In areas where there is a high population, driving environmentally friendly vehicles have a greater impact. The idea is that if fewer people drove gasoline powered cars, and instead converted to electric cars, the vehicle clogged freeways would cause less smog.

Let's look at the usability:

One of the great things about electric cars is that they are very usable. While they are not as convenient as a gasoline powered car, yet, they are not as inconvenient as many people seem to think. The driving range of today's electric cars averages 80 to 120 miles. While a gasoline powered car can usually get between 300-400 miles before a fill up, 80-120 miles is nothing to sneeze at. Unless you are heading for a road trip, an electric car is a great option. Currently an electric car's batteries take about six hours to recharge, however recharging stations are currently available throughout California, and as electric cars become more popular they will likely spread across the country. Recent developments in electric vehicle technology and increased consumer demands for electric cars show much promise for the future, and their usability can only improve.

Next let's look at the maintenance costs:

Another reason electric cars are so popular right now is simply that they are new, and new tends to gain attention. However, there is a lot more to it than that. In addition to being new, they are also far less expensive to maintain and run than gasoline powered cars. While the initial cost may be higher, over the life of the car you will spend far less on your car.

One of the last reasons that electric cars are so popular is that they are hybrids, and hybrids are getting a lot of support and a lot of attention, and electric cars deserve it all.

Okay, so now we know that electric cars are popular, and we know why, but now let's take a look at how you get an electric car, and what benefits you will retain from purchasing one.

First, how you get an electric car. You can simply buy an electric car, many dealerships will have them, various hybrids are available, and almost any manufacturer that makes electric cars will ship one to you, so take a look online and learn about electric cars, then find a dealer near you. If you are not sure, open the yellow pages, and call a dealership, ask if they have electric cars, and if they don't, ask them if they can direct you where to find one. In addition to this, you can convert an existing gas powered car to an electric car. There are places that will do this for a fee (usually less than $8,000-$15,000), however, is you are good with vehicles you can actually convert your car yourself in your home garage. A typical conversion uses a DC controller and a DC motor. There are several guides online, and kits you can purchase to do this conversion. There are a few basic questions you have to answer for yourself, such as what voltage system you want to run at, and how many batteries you will need, etc. Of course, if you do convert your car yourself, you will need to have it checked out to make sure it meets standards. Once everything is installed and tested, the new electric car is ready to go. A home conversion actually costs less than paying a specialty shop, but does not mean it is cheap, a typical conversion, if it is using all new parts, costs between $5,000 and $10,000, but can cost less.

So, how does an electric car work?

Well, to put it simply, an electric car runs off a battery instead of another fuel source. Generally a DC controller is connected to the batteries and a DC motor. The motor will have a voltage amount between 96 volts and 120 volts. If the driver floors the accelerator pedal, the controller delivers the full voltage from the batteries to the motor. If the driver take his/her foot off the accelerator, the controller delivers zero voltage to the motor. If they are in between, then the controller effectively cuts down the voltage to sometime in between. So, the battery powers the motor, and the accelerator pedal is going to be hooked to a controller that signals how much power should be delivered to the motor.

What else should you know about electric cars?

The history of hybrid cars, including electric cars, is closely intertwined with the history of automobile itself. They have been developing over time, and for over a century, so people should not be too worried that they are so new. Sometimes new comes with a stigma of not having had time to work out the kinks. While there are kinks yet to work out, they are still great cars.

Many electric cars are hybrids, and the motor of a hybrid car is designed to have some resistance on the drive train, which slows down the wheels. This is pretty interesting because then the energy generated by the wheels turns the electric motor, functioning more like a generator, and converting the energy produced into electricity. The energy in turn is stored in the battery, ready for used by the electric motor when needed.

Electric cars function well and consistently at any motor speed. Many people think that they can't be as powerful as a gasoline powered car, but the advantage is hybrid cars do not need to use transmissions to make their engines run at full capacity even at reduced speeds.

Electric cars generally cost more than regular cars because not too many of them are in the market yet. However, the cost is for the battery pack that runs your car. It can also be more costly to repair an electric car since there are less places that have the tools to do so, however, they require far less maintenance, and have a better history.

Electric cars are cheaper to operate. As fuel costs and oil prices rise, people are enjoying the lower operating cost of electric cars. The advantage on your monthly budget can be significant.

Another interesting thing to note about electric cars is that they are often lightweight and compact, making them easier to control, maneuver, park, etc.

Electric cars compete well with traditional gas powered cars when it comes to style, design, color, and more, so you do not have to sacrifice style to drive one.

Honestly, it is good to note that your children's lives will be better if you drive an electric car, you may not notice in the short term the environmental impact, but over the long run it will make a big difference.

One of the greatest benefits of a an electric car, besides the cost effectiveness weekly, and the environmental impact is that you can get incentives from the government, from your insurance company, and sometimes even your work will offer incentives for choosing "green" vehicles.

While electric cars are a fairly new technology, and they are not as affordable yet as many people would like, they are the future of cars, and they are certainly going to make an impact. So, if you are considering a new car, and have even considered an electric car, it is a good idea to recognize the many benefits, and weigh those against the costs. The fact is that electric cars are great. They still have a few kinks, and not all of our cities have stayed up with the technology, so they are not as convenient as a gasoline powered car, but once again, it is all a question of pros versus cons.