NPR examines the electric car phenomenon
Last updated Oct 21, 2010 — 24 views
“The futuristic world of the electric car may finally be here,” observes NPR in its three-part look at this exciting inflection point in personal transportation. The complete series is available as both online transcripts and downloadable MP3s.
Part 1: Will electric cars work For the everyday driver?
“I have never been into cars. I don’t know an oil filter from an air filter. But my 15-year-old Honda is on its last legs, and recently I’ve been curious about alternative fuels.”
“The first mass-produced electric vehicles ever sold in the United States will begin to hit showrooms by the end of this year. The Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt already have tens of thousands of pre-orders.”
“Until now, electric cars had been the domain of small groups of tech hobbyists and hard-core environmentalists. With electric cars around the corner, my dream of green motoring suddenly seems possible. But how feasible are they for everyday drivers?…”
Part 2: In Search Of Charging Stations For Electric Cars
“Every year, buzzwords enter the American lexicon, like ‘octomom’ or ‘crowdsourcing.’ Next year, ‘range anxiety’ may top the list. It’s the fear of being stranded in an electric car because the battery has run out.
“The futuristic world of the electric car may finally be here. The first mass-produced electric vehicles for sale in the United States are being released over the next few months, but what’s missing are places to charge up…”
Part 3: Electric Vehicle Companies Tap Silicon Valley Cash
“Detroit has been at the center of the country’s auto industry ever since Henry Ford rolled his first Model T off the assembly line in 1908.”
“But as hard times have fallen on America’s Rust Belt, there’s a new region hoping to give Detroit a run for its money. Clean-tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley are investing in the emerging electric car industry…”