Charging Our Future Transportation

Whether intended or not, all authors write for a specific audience or purpose. For authors of one such article, the purpose is to enhance awareness of the current state of electric vehicles and the ability to charge them on a cross country trip. The intended audience of the article is not only the general public, but more specifically those who are interested in alternative energy sources for future transportation.

The reason these authors are stressing the situation of electric powered vehicles is because at this time, it is not practical to make a long distance trip in an exclusively electric car. There have been proposed solutions to this problem, with several roadside charging stations being tested. The importance of building some type of infrastructure to charge vehicles is incredible, as these electric vehicles would reduce carbon emissions by a significant amount, resulting in a much cleaner environment.

The biggest obstacle in the transition to electric cars comes with the consumer's impression of the ability of these cars to replace a standard gasoline car, with the consumer having to make minimal sacrifices. Many electric vehicles possess low performance and a limited range per charge. The average consumer for the time being is sticking to gasoline powered cars, as they are often seen as more fun to drive and there is never a problem with having to recharge/refuel, as gas stations are nearly everywhere.

Perhaps if faster charging solutions became available (the average charge time for an electric vehicle is 8 hours), or batteries became standardized for the the purpose of quick switching at such stations, the electric vehicles would become much more likely to have success in the market. Also, there may need to be better solutions for those who live in apartment complexes, and do not have the ability to charge their cars at home. Lastly, for those who need the ability to travel long distances, maybe a gasoline/electric hybrid is the best solution at this point in time.

The timing may not be right at this point in time for electric vehicles to take off and become a practical choice. However, just as the authors in the original article tried to point out, the time will come, provided we create the infrastructure to support them. Only then will we be able to begin really changing our vehicle's carbon emissions and its effect on the environment.

Refer to the original article here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6891Y520100910