Why dont they make more electric cars for the sake of the environmets?

Question

Whydont they make more electric cars for the sake of the environmets? Seems like even in times of fuel crunch manufactures still arent mass producing electric cars, why not?

Answer 1

From what I can tell, it's just that the car companies can't make them for the amount of money that a consumer is willing to pay for them.  As much as people complain about companies wanting to make money, a company that isn't viable isn't going to last long to help the planet :)

Pure electrics (battery only) are also still range limited - batteries are getting better all the time, but the enormous technology leaps that were anticipated as "right around the corner" 10 or 15 years ago, are still "right around the corner".  The energy densities and charge times are improving, but until we get a car with a usable 200mi range on a single charge, and a quick recharge time - oh, and it has to be affordable and last a long time - there just aren't many people who will buy it.

Hybrids are a good interim solution, but I don't know if anyone is actually MAKING money on them now, and you do need a sustainable business too...

Answer 2

Because electric cars are not yet cost efficient nor do they produce the same amount of horsepower compared to gasoline engines.

Also, the batteries need a power source which is usually produced by your local coal power plant, nuclear power plant or some sort of gasoline derivative power source.

There is much more to just switching to an another energy source than wanting to.  The technology must be something that will work and the price must be affordable.

Oil based fuel sources are cheap and provide great power.

There is simply nothing wrong with using oil based energy.

Don't believe everything you hear in the media.

Answer 3

I blame the government.  Not only do they receive campaign contributions from big oil, but look at how much tax revenue would be lost by moving away from oil.  Since governments only suck off of taxpayers and produce nothing, they will ensure that they get their money, even if we destroy the environment and continue to use antiquated technology.  They would have to come up with money from other sources.  Think about how much tobacco tax revenue has been lost with the new trend toward smoking cessation. (although much of it will be recovered through reduced health care costs) I agree with folks making positive lifestyle changes for themselves and for the environment, but I think politicians feel otherwise.

Answer 4

I think it just isnt financially a good move for them. Most manufactures are only starting to make electric and hybrid vehicles because of laws and regulations requiring them to begin making small amounts by certain deadlines. Many auto makers have their hands (wallets) in the oil/fuel trade, so again it wouldnt be a smart move for them. It all comes down to numbers :(

Answer 5

I know, I completely agree. I mean they talk about it all the time and the environment is dieing and glaciers and blah blah blah. Well, hellooooo.....don't we have a solution that is going to help the environment? Hybrid cars!! So why are they not making it manditory for companies and people to have them and replace the other kinds. I don't know that's why everything is going wrong in America like the war, the VT shootings, environment. They just don't take action.

Answer 6

There are limitations to electric cars that buyers are not willing to accept, such as the smaller car size for passengers and the need to recharge the battery periodically. If the public had a larger demand for electric cars the car manufacturers would raise their production, but for now manufacturers are working on producing hybrid cars to overcome the drawbacks of electric cars. Toyota, for instance, has been hard at work designing hybrids that are more eco-friendly and still comfortable and fuel efficent. They are set to release the 2008 Toyota Highlander in the fall. There website also lists information about upcoming concept cars. Here is some information from their site:

"The design of the all-new 2008 Toyota Highlander does more than evoke the future; with available Hybrid Synergy Drive®, your mileage is futuristic, too. The all-new 2008 Highlander Hybrid intelligently captures energy otherwise lost by coasting or braking to recharge the battery. Combined with a conventionally powered gas engine, the 2008 Highlander Hybrid will leave other SUVs in its low-emissions dust.

Inside, the 2008 Highlander provides available 7-passenger seating with the versatile Center-Stow™ 2nd-row seat. Indulge 6  people in amenities like captain's chairs and a removable 2nd-row console, or modify Center-Stow™ to carry 7. And just as the comfortable interior modifies to your changing life, Toyota Highlander's dynamic, car-like ride adapts to a twisty road. Bigger. Wider. More powerful. And filled with safety innovations that are our hallmark."

Answer 7

In capitalist america everyone is fueled by greed (get the pun =) ) also, people are okay with paying these absurd gas prices. therefore, the gas companies (which are invested in car companies) push the continued production of gasoline powered cars, and not the more environment-friendly electric cars.

Answer 8

Car makers make what people want to buy.  They are making more electric / hydrid cars as technology improves and economics warrant their production.

