Until recently, electric cars were perceived as an interesting gadget for eco-freaks, and not a full-fledged vehicle. But the situation is beginning to change. At the end of last year, the fleet of Lviv taxis was replenished with Nissan Leaf electric cars. On the approach – four more environmentally friendly cars. If they can justify themselves commercially, there will be even more electric cars on the streets. At least, the organizers of the SHOOTER project, which promotes electric cars in Ukraine, think so.
Plans of the hulk
The titans of the automotive industry have long been probing a promising niche. So, the other day Chevrolet introduced the Volt hybrid sedan, which can travel up to 80 km exclusively on electric propulsion. In General Motors set the bar higher, planning to raise the mileage to 320 without intermediate recharging. Recall General Motors already produces electric cars Chevrolet Spark. In 2014, these cars were sold 1145 pieces.
The main competitor of the “generals” is Tesla Motors – the main contender for dominance in the electric car market. Now the level of their sales is kept at the level of 35 thousand cars a year, but by 2025 the management of the company plans to reach millions of figures.
On the waves of history
So far, the production of electric cars is not profitable, but in Tesla Motors think in global categories. “It’s only a matter of time when the industry will completely switch to electric cars, and the sooner this happens, the better it will be for the world,” says the director of the company Elon Musk.
The mood of electric motorists is spoiled by the current drop in oil prices, namely the decline in prices for fuel for ordinary cars. However, this only encourages cheaper electric cars. Sometimes engineering solutions are in the most unexpected places. For example, the other day the Spanish company Graphenano, together with researchers from the University of Cordoba, developed a new battery that allows you to charge an electric car in just 8 minutes. According to the calculations of the Spaniards, the charge will be enough for 1000 km, and manufacturers such a battery will cost 77% cheaper.
We must not forget that the world oil reserves are not limitless, and the environmental consequences of its use are devastating. Moreover, the struggle for oil is associated with political and military costs. So sooner or later, humanity will have to look for alternatives. And apparently, by this moment the auto industry will be ready.