You talk the talk about pollution and all. But with the majority of the electricity generated in Msia being from coal, how does driving a EV help? I can't be sure but I'm guessing 1 million cars with varying emissions can't be as high as the total number of Tenaga coal processing plants waste output?
And don't even get me started on hybrids. The way they are made and shipped cause more damage to the environment than you can save in 20 years driving a hybrid.
EVs and Hybrids that claim to save the environment are hypocritical vehicles. I prefer the more honest EVs like the Volt that uses petrol to power the motors and hybrids like the one found in Porsches that boost the performance of the car whilst reducing most of the cars emissions without affecting too much of the car price.
Hell, why doesn't anyone talk about the Honda FCX Clarity which is the true environmental car. Hydrogen powered and only water as emission. If they can figure out the most environmentally safe way to produce and ship the car then Honda has it made.
The Hybrid that impressed me would be the new 918 Spider. Very impressive performance figures and even a more impressive mileage for fuel consumption.
We don't even have Hydrogen refueling stations in here.
Sylver:
Don't assume and make conclusions too soon base on what you think why some 'condemn' electric cars. Is not that some wanted to condemn but look at the specs...like u said, ur friend plan to sell off 2 cars and get the Nissan Leaf instead....160km distance per charge? Seriously?
So, how do u expect to use it for longer journeys? Maybe there will be stations to charge electricity cars or so in future...maybe, but spend few hours charging at stations then continue their journey? :hmmmm:
The specs itself to me, doesnt make it convincing enough for ppl to get one base on the price as well. If it can travel long distance with decent speed and not Max speed at 140km/h. Then that would be a better consideration.
The main put off for me is the distance it can travel and the price is just too costly for its specs.
There is no selling point base on consumers demand. Then you may say a lot are not willing to take the 1st step. Why some rather buy a 180K D-Segment car than Nissan Leaf? Go figure in comparisons in terms of consumers point of view and needs.
EVs being great help in reducing pollution? I'm not sure how it helps by using huge amount of electricity in charging those EVs is actually helping mother nature. I wonder why our government did encourage us to cut down the usage on electricity and also have EARTH HOUR every year. :hmmmm2:
Charging every night at home is not worrying? Guess u have not started paying bills? We havent even started on the cost of maintaining EVs...
All the talk, since according to you is not meant for the rich and those who can afford only but actually meant for the those who are willing to take the 1st step in making the world a better place. Have you taken the 1st step in owning one then?
Charging needs few hours? Not too sure about this but I think it takes less than that in some fast charging stations. I think it depends on the voltage. Checked on Wikipedia that some of the longest would be 6-8 hours while the fastest would be 20-30 minutes. Still slow compared to petrol refueling though.
About saving the environment thing, from one point of view it is true that it can in terms of using less petrol. But like what Izso has said, the manufacturing process and shipping had damaged the environment as well. Don't forget the batteries. I think it is quite harmful to the environment if it is simply disposed.
It's ironic that they are saying things like go green in front of people but at the back, they are actually killing the environment in their pursuit to go 'green'.
BTW, what's up for this post, suddenly write a lot more than usual? No offence.
Yep, in terms of true environmentally friendly vehichle, the FCX concept is the best one.
One snag with that is they haven't find a method of extracting Hydrogen without involving large input of power. Solve that, then Hydrogen is definitely the next 'fossil fuel' (in that it powers almost everything..hehe)
RX-8 and BMW 7 Series also got hydrogen variant. Not only Honda is experimenting with Hydrogen. Can't remember what other Hydrogen cars are available out there...:hmmmm: