<a href="http://perpetualminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/The-Perpetual-Car.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-81 alignleft" title="The Perpetual Car" src="http://perpetualminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/The-Perpetual-Car.png" alt="The Perpetual Car" width="300" height="227" /></a>Electric cars are the greenest alternative in the personal transportation industry. They do not emit any (or much less carbon emissions than their conventional counterparts, but they do utilize questionable raw materials, such as the metal that is contained within the batteries. There are some major advantages to owning a green car but there are also some disadvantages. It is important to know all of this before you go out and make a purchase.

<strong>Electric Car Advantages</strong>
The advantages offered by electric cars are the following:

<strong>1. No Tail Pipe Pollution:</strong> The greatest advantage of an electric car is obviously the complete lack of emissions when operating on battery power. They do not not use any fossil fuels internally, but are fueled completely by a rechargeable battery that does not have to be charged via a gas engine.
<strong>2. Reduced Maintenance Costs: </strong>The maintenance of electric cars is also much easier to handle when compared to their conventional counterparts.
Less Complex Technology: The electric motor in an electric car has approximately five moving parts, while it takes hundred of moving parts to make a modern gasoline engine work.
<strong>3. Less Expensive Fuel Costs: </strong>Electric car fuel costs are less costly than electric car fuel costs.

<strong>Electric Car Disadvantages</strong>
Despite their advantages, there are several disadvantages to owning an electric car:

<strong>1. Range Limitation: </strong>Almost all electric cars travel 50 - 100 miles before the batteries will need to be recharged. Of course, the kind of batteries, number of batteries, car weight, and transmission type (manual or automatic) impact driving range.
<strong>2. Recharging Infrastructure:</strong> Compared to gasoline stations, batter recharging centers are few indeed. Without an auxiliary generator your driving range often restricts you to local errands.
<strong>3. Replacement Cost:</strong> The cost of an electric vehicle battery may vary