An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using electrical energy stored in rechargeable batteries or another energy storage device. Electric motors give electric cars instant torque, creating strong and smooth acceleration. They are also around three times as efficient as cars with an internal combustion engine.
The first electric cars were produced in the 1880s. Since 2008, a renaissance in electric vehicle manufacturing has occurred due to advances in batteries and energy management, concerns about increasing oil prices, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several national and local governments have established tax credits, subsidies, and other incentives to promote the introduction and adoption in the mass market of new electric vehicles depending on battery size and their all-electric range.
Electric cars are significantly quieter than conventional internal combustion engine automobiles. They do not emit tailpipe pollutants, giving a large reduction of local air pollution, and, can give a significant reduction in total greenhouse gas and other emissions (dependent on the method used for electricity generation).
As of September 2015, there are over 30 models of highway legal all-electric passenger cars and utility vans available for retail sales, mainly in the United States, China, Japan, Western European countries. By mid-September 2015, about 620,000 light-duty electric vehicles have been sold worldwide out of total global sales of one million plug-in electric cars sold since 2008. The world's top selling highway-capable electric car is the Nissan Leaf, released in December 2010 and sold in 46 countries. Global Leaf sales passed the 200,000 unit milestone in December 2015, and the Tesla Model S, released in June 2012, ranks second with over 107,000 units sold worldwide. In this series, we cover stories covering the development of electric vehicles around the world.
Electric Car Series
Tesla enables Autopilot feature, rolls out software 7.0
Oct 15, 2015 06:57 am UTC|
Technology
Tesla Motors, the American electric car manufacturer, released its new software version on Wednesday that enables autopilot feature. It will be available for customers in the U.S. from Thursday, while European and Asian...
Electric Car Series
Apple plans “never seen before” campus in Sunnyvale
Oct 02, 2015 09:44 am UTC|
Technology
Apple Inc.has signed a deal for Landbank Investments LLCs planned Central Wolfe campus a 777,000-square-foot project at Central Expressway and Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale. It is expected to look like nothing else ever...
Electric Car Series
Apple car to cost $55,000, rumors say
Oct 01, 2015 07:43 am UTC|
Technology
Rumor has it that Apple is apparently considering setting its foot in the car industry and is accelerating its efforts to build an electric car, code-named Titan.
Earlier reports suggested that the Cupertino company has...
Electric Car Series
Apple electric car project accelerates, targets shipping date for 2019
Sep 22, 2015 12:05 pm UTC|
Technology
Apple is accelerating its efforts to build an electric car, code-named Titan, and has set a target shipping date as 2019, TheWall Street Journal reported Monday. The tech giant gave leaders of the committed project...