High gasoline prices, global warming, pollution and dependence on foreign sources of oil are four major issues the world is facing today. In a world where energy supply security and environmental protection are major concerns, the development of green vehicles is becoming a necessity. The Electric vehicle (EV) is one of the most promising technologies that will make the “green dream” come true. A contemporary business case that encourages the immediate deployment of urban EVs is presented. It proposes a model in which we can profit from the benefits of urban EVs namely, high energy efficiency, emissions reduction, small size and noise reduction. The model mitigates the EV potential limitations such as energy source, charging infrastructure, impact on electrical power system and cost issues. It also provides ideas to overcome the barriers of the technology application in order to speed up their commercialization. Energy conservation and environmental protection are the main driving forces behind the development of electric vehicles. Urban EVs seem to be a good choice for cities and urban centers since their potential drawbacks are few and can be mitigated. This study reveals that having an environmentally friendly vehicle can soon become a reality if collaborative efforts are properly directed. (Author/publisher)
Abstract