Car Sharing
I received an email from Lis Shelley a few days ago. She explained that she lived in Switzerland for 8 years where it is common for people to “car share” rather than own a vehicle outright. Basically the way it works is you sign up and use your swipe card to gain electronic access to your pre-booked (internet or phone) car which is at one of many convenient locations. Then you get a monthly bill for total distances travelled and time used. Lis points out that there are now a couple of Australian companies that have got the idea, www.flexicar.com.au and www.goget.com.au .
This idea fits well with electric vehicles because the average consumer would occasionally like to travel more than the day range of an EV. EV’s make terrific second or commuter vehicles but don’t fit the quick refill scenario with today’s electricity infrastructure limitations. Statistics show that the average petrol vehicle spends most of its life doing nothing (parked) and then, when it is used, only for short trips (<50km) which are perfect conditions for electric vehicles.
So for those day trips to the beach you just pick up your nearest share car and return it at the end of the day, no human interaction required!
November 28th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
Electric vehicles has been around for several years now. I think it
must have come first than the hybrid cars.
The first electric vehicles were direct conversion from cars fitted
with electric motors and a dozen of batteries. That was the first
appearance of EV’s that eventually lost popularity coz of crude design
and the inconvenience of long charging hours.
But with the introduction of fuel cells EV’s got a new life and has a
promising future to become the main choice in urban transport.
Related Sites:
Alternative Fuels
Automotive World
Hybrid Cars
Future Cars
November 28th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Thanks a f,
Electric vehicles have been around for about a century now. In the early 1900′s petrol, electric and steam vehicles all competed to be the ultimate horseless carriage.
Petrol became the obvious choice because of its awesome energy density (Mother Nature knows what she’s doing
) and very low cost. Unfortunately we’ve over-exploited this gift and now we’re going to have to pay.
As you would know; fuel cells use hydrogen but where does the hydrogen come from? Either from fossil fuels, which doesn’t solve the CO2 problem, or inefficient electrolysis, which is a very wasteful way to use renewable energy.
PHEV’s and BEV’s are the way forward.