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Going Green

The Electric Car & What It Really Means for Energy Conservation

by Kirsten E. Silven 01 Mar 2011
The Electric Car & What It Really Means for Energy Conservation

There has been plenty of work done to improve the way that electric cars function. For example, the time batteries take to charge has always been a major concern. And so has the worry of not finding a garage that offers a charging service when you are traveling. Besides this, there are a number of pros and cons that come with switching an old gas powered vehicle for a greener, electric option.

On the positive side, electronic automobiles do not release any pollutants into the atmosphere. This is obviously a great thing and would make a huge difference if the world were to adopt this as a main mode of transport.

Hybrids are also a welcomed addition to the car market. They still use gas when running, but in idle mode the power is switched to electricity. This is quite effective, as cars typically release the most fumes when they are in idle mode. The battery is charged by the car itself using the energy created by the four wheels as you drive. This makes an electric car a great choice if you are still not ready to convert to a vehicle that runs purely on electricity.

The downside to electric cars is the fact that, in the U.S, the electricity that is generated to power the automobile comes from a power station. And at this time almost all of these are still running on burning coal, which is one of the most troublesome contributors to air pollution.

The burning of coal adds tremendously to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is a major factor of global warming and an issue that still needs to be addressed. Until the batteries can be charged from stations powered by renewable sources, the jury will still be out as to whether an electric car is able to make a great deal of difference.

Since there are still some issues that need to be addressed surrounding electric cars, you can also use public transport as a way to reduce your carbon footprint, and choose to walk and bike whenever possible. Leave your car at home and check out the many alternatives instead.


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