How gainful electric vehicles really are?

They are definitely more expensive to buy, but they are cheaper to maintain than conventional vehicles and pollute 40 times less. Will electric vehicles be the solution for the future? However, until then, the world of electric vehicles is confronted with an infrastructure problem: power connections where batteries could be charged up are quite rare and installing these power connections in special areas requires significant costs, let alone their installation on national roads and highways.

Who wouldn’t want to give up gasoline and diesel fuel? Especially since prices are constantly increasing and future is uncertain. Specialists forecast that in 50 years oil and gas resources will finish. However, if we compare the acquisition of an electric vehicle, based on batteries, and train or any other electric mode of transport, on the long term, the train or the public electric mode of transport will prove to be more advantageous. Why? For a very simple reason: it is true that although such an electric vehicle would cost less than an electric train, on the long term the train wins in terms of cost dumping or life expectancy, which reaches 20-25 years in the case of trains, as well as with respect to maintenance costs.
Let alone that, as regards the transporting capacity, the train wins again, as it is capable of carrying several hundreds of passengers, while an electric vehicle is limited to only five passengers.
Reducing pollution and noxious gases is really a plus for both means of transport, if the train runs on electrified railways, but…solving the problem of urban congestion cannot be attributed to the electric vehicle, while trains or urban electrified public transport is the best solution for easing traffic on congested routes. In long-distance transport, electric trains are also ahead the electric vehicle, as the latter could never compete with high-speed trains. However, the advantages of electric vehicles against conventional vehicles are obvious. According to a study conducted by automotive experts and presented by the Romanian Ministry of Transport, on a distance of 100 km, an electric vehicle consumes 18 Kw, which means less than 2 euros. A vehicles on gasoline or diesel fuel consumes in cities almost 7-8 litres/100 km. At 5.2 lei/litre, it means almost 10 euros at 100km. Most electric vehicles have very high quality standards (especially at lower speeds) and are more capable to face urban conditions. However, most commercial models are designed as city vehicles and have a maximum speed of 60-80 km/h.
In use, the electric vehicles don’t release carbon dioxide into the air. However, emissions are released in the process of power generation, necessary for the supply of these vehicles. Consequently, emissions should be considered based on the life cycle of the vehicle, so as to include the emissions generated by the plant which produces the power energy.
Taking into consideration the greenhouse gas emissions and the fact that electric vehicles need electricity to be able to run, then we can firmly state that they generate 40% less CO2 compared to conventional vehicles. Regenerative braking which charges the battery with energy while braking, will also improve the efficiency of fuel consumption by up to 20%.

by Elena Ilie


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