Westworld Saskatchewan

Summer 2012

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automotive Going Electric Is the day coming when you'll charge up instead of fill up? by Mifi Purvis Electric cars are at once familiar and exotic, moving us from point A to point B like a standard vehicle, but using technology very different from the internal combustion engine. More and more manufacturers are producing them, but the question on everyone's mind is: will the technology catch on? "It's a little early to predict how soon and how quickly electric vehicles will take off," says Kevin Lane, vice-president of automotive services at CAA Saskatchewan. A number of issues could THE TECHNOLOGY The big auto manufacturers are pumping big R&D dollars into electric cars. The technology differs from company to company. Here's a rundown of the main contenders: Battery Electric Vehicle The battery powers an electric motor, which drives the car's wheels. No internal combustion engine here; these cars recharge by plugging into a power source. Cars: Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus Electric, smart fortwo electric drive Nissan Leaf Toyota Prius Gas Electric Hybrid 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 essentially as a generator. It charges the battery but can't drive the car's wheels. Car: Chevrolet Volt Chevrolet Volt Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle The battery can be charged by plugging the vehicle into a power source or by the internal combustion engine, which also drives the wheels. Car: Toyota Prius Plugin Hybrid Hybrid Electric Vehicle The most familiar electric vehicles, hybrids have an internal combustion engine, a battery and an 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 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL 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 (Currently not available in Canada.) 48 W E S T W O R L D p48-49_Automotive.indd 48 >> SUMMER 2012 (electric plug) Getty Images, (Nissan Leaf) iStock, Toyota Canada, Mercedes-Benz Canada, GM Chevrolet Canada 4/13/12 12:52:21 PM

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