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Electric vehicles
If
you are in the market for a new car, and hoping to do your bit for the
planet at the same time, you will no doubt be as disappointed as we are
that the many "real" long-range electric powered vehicles available
in the United States have not yet arrived in Europe.
Shown left, to whet your appetite, is the Toyota RAV4 electric vehicle, which will take you 125 miles between charges, with a top speed of 78 mph.
Until cars like this are offered to European motorists, at least city dwellers can enjoy the benefits of zero emissions, fuel economy, free or cheap parking, and no congestion charge to pay in London - by opting for one of the increasingly available super-minis that are ideal for short local trips.
These are battery cell vehicles, which are recharged by plugging into the mains electricity, at home, workplace or a public charging station. The cost is only around 1p per mile, making them much more economical than any other kind of fuel. The only downside (apart from the limited European availability already mentioned) is that they cost more to purchase initially than cars with the traditional internal combustion engine.
Hybrid technology is the alternative to battery cell power: a combination of petrol and electric. The electric motor drives the car at very low speeds, such as in traffic jams, with the petrol engine taking over when you need more power.
Some suppliers of electric vehicles:
Ford
GoinGreen G-Wiz
Peugeot Motor Co
Reva
Toyota (GB)
If you are wondering why we have a section on electric vehicles in a feature on motoring for disabled drivers and passengers, the simple answer is that environmental change will affect us all - and it is everyone's responsibility to do what they can to improve the situation.
Depending on model, electric cars may also be easier to drive, and so suit some disabled users better.
