogs here. One of America’s best strengths has been its indomitable workforce. If we implement a federally funded training program for displaced roughnecks to work in the new industry then we will have the necessary infrastructure to sustain the new energy initiative.

That this has yet to happen is a testament to the nature of greed and the power of lobbyist in Washington. Energy dependence is a matter of national security. Imagine a world when the last drop of oil is siphoned from the core of the earth. It will be chaos and anarchy if we are not adequately prepared. It is time for the electric vehicle to be our dominant mode of transportation.