For as much hype as has been received by electric vehicles, and the money spent to promote them to drivers eager for a fossil fuel alternative, US drivers have been slow to choose them over their gas guzzling brethren.

It hasn’t helped that US auto makers have begun offering higher mileage small cars in addition to the gas gulping behemoths they continue to offer. As gas prices stabilize drivers have not had the same pressure to adopt alternative fuel uses. It has hurt the electric car market that the prices for those vehicles are significantly higher than the prices for a gas powered alternative.

The cost of electric vehicles coupled with the fact that they have limited range and fewer options than vehicles powered by gasoline, and you begin to understand why sales of the Nissan Leaf (as an example) have fallen more than 60 percent. At the same times sales of the Chevy Volt hybrid has increased 50 percent over the same time last year seemingly demonstrating that buyers prefer having the option of powering their electric vehicle for a longer trip.

The new Tesla S all-electric sedan has a range of more than 225 miles, which is far better than the 30 or 40 mile range of most electric cars and a full full range of options. However, with a price tag approaching $40,000 it is also out of reach of most car buyers looking to get the most car for their money.

Posts tagged: electric cars | MyImprov

Electric Vehicles Slow To Gain Traction