We’ve all grown used to stopping at the gas station, the smell of exhaust, and worrying about global warming. But thanks to stronger lithium-ion batteries and computer controlled brakes that generate electricity (see http://1.usa.gov/QjSwCz) the days of gas-powered cars are numbered. Let’s learn about electric vehicles, also known as EVs.
1. Quick! How many electric vehicles can you name? There’s the Nisson Leaf and the Chevy Volt. But did you know about the Fiat 500 Elettra or the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive . At National Geographic http://bit.ly/Qvoy09 you can see 11 types of EVs coming by next year. While you’re there, take the test http://on.natgeo.com/Jmtssg to see how much know about electric cars and fuel.
2. Can race cars be electric? What about school buses? Yes in both cases. Visit http://bit.ly/PSg2GW to learn about The Nemesis electric car, a modified Lotus Exige which hit a top speed of 148.7 mph with batteries charged by wind turbines. At http://www.afdc.energy.gov/case/625 you can learn how a school district in Michigan uses an electric bus. Learn more at http://www.michigancleancities.org.
3. How many miles can an electric car go on a single charge? According to Green Car Reports http://hgm.me/UgJOaN most common electric cars, like the Chevy Volt, can go for about 40 miles on a single charge. A very light electric car in Germany, called “Boozer” went over 1000 miles, but it took over 36 hours and a special track. See http://phys.org/news/2011-08-boozer-ev-miles-plus.html
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4. Q. What weighs more: a Sumo wrestler or the battery in a Chevy Volt? A. They’re about the same: 400 lbs, according to http://bit.ly/jDSNAU. The batteries are made by LG, a Korean company who runs a battery factory in Holland, Michigan. Visit the plant and see the batteries, at http://bit.ly/hlZgk9.
APPLICATION: Talk your parents into switching to an EV.
STEP 1: Find a charging station by entering your zip code at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/locator/stations.
STEP 2: Tell them how to charge a car. Nissan Leaf takes about 10 hours to charge using a standard wall outlet, or two hours with a charging station
you install in your garage. If electricity were gas, this would equal about $.80 cents per gallon using current costs. STEP 3: Look at some new cars online. You can get a tax credit that brings the price to about $29,000.
Here are links to popular models.
- Chevy Volt http://bit.ly/NMze4x
- Ford C-Max http://myfrd.co/SzX1qy
- Nisson Leaf http://bit.ly/bJtY9S
LittleClickers YouTube Playlist: Electric Cars
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcBVHzUUEKwnPiE3UF3wB6GSTp0ooH1xW
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