The noise level of the EV is very low. Unlike gasoline vehicles, there is no "combustion" requiring a muffler. Therefore, most of the noise comes from fans and pumps. When the car is moving, most of the sound is from road noise. In fact, EV's are so quiet they may need to have noise makers installed to warn pedestrians when the vehicles are operating.
Today's electric motors require almost no maintenance. The biggest maintenance is checking the electrolyte level in the batteries. The EV can be recharged at home. Recharging takes about six hours and can be done at night while sleeping. Batteries need to be replaced every two to five years at a cost of around $1500.00.
The Ford Ranger Electric Vehicle, which can be ordered now, is the first EV available to the public. The Ranger EV is being sold at ten California car dealers. Powered by lead-acid batteries, the Ranger EV has a driving range of about 50 miles between charges and accelerates from zero to 60 in 12.5 seconds. Several major automakers, including General Motors and Honda, have or will introduce Electric Vehicles to meet strict clean-air laws in California, New York, and other states.
New York's zero-emissions mandate requires that two per cent of all cars sold in the state — about 12,000 cars — be electrically powered by 1998. The requirement jumps to 10 per cent by 2004. In California the two per cent share must be reached by the year 2002.
Will the EV ever replace the gas powered vehicle? Probably not in our lifetime, but car manufacturers are on the right road to designing a useful and practical car that can significantly reduce air pollution.
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