Save for first car or go through with electric car build?

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Alex King

I cannot decide if I want to wait one more year and get a car, or convert another car to electric like I had planned to do. I am afraid that if my dad and I buy the car for conversion, he will not be as willing to put in as much money for my first real car (we have already decided that he will help pay). Which way should I go?

Answer
What do you want to achieve? How much budget do you have? What sort of driving do you do?

If most of your journeys are long distance, or high speed, then forget electric cars right now: they're not the right power source for the job. If most of your journeys are short and on slower roads, then an electric car is in its ideal environment.

If you are converting a car, you'll probably end up with a car with a range of 40-60 miles and a top speed of 55-60mph (depending, of course, on what budget you have). You will end up with something that is unique, but it will probably be fairly slow.

If most of your driving is in a built up area, then that probably isn't an issue for you. In which case, you can go the self-build route if you want an electric car. If you are using new components, then budget $3-4000 for the conversion, on top of the price of the car: more if you want the latest lithium batteries (between you and me, don't go there: they're troublesome. Stick with lead acid batteries which are a lot easier to implement for a home conversion).

If you want a more practical car, that will have great performance and a decent range, you'll have to go the purchase route. Mitsubishi will have their 'i' electric car out in the US very shortly. I've used one in Europe for a year and it is a very good car. Nissan have their LEAF electric car out now, and again that is a superb car: in Europe, it won 'European Car of the Year' award, as voted by the top automotive journalists across Europe.

I've been driving various different electric cars over the past five years, and before that ran a company selling electric bikes. I am the author of 'The 2011 Electric Car Guide'.

What is the next most likely fuel for cars?

Axel

I've heard of hydrogen, solar powered and ethanol powered cars, but is there another one? and is there any that could become standard within 15 years?

Please star this cause I want the most answers for this.

Answer
Some people think that natural gas could be the fuel of choice in some countries in the future as it burns cleaner and is more abundant in the US and others. Bio-butanol could also be one potential source...it's compatible with current engine designs and infrastructures and is renewable using bacteria.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110317102603.htm

Synthetic gasoline can be produced using nanopellets of hydrogen which flow like liquids and burn clean.
http://news.discovery.com/tech/synthetic-gasoline-for-150gallon-and-no-emissions.html

Hydrogen-powered bike..
http://news.discovery.com/tech/magic-powder-fuels-electric-bike.html

Renewable bio-fuels from algae...
http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Joule_Unlimited_On_Track_To_Beat_All_Known_Biofuel_Processes_999.html
http://discovermagazine.com/2010/jan-feb/37

Thermal conversion processes or microwaves can turn garbage, wastes, plastics, old tires, etc.. into oil and fuels...
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/innovator_2.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWf9nYbm3ac&feature=related
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/WPIO.php?printing=yes

Food wastes account for a lost 350 million barrels of oil per year in the US alone...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101003081627.htm

Cleaner fuels using plasma..
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322121100.htm

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