Tech backgrounder: The merits and challenges of electric cars - ExtremeTech

Electric vehicles deserve more market share than the sub-1% they now eke out in the US. Of the 16. 5 million cars and light trucks sold in the US last year, EVs could do the jobs of at least a million of them, an order of magnitude more than the... and to a lesser extent, backlash from the hard-to-swallow statements by EV enthusiasts that an EV is right for nearly everyone. Newer, lighter lithium batteries can drive an EV the 75-100 miles that is the benchmark for realistic EV range aspirations today. Here’s a backgrounder on the state of battery electric vehicles (BEVs or just EVs) and how they compare to plug-in hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt, and hybrids like the Toyota Prius. plug-in hybrid vs. hybrid: electric vehicles A battery electric vehicle (BEV or more commonly just EV) is a car with an electric motor and a battery pack in the trunk. EV batteries have been nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) but are giving way to lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries that pack about 50% more power in the same volume. The Tesla Model S with extended batteries surpasses 200 miles and claims up to 270. Your range in an EV will vary depending on the weather (colder temps mean fewer miles), hard acceleration, hard braking, and whether you like to stay comfortable... Source: www.extremetech.com