Why battery electric cars are better than ICE & hydrogen powered cars
During my trip through Africa, I realised the true benefits of an electric car...
When traveling through Africa in an electric car, one of the most important aspects that contributed to the trips’s success, were the people I met on the way. Even during the planning process, I knew I would not be able to reach the end of the continent without the help of Africans and their good will.Â
Charge number 73 in Kenieba, Mali.
I usually arrived unannounced, looking for sockets and electricity. At the locations, I had to convince people to allow me to connect my car to their electrical outlets for the night. For example, in the village of Boromo, Burkina Faso, which is in between Wagadugu and Bobo Dioulasso, also the certain charging points. I had to drive a section of over 350 kilometres between them. It’s virtually impossible to cross such a distance on one battery of my African LEAF. I had to find a source of energy somewhere along the way, literally in the middle of the African bush. Maps and GPS's didn’t offer me much hope. I concentrated on driving economically, conserving energy during every minute of the drive. Every kilometre of range was precious. I was lucky in that the roads were flat, with smooth asphalt and no major elevation which helped immensely. After driving a little over 180 kilometres, I reached the village of Boromo. The battery had 51% of energy left. It was one of many records I broke in terms of the car's range. I was directed to a house in the depths of the village where there was electricity available.Â
At the village of Boromo.
The electrical installation was very poor, I tripped the fuses constantly and they were unable to withstand a long charge. But thanks to the owners of the property, I managed to top up an additional 20% of my battery and travel the following day, 190 kilometres to Bobo Dioulasso.
It was at Boromo, where I realised two things: firstly, I was only able to continue my journey with the help of people. Secondly, that having an electric car offered me a great amount of freedom. I had reached the village of Boromo, after travelling almost 10,000 kilometres from Cape Town. During that entire route, I had never charged my car from a dedicated charging station for an electric car. Such stations simply didn’t exist. Despite this, I was able to continue. If I had been driving a petrol or hydrogen-powered car, with no gas or hydrogen station en route, I would not have been able to travel such distance. Traditional cars means we are totally dependant on gas stations and large corporations that provide the fuel. The same can be said for hydrogen cars. To drive such a car means having to find a hydrogen station. Someone has to produce the hydrogen, deliver it and then sell it to me.Â
Total petrol station ;)
In the case of a full electric car, energy sources are essentially everywhere. Look around us; homes, shops, schools, train stations….you name it. There are electrical sockets everywhere. When we visit our relatives, families, we can recharge our cars there. When we go on vacation, we can charge our car at the campsite, or hotel.Â
An electric car gives us freedom but also allows us the opportunity to choose. In order to drive it, we do not have to drive to a charging station, we can choose whatever outlets available to us. Usually of course at our own home. Further more, if there had not been any electricity during the whole of my African route, I would have been able to continue. With the necessary photovoltaic equipment, I could simply charge the car using the sun. Â
9 of the PV panels would allow me to charge the car.
Besides the undeniable facts that electric cars are clean and ecological, we can also derive great comfort and pleasure from driving it. I believe that the true freedom such a vehicle gives us, will sooner (rather than later) reach even the hearts of its biggest opponents.Â
And it's because of that….that this is the car I want to continue driving.Â
Crossing the equator in Gabon.
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Comments (41)
"Besides the undeniable facts that electric cars are clean and ecological".....well, thats only a little bit true and big bit wrong but otherwise an epic journey indeed!
Compared to what, walking?
That's a nice idea, but what you're saying here is that when we drive electric cars we're going to just keep going to everyone's houses for a charge. After a while people are gonna start getting tired of it.
I don’t think he realises that they also sell petrol in Africa.
And even in my spectacularly-low-MPG car I could easily carry 10-12 jerry-cans in the boot. If I used the diesel model, that would be good for about 3-4,000 miles.
Or if I really wanted to go for it, tow a 1,300 kg fuel bowser.
And? Have you done it?
GET A DIESEL !!
I'm sorry buddy but you're extremely confused about this, first of all I must tell you that the most efficient cars today aren't EV's but rather Diesels, your punny leaf can reach 200km of autonomy but had you made the journey on a C5 HDI Citroen Diesel and you could have done the whole journey in a single tank of gas.
When you mentioned power outages you reminded people that they need a lot of electricity to charge and you caused a lot of trouble to the villagers and if you only managed to charge up to 20% of the battery at the low output of the village I calculate it took you 1-2 hours while a Fossil fuel vehicle would have taken 5 minutes to refuel at 100%
Sorry but... It is only luck you managed to find electricity on the middle of nowhere, had it caught you on the middle of the Sabana and you likely would have got in big trouble.
There was no diesel available. Or gas.
What about cooking oil? Old Diesels from the 80s can use it.