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DriveSmart: Jolt to the System Is the day coming when we'll charge up instead of filling up? Different Amps, for Different Camps The big auto manufacturers are pumping big R&D dollars into electric car research, with the resulting technology continuing to differ from company to company. Here's a rundown of popular contenders: Chevrolet Volt ■ BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE The battery powers an electric motor, which drives the car's wheels. No internal combustion engine here; they recharge by plugging into a power source. Cars: Nissan Leaf (available now), Ford Focus Electric (2012) C ompared with their gasoline-powered counterparts, electric cars accelerate faster, are quieter and (technically) have no environmentally damaging tailpipe emissions – plus, charging up costs a fraction of filling up. Yet even as more and more manufacturers produce electric models, one persistent question remains: "Will the technology catch on?" A 2010 Deloitte study identifies "range anxiety" as a significant barrier to mass adoption of electric. In other words, most consumers worry they won't get far on a single charge. Before committing, they're insisting electrics be on par with gasoline-powered models in terms of distance performance, which means 500 km minimum after a single charge. Putting this in perspective, the Nissan Leaf, which arrived in Canada this year, gets about 160 km per charge; the Chevy Volt, 56 km (though its combustion engine stretches that to 600 km). Yet even if distance isn't a problem, consumers are leery of another potential drawback: charging up isn't as fast as filling up. The Chevy Volt, for example, takes eight hours to charge at 110 volts; the Nissan Leaf, 16. And in Canada, electric cars are also pricey – about $40,000 for the Nissan Leaf. Why? Batteries for electric vehicles, both lithium ion and the nickel metal hydride versions, are expensive. They may also need replacing (expiry estimates vary), which can cost as much as $10,000. Still, prices are expected to drop as the technology becomes more accessible. –Mifi Purvis Courtesy General Motors Canada p20-21_DriveSmart.indd 21 Ford Focus Electric ■ HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE The most familiar electric vehicles, hybrids have an internal combustion engine, battery and electric motor to power the wheels. You don't plug in to charge; the engine charges the car as you drive. Car: Toyota Prius Gas Electric Hybrid (available now) ■ EXTENDED-RANGE ELECTRIC VEHICLE The battery powers an electric motor that drives the car's wheels. Charge it by plugging into a power source. For extra range, an onboard internal combustion engine acts as a generator. It charges the battery but can't drive the car's wheels. Car: Chevrolet Volt (available now) Toyota Prius Gas Electric Hybrid ■ PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE Charge the battery by plugging the vehicle into a power source or by the vehicle's internal combustion engine, which also drives the wheels. Car: Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (available 2012) ■ FUEL-CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLE This model uses hydrogen for fuel, producing electricity that powers an electric motor and the vehicle's wheels. These have no internal combustion engine and, in some cases, no battery. Car: Mercedes Benz B-Class F-Cell (availability unknown; cells are in production now) —M.P. Mercedes Benz B-Class F-Cell Y How much do you think you would save if you drove a gas-electric hybrid for five years? Find out at www.bcaa.com/hybrid WESTWORLD >> W I N T E R 2 0 1 1 21 10/25/11 11:54:41 AM

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