How Important is Range?

When thinking about buying a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), the first question many people ask is “How far can I drive on one charge?” This is an important point, because the inquirer wants to know if such vehicle will allow the driver to get to work and back and take him/her to other destinations. But many people think they need far more range than they really do. Some drivers bought a NEV thinking they would use it as their second car, for trips that didn’t require much range. They subsequently found that the NEV became the primary car. The majority of their trips were of very short distances, for which the NEV was than adequate. The gasoline-burning car was used for occasional out-of-town trips.

Home Recharging - Changing the Status Quo

Studies done in 1996 by the University of California indicate that households place a high value on avoiding retail fuelling stations. Prior studies have documented a dislike of gasoline stations. This suggests that home recharging is the highest valued attribute of the Electric Vehicle.

What are the benefits of Home Recharging?

• No more waiting in line at the gas station

• No need to visit battery exchange stations
• No more snack temptation at the gas station
• No more smelly gas hands
• No more checking the oil
• More time for you

Driving Range: Any disutility of reduced driving range in one household vehicle is small for most mutli-car households. Any household that can adapt to any reduced range adapts to a range of 240 km or less.

Emissions: Research should focus less on new batteries that provide a longer range (i.e. higher specific energy and energy density), and more on improved battery cycle life, energy management and manufacturing costs.