Gas Engines Vs. Electric Engines (11/19/12)
Gas engines. They have been with us since the beginning of the
automobile, but did you know electric engines were there too? The first
automobile (as we know it today) was originally introduced to society back in
1885, built by a man called Karl Benz. I say as we know it today because there
were quite a few automobiles designed as far back as 1335, but they were nothing
like the ones we have today. This article is not about the history of the car,
now is it? It’s about Electric engine vs. Gas engine and those ancient cars had
neither…anyways. The electric powered automobile actually came before the gas
engine in 1835, designed and built by Thomas Davenport of Brandon, Vermont
(also the inventor of the first American-built DC electric motor). The motor
was put in a carriage really; cars don’t exist until Henry Ford’s time. So,
there you have it. The first Electric powered “car” and The First Gas powered
“car”.
Now let’s get into what this article is really about. Do you want a
petroleum based engine or an electric motor powering your car? To start off
electric motors produce much more torque than the comparative petroleum based
engine. Electric motors clearly don’t create any pollution… or do they? To get
your earth happy-electric buddy charged up, you are going to need some
electricity which comes from a polluting power plant. Now I know what you are
thinking “But sir you are forgetting solar panels and windmills.” Well actually
I’m not If you were to get a solar panel array to charge your Nissan Leaf, for
example, that would set you back approximately $1,400. That’s just to charge
your car, not run your whole house. I’m not getting into all the math of how
many solar panels, how big, and what type of generator you need for your whole
house but take my word for it, it’s pricey. Now windmills, those aren’t
plentiful enough to guarantee the electricity coming into your house is all
green energy. Any who, on to the gas engine.
Gas prices are up and keep going up and surely don’t help the
gas engines side of the argument. Gas Engines have come a very long way in fuel
economy, and will indeed keep getting better. But I don’t know how long the gas
engine will be able to keep up with the electric engine and car as a whole. The
only thing really holding back the Electric car is its battery and charging
stations. The average electric car has a range of about 120 miles on a charge
and then takes about 8 hours to charge on your average household 120w power
outlet and 4 hours on a 240w connection. It would take you roughly 8 hours to
get from Somerset, MA to New York City, NY on a 240w connection and 12 hours on
a 120w connection. This is all considering also that someone will let you charge
your car on their property for 4-8 hours because there are no convenient
charging stations, like gas stations. That somewhat awkward extremely long trip
that is actually only 200 miles is compared to 4 hours if you had traveled in a
gas powered car without even having to fill up, or make new friends unwillingly.
So, to sum this up Gas engines keep getting more efficient
without losing that fun, great sounding ride, and the electric engine has a long
way to go before it will be a better all-around alternative to the gas engine. I
would hate to see the gas engine disappear: The sound, the shifting, and the
smell. The whole experience of driving a gas car is something that is a
priceless experience. Something electric cars just don’t give you, instead you
can enjoy one annoying hum that progressively gets louder. I’m sure anyone who
loves cars feels the same way. Only time will tell how the electric motor and
the gas engine will be used, and if one goes extinct. One thing is for sure, the
Electric engine has a long way to go and the gas engine is just more
practical.
- Joe Chaves