Odds are, you probably own a gasoline or diesel powered vehicle. If you are considering making the switch to an electric car, there are some things you should consider before getting started.

Should I Buy a New Vehicle?

If you are in the market for an electric car, the easiest option is to simply go new car shopping. There are a few production electric cars out there right now. Be aware that while an electric car is more expensive up front, if it suits your commuting needs you can save a lot of money in the long run on fuel costs. Most production electric cars have more limited range than a gasoline vehicle, but as long as you don’t drive more than 50 miles on a daily basis, they will be just fine. Along with the electric car, you will usually receive a power station for your home, where you plug your car in to recharge overnight. Remember, power isn’t free, and has to come from somewhere. You can expect a rise in your electricity bill, but usually you are still saving money over a gasoline vehicle. And check the laws in the state you live in! California, for instance, offers some very nice incentives to owners of green alternative fuel vehicles. This includes electrically powered vehicles.

Converting Your Existing Vehicle

If you just don’t want to give up your gas guzzlers style or storage capacity, it is possible to convert your vehicle to run on electricity. Just be aware from the get go that this is an expensive project that is definitely not a do-it-yourself deal. Pretty much every active component of your vehicle will have to be replaced with versions designed for electric vehicles. But the costs will probably not be much more than purchasing an electric vehicle, and you may like the results much better.

Get in touch with some companies that specialize in alternative energy sources, such as solar power or fuel cells. Even if they can’t help you with your specific project, they can probably point you towards someone that can. The company that you finally settle on will have quite a few issues to discuss with you, such as the battery types, or whether to go pure electric, or hybrid. Electricity-generating fuel cells are another option, but can be expensive to maintain. There are many different ways to go when talking electric car conversions, and many need to be worked out with someone who knows what is what.

It’s All Worth It

But once you actually perform the conversion, you will be amazed at the difference. Electric vehicles are nearly silent, and you’ll never have to pump gas again. They have a very futuristic feel about them, with computerized systems and displays as finishing touches. And they produce no emissions whatsoever, so you are doing a major favor to the environment. Imagine how much less smog there would be in your city if everyone drove zero emission electric cars.

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If you want to do away with fuel bills completely the answer is an electrical car conversion.

 Thousands of bright sparks have already gone electric, most of them using DIY electric car conversion manuals.

Imagine it. NO fuel bills. No pulling in at service stations any more; plus you can get a tax rebate for being green and you are helping prevent environmental pollution.

Professional conversions cost $3000 or more but DIY totals about $300.

The conversions are quick to do and require no special mechanical knowledge. All you need is a DIY manual. They can be done on any type of vehicle in any country.

It costs about $1 to charge your car from your electric plug at home.

You can travel up to 100 miles (160.9 kms) on a simple charge. And don’t think electric cars are slow. You will get up to 55mph (88.5 kph)

There are various manuals on the market but the one I like because of its readability is the one from Electricity4Gas.

Its creator is environmentalist Peter Millward who has personally converted numerous cars. His whole family drives electric cars.

To help improve the environment Peter is currently offering his 40-page manual for under $50, which I think, is the cheapest currently available. It also comes with numerous bonuses and a money-back guarantee.

 As well as being totally clean for the world environment, electric cars

help reduce noise pollution. They are quiet running and their lower maximum speeds – compared to current conventional cars – could mean less road deaths and accidents if more people had them.

Future advances in technology may see even greater improvements in environmentally friendly road vehicles but meanwhile it’s not a bad deal – save money and save the environment.

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It is accepted that in order for the damage done to the environment by motor vehicles to be stalled, let alone rolled back, there will have to be a profound change in the way we fuel our vehicles. Once upon a time we looked upon unleaded gasoline as the savior – and the difference it has made has certainly been of great benefit, but lead in the fumes was never the only problem with gas-powered automobiles. The next step in changing the way we drive and its environmental impact has to be a move away from gas power, and governments around the world are becoming ever more aware of this fact. This is why more than a few authorities are now talking about – and putting into practice – plans to give tax rebates to motorists who make the move to hybrid and electric vehicles. 

When the rebate idea was first floated, it centered mostly around people who converted an existing car to run on hybrid energy. It has reached the point now where the government is moving away from the idea of conversion – due to the short-term nature of the full benefits – and is offering their prime rebates to motorists who cash in and buy a new, dedicated hybrid model. The intention is that there will be more cars on the road which are, and always have been, powered by green technology. By developing in this direction, the overall emissions level will drop faster and further, and the focus on environmental sustainability will become more determined. 

One focus of the government plans is Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. As things stand, there are currently not many models available in this category, but the Toyota Prius is moving steadily towards making all newer models compatible with the plug-in technology. The idea is at the moment one that makes sense more for urban drivers, who are more likely to live close to somewhere that provides the plug-in points where fully-charged batteries can be picked up, as well as having shorter journeys to make and being in an area where there is a high concentration of traffic. As time goes on, the government is having to react to the situation as it changes. The modification of its rebate strategy is one example of such action. 

While the federal bailout extended the terms of some of the existing rebates, there are new ones being created as time goes on. The old rules mostly still apply – if you are buying the car for resale purposes, you will not qualify for a rebate, and nor will you qualify if a bulk of your travel in the car will be undertaken outside the United States. It is wise to look at some comparison sites to find out which is the best model for you and how to get the best rebate. Many people had considered the Toyota Prius (pre-plug in) to be a wise choice, but with the vast numbers already being sold, the rebates available on this model are shrinking. Some rebates of $4,000 are still available on other models, though, depending on where you look.

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