Answer 9

For the companies they would lose millions of dollars -- they care more about being rich than saving the environment they live in and depend on

Also, there isn't a big enough market - not only would they be sacrificing millions of dollars they wouldn't be gaining it back in sales

Hybrid cars are still being majorly improved and are still very expensive -- the average family can't just go out and buy a brand new car just because they feel like it or even because they know it will help the environment

fossil fuels are cheaper and already established

And regular cars and trucks that aren't feul efficient burn more fossil fuels that release Carbon Dioxide into thee air... The deflected heat of the sun is trapped by the CO2 particles in the air and adds to Global Warming -- the amount of CO2 that we put into the air each year is extremely unnatural and is very bad for our environment

It is great to buy gas efficient or electric cars...but if you can't there are many other things you can do such as

-Buy used cars instead-- they are cheaper and it takes a lot of fuel in factories to produce new cars... the burning of these fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) increasing global warming

- save electricity or switch to alternate energy sources (wind, solar, hydro, etc.)

- Many others

Answer 10

Unfortunately,the cost of manufacturing a hybrid vehicle is far more expensive than producing gas vehicles right now. Most hybrids on the market cost consumers more than gas powered vehicles in the initial investment. Sometimes this initial investment is more than the fuel savings cost. Also,the long term maintenance cost of  electric vehicles is mor expensive with disposal fees and replacement costs of batteries. In a nutshell, right now saving the planet is not cost effective for manufacturers.

Answer 11

because the oil companies have their hands in the pockets of the car manufactuers. If we had the milage standard that other countries in the world have  ( like 40+ mpg)  that would help - but the lobbyists keep getting their way as do the big campain givers ( Oil comapanies)

Answer 12

"In 1996, General Motors rolled out its groundbreaking EV-1 electric cars, and customers such as filmmaker Chris Paine began leasing them. But by 2003, the cars were being recalled and most were ultimately demolished. Paine's new film, Who Killed the Electric Car?, examines the factors at play." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...

I believe the cars were demolished due to pressure from big oil companies.  It would cut down on profits.  Why do you think we have not seen more alliterative fuel cars?  The first affordable battery powered cars come from Japan.

Answer 13

Well, something to think about, many people cannot afford a new car, and I would suspect, as with everything new, that the prices would not be affordable to many and still offer the luxuries or the room that we as comfort creatures crave. Also, they would at somepoint have to be charged, and part of what is causing global warming is the amount of electricity we use, so I honestly wonder if they would really do any good? I mean, we would just be using electricity to fuel them as opposed to gas.

Answer 14

All major car manufacturers have put lots of money into gas fueled cars and they make a lot of profit off of it. Not to mention the Oil companies who make tons of money drilling oil and selling gas to those who drive around in these thirsty machines. Everyone makes a ton of money except the consumer. By producing more fuel efficient or electric cars, they are taking money away from oil companies and giving it back to the consumer and the electric company. Also, for every hybrid or electric car they sell, thats one less gas powered car they can sell.

Answer 15

it's been proven that electric cars don't in reality help the ecology the way that it was hoped that they would.  they do save some gas, but not as much as expected, and actually in return for the gas they save they eat up a lot of electricity.  They are good on milage, but only on highways, when in traffic, they don't save anything.  So, they aren't the answer that everyone was hoping that they were hoped to be.

Answer 16

Because no one would buy them.

Answer 17

The electric cars are nice, and energy saving for sure.. but they are so expensive to manufacture, and therefore to buy,, that it's just not practical at this point. BUT like most everything else, when the "new" wears off, they will most likely go down on the purchase price... now, wouldn't that be nice for the environment??!

Answer 18

The answer is two fold really.

1) Why change a system where to cost and parameters are known and demand is relatively inelastic when addressed as a whole? It doesn't cost the auto company but a fraction more to make the same cars and ship them out. Plus the time and effort required to engineer more powerful/efficient electric cars isn't worth the bottom line. Research and development requires money. This means higher prices on the electric cars. That leads to the average consumer making a decision of a high priced electric car or a relatively cheap fuel burner. Which one wins in the end?

3) The only way to get companies to change their ways and go down the path of electric cars is to make federal mandates. As long as petroleum is a billion dollar industry and contributes heavily to politicians' campaign funds their interests will be protected.

I hope that shed some light on the subject.