14.The electric revolution
The main reasons why electric cars are not more popular at present are their price and their relatively small range.
Existing battery systems only allow electric cars (33)to travel (travel) a distance of between 100and 160km.However,this distance may not be a problem for urban drivers.A recent Sydney study reported that 70 percent of journeys were 30 km or less,and recent data from the US suggests that 77 percent of trips (34)taken (take) there are 48 km or less.
An innovative company called Better Place is aiming to make electric cars an option for all drivers.It wants to see existing vehicles replaced by electric vehicles which,it says,offer a number of benefits.Firstly,they can be powered by renewable energy which produces zero emissions.(35)What is more important is that electric motors are more efficient and can convert more than 90 percent of power into movement.(36)To achieve (achieve) its aim,Better Place plans to use technology already available.
The plan is simple but revolutionary.It starts with the installation of a home charge point,and through this,the vehicle will be plugged into the electricity charge point whenever it is in the garage,typically at night.In the morning,with a fully charged battery,the car is capable of as much as 160 km in urban motoring conditions.(37)With the home charge point,the battery can be topped up by charge points at work and at supermarkets.
(38)The battery is linked to a control centre by smart technology inside the vehicle.Better Place can then ensure that the car is charged with electricity from renewable sources at the cheapest price.For (39)longer (long) trips,a navigation system directs the driver to the nearest switch station,(40)where the battery can be replaced with a charged one by a robot within a couple of minutes.