Despite the fact that electric vehicles have been around as long as vehicles themselves, the battery driven models had not taken off. Great speed, quiet operation (they didn’t scare horses with whom they shared the road) and plugging them in at home just wasn’t enough motive to purchase. Bear in mind that the earliest version, we're talking 1890, would only have a range of a few miles.
However, even with huge breakthroughs in technology, today’s electric powered vehicles are still slow sellers. Only recently, as forced by the government, have most manufacturers started to produce electric vehicles in volumes that they hope will sell. Three things have changed the prospects:
Breakthroughs in battery design expanding the vehicle's useable range
External appearance
Price.
What started as a “prestige" or “toy” mentality has suddenly become a practical use mindset. SUVs and even pickup trucks are now coming to market with the intent of serving the consumer, not the consumer serving the vehicle. Trucks and SUV’s are the best-selling gasoline powered vehicles on the market and now with electric vehicles available in the same platforms, not to mention range growth of up to 300 and even 400 miles, has put the option of electric power on the map.
More publicly placed fast chargers and 240-volt home units have all enhanced the prospects for daily driven buyers. However, promising as all that looks there still remains one huge question that nobody seems ready to answer:
WHERE IS ALL THE CHARGING POWER GOING TO COME FROM?
States like California, who kill every power option as quick as they’re proposed, are going to be hurting when 10-15-million electric vehicles plug in at night wanting to be fully charged by morning. The manufacturers have steeped, now it’s time for government and the power companies to do the same, AND SOON.
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