Unplug and go The concept of electric car is not as new as some people might think. The birth certificate of the first electric vehicle locates the event somewhere between 1832 and 1839. It could be shocking for some, but I really could say there is a parallel history of the electric auto mobile. Of course, not very resounding, compared to that of the fossil fuelled cars, but pretty fascinating. For instance, in 1899, a Belgian managed to build an electric racing car named “La Jamais Contente” which broke the speed world record for the era, exceeding 95 Km/h. Impressive, right? If we study history, we can say that, except the early years, the concept of electric car was closely related to petroleum crises. Every single time the prices went crazy or various calculi showed the oil fields were almost exhausted, a burst of electric prototypes or attempts to largely manufacture similar items occurred. Yet, also every time, the electric car ended up in the freak storehouse of a giant manufacturer or behind the doors of some auto museum. As we speak, we apparently experience a new attempt to give the world the electric car. Both in official statements and in strategies, there is a unanimous option to develop such vehicles in the short period to come. For the time being, these cars are famous in international car festivals or fairs, and it is quite fashionable to expose at least one article of the kind there. Among the world producers, Renault appear to be the most persistent in testing the markets, since they showed not one but four new electric ideas in Frankfurt. They even have a countdown on http://www.renault-ze.com/ dedicated to these new avant-gardes. So far the French seem to be most articulated in elaborating electric strategies for the auto market. Last year they even tried such a project in Israel, where the government had promised no taxes for electric cars. Renault were to develop both the cars, and the rechargeable stations, while the taxation of that recharging was seen as revolutionary. But silence came over this project… However, the French still seem to be preoccupied on the matter, since they signed a strategic partnership doc with RWE (a German electricity supplier) to build recharging stations all across Germany. And this is only because the current technologies do not permit autonomies longer than 200 km for electric cars. Although there is significant and accelerated progress in this field, we are still far away and have many challanges to work out. The most important variable in this equation is the option the states will have. With a well determined and firm direction set, research will definitely solve any technological inconvenience. But if the scenario is similar to that in the ‘80s, this entire noise will be nothing but a new failed attempt. Personally, I do hope this third time is a lucky one. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society
