Major drawbacks of electric cars

The use of electric cars appears to have a long way to go before they can be considered a true alternative that fully replaces the fleet of gasoline-powered vehicles in the United States. The use of electric vehicles at the national level could increase the annual energy demand by 40% over the next few years. The road to its implementation as a definitive option for U.S. households still has a long way to go before its performance and impact can be fully optimized.

1. Electric vehicles rely on power plants which are dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas. These fuels create about 60% of the electricity generated on the U.S. grid, while nuclear power accounts for about 20%. Much of this energy will now be consumed by electric cars.

2. Electric vehicle batteries require cobalt. An estimated 70% of the cobalt supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation with difficult working conditions, especially for children.

3. Nearly one-third of San Francisco's electric charging stations are not working, according to a study by the nonprofit environmental group Cool the Earth.

4. The charging of electric cars is expected to cause more pressure on the grid and will result in higher energy and infrastructure costs.

5. According to studies, the energy required to charge an electric vehicle is similar to running "1 or 2 air conditioners" in your home, except that an electric car requires power year-round, according to Ram Rajagopal, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University.

6. Some 20 million U.S. households, or one in six, have fallen behind on their electricity bills because of high costs, making the electric car option unattractive.

7. Utilities will be required to pay $5,800 in upgrades for each new electric vehicle over the next eight years to offset energy demand. Ultimately, all customers would end up paying this cost.

8. The average price of an electric vehicle is currently $66,000; an increase of more than 13% over the last year, and approximately $18,000 more than a gasoline-powered car.

9. Most electric car charging is done in homes. In buildings it is often more complicated; apartment dwellers generally find themselves at a greater disadvantage for charging according to new research.

10. Studies have revealed that many drivers charge their electric vehicles at night when solar power is at a reduced level on the general grid.