Alternative Fuel Vehicles comparison
Electric
Early automobiles were electric, having electric motors powered by batteries. But their range was limited, and internal combustion engines were more powerful, at a time when there were not concerns about the supply of fuel, or the emissions. But, the recent focus on air quality and the advances in the battery technology have made the electric vehicle a viable alternative.
Electric drive systems are virtually pollution free, (in fact, they are the only vehicles to meet California's Zero Emission Vehicle requirement), and extremely energy efficient. Only 20% of the energy in an internal combustion engine gets converted into useful work at the wheels, while 75% + of the energy from a battery reaches the wheels. They are also able to provide power at almost any engine speed, unlike internal combustion engines that have to be revved to a higher RPM to achieve maximum power. Electric engines provide near peak power even at low......
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