Tesla Motors

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 up to three times as efficient as cars with an Internal combustion engine.

History of the electric vehicle

Invention

Thomas Parker, responsible for innovations such as electrifying the London Underground, overhead tramways in Liverpool and Birmingham, built the first practical production electric car in London in 1884, using his own specially designed high-capacity rechargeable batteries

Golden age

Electric cars were reasonably popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century, when electricity was among the preferred methods for automobile propulsion, providing a level of comfort and ease of operation that could not be achieved by the gasoline cars of the time. In 1900, 40% of American automobiles were powered by steam, 38% by electricity, and 22% by gasoline. The electric vehicle stock peaked at approximately 30,000 vehicles at the turn of the 20th century.

1990s to present: Revival of interest

Mitsubishi i-MiEV, 2009

Nissan Leaf, 2010, most sold electric car

Tesla Model S, 2012

Economics

Price

An important goal for electric vehicles is overcoming the disparity between their costs of development, production, and operation, with respect to those of equivalent internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). As of 2013, electric cars are significantly more expensive than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles due to the cost of their lithium-ion battery pack.However, battery prices are coming down about 8% per annum with mass production, and are expected to drop further.

Maintenance

Electric cars have expensive batteries that must be replaced if they become defective, however the lifetime of said batteries can be very long (many years). Otherwise, electric cars incur very low maintenance costs, particularly in the case of current lithium-based designs.

Running costs

The cost of charging the battery depends on the price paid per kWh of electricity - which varies with location.

Mileage costs

Most of the mileage-related cost of an electric vehicle can be attributed to electricity costs of charging the battery pack, and its potential replacement with age, because an electric vehicle has only around five moving parts in its motor, compared to a gasoline car that has hundreds of parts in its internal combustion engine.

Total cost of ownership

A 2010 report, by J.D. Power and Associates states that it is not entirely

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