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2 Build Your Own Electric Vehicleconcerned that the vast majority of the world’s oil reserves are concentrated in theMiddle East (65 to 75 percent), and controlled by the members of the OPEC oil cartel(www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/oildep.shtml).Further, USDOE goes on to state that 133 million Americans live in areas that failedat least one National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Transportation vehicles produce 25to 75 percent of key chemicals that pollute the air, causing smog and health problems.All new cars must meet federal emissions standards. But as vehicles get older, theamount of pollution they produce increases.In addition, only about 15 percent of the energy in the fuel you put in your gas tankgets used to move your car down the road or run useful accessories like air conditioningor power steering. The rest of the energy is lost. Clearly the potential to improve fueleconomy with advanced technologies is enormous.What can we do?Drive electric cars.Here are some reasons why.1. Although they are only at a relatively embryonic stage in terms of marketpenetration, electric cars represent the most environmentally friendly vehiclefuel, as they have absolutely no emissions (www.greenconsumerguide.com/governmentll.php?CLASSIFICATION=114&PARENT=110). The energygenerated to power the EV and the energy to move the vehicle is 97 percentcleaner in terms of noxious pollutants.2. Another advantage of electric motors is their ability to provide power at almostany engine speed. Whereas only about 20 percent of the chemical energy ingasoline gets converted into useful work at the wheels of an internal combustionvehicle, 75 percent or more of the energy from a battery reaches its wheels.3. One of the big arguments made by car companies against electric cars is thatEVs are powered by power plants, which are powered primarily by coal. Lessthan 2 percent of U.S. electricity is generated from oil, so using electricity as atransportation fuel would greatly reduce dependence on imported petroleum(www.alt-e.blogspot.com/2005/01/alternative-fuel-cars-plug-in-hybrids.html).4. Even assuming that the electricity to power the EV is not produced from rooftopsolar or natural gas (let’s assume it comes 100 percent from coal), it is still muchcleaner than gasoline produced from petroleum! (www.drivingthefuture.com/97pct.html)5. The power plants are stationary sources that can be modified over time tobecome cleaner.The major concerns facing the electric vehicle industry are range, top speed, andcost. Ultimately, it’s the batteries that will determine the cost and performance of EVs.The only way electric vehicles are going to make a big difference in people’s lives is ifthey can do everything a gas car can do and more. They have to look great (almost bean extension of the person buying the car), and they have to be safe.Conversions use currently approved frames and have been going on for years withgas cars using performance-based engines and motors. With controllers (basically, theengine) reaching 1,000 to 2,000 amps, high-end car batteries, and the light weight of a