Tesla CEO Elon Musk Says Electric Cars are the Future
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| Tesla CEO Elon Musk Says Electric Cars are the Future |
Electric Cars Have Fewer Parts
The fewer parts an automobile has, the less likely it is to break down. Tesla claims that its Model S has 99% fewer moving parts than a traditional internal combustion engine car. In other words, your Tesla will be less likely to break down—and when it does, repairs will be easier. It’s like having a tablet computer instead of a laptop: no moving parts means no need for the replacement of damaged hardware or software. You just unplug your power cord and continue on your way!
Electric Cars Are Safer
By removing an internal combustion engine and its corresponding fuel tank, electric cars inherently eliminate a number of risks that come with conventional cars. Tesla, for example, claims that its Model S sedan has been given a five-star safety rating in every category and subcategory by federal regulators.
Electric Cars Cost Less To Maintain
Electric cars require less maintenance and generally cost less to fix than their gas-powered counterparts. The engines and tires of an electric car have far fewer moving parts, which makes it more resistant to wear and tear. Furthermore, since there’s no oil change required for an electric car, you’ll save a significant amount of money on oil changes alone. Though they aren’t as expensive to maintain as they used to be, still expect to pay a bit more upfront when purchasing an electric car.
Electric Cars Are Efficient
From a financial perspective, electric cars cost far less to maintain than gas-powered vehicles. That’s because they don’t need fuel. In fact, one of their only regular expenses is charging them at home or on a public station—and those costs are decreasing rapidly. They may be more expensive to buy upfront, but over time these kinds of vehicles pay for themselves and save people money overall.
Gas Cars Aren’t Going Away
While electric cars will be a huge part of our future transportation, we’re not going to be ditching gas cars anytime soon. That’s because they have many benefits that electric cars don’t. For one, they cost less and run on cheaper fuel. They also tend to be lighter, so they can accelerate faster than most other types of vehicles.
The Drawbacks of Owning an Electric Car
According to The Los Angeles Times, electric cars have a lower range than gas-powered vehicles, making them less convenient. Some electric cars, such as Tesla’s Model S (pictured above), can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge—but that requires drivers to stop at charging stations every 200 miles or so. If you’re planning a long road trip with your electric car and can’t make scheduled stops at charging stations in-between destinations, you may want to rethink your trip plan.
Batteries Have a Short Life Span
One of the biggest downsides to electric cars is that their batteries tend to lose charge rather quickly. As a result, many EV owners don’t drive their cars very far in between charges—which means they may not realize just how limited their range actually is. This can be an even bigger problem for owners who need to travel long distances regularly. Tesla Motors, for example, offers an 85-kilowatt battery that can keep its Model S running for about 250 miles on a single charge.
