Electric Vehicle Alternatives

Video Transcript

"How to drive an electric car. Well, maybe the question is can you drive an electric car? We don't have electric cars around us like we did five years ago when auto makers were testing whole fleets of these things. We saw the future of that with the EV1 and other cars that use this kind of charger, magnetic deduction. Very trek. However, that was the future. That future is gone for the moment until the battery issues are figured out and battery costs go down. In the meantime, we're going back a bit, just like rating on computers. Remember we used to do that on typewriters like this one here? Now we're going back from the advanced batteries to acid batteries, the same kind we had in our cars years and years. They're less expensive. They don't have much power, but it doesn't matter if you're using a limited function electric vehicle. The ones that you and I could buy are neighborhood electric vehicles. Those are limited to twenty five miles per hour. They're used on city streets that have a posted speed limit of up to thirty five miles per hour in most states. And again, very simple. They're about the size of golf carts, but they have safety equipment, lights, tail lights, head lights, seat belts break lights, and so on. They don't use this kind of plug I just showed you. They use a regular plug that goes into a regular outlet. If you're gonna be using one of these vehicles, then there are a few things to know. You're not going to go far, you can't go fast. They're limited to maybe twenty five miles range. Then again, twenty five miles per hour top speed. They're designed for communities and they're perfect for retirement communities, campus uses and around down town with appropriate speed limits. Now when you use these, there isn't a lot to keep in mind. You have safety equipment. You have break lights, head lights, a horn, safety belts, everything you need if you're driving any vehicle on the street. You just get in and go. Instant acceleration with electric motor. All you have to remember to do is don't exceed your mile limit which is typically twenty five miles, come home, charge it overnight, you'll have a full tank of electricity in the morning. These vehicles, again, represent what we have now. We're moving in new directions. Some vehicles like the Phoenix Roadster, or the Phoenix Sport Utility truck that's being sold to fleets. The Tessel Roadster, a very expensive sports car that's using advanced lithium batteries. Those are for people in fleets that can afford these at this moment in time. As battery costs diminish, we'll have more and more choices in vehicles. But in the meantime, if a neighborhood electric suits you, then that's how you'll be driving electric right now. Here's an important tip: Don't raise your expectations too high. Neighborhood electric vehicles are great, but they only service certain functions at low speeds and short distances. Now a warning: If you're thinking about buying a neighborhood electric vehicle, make sure you live in an area that has posted speed limits with thirty five miles or less so you can actually use it on the street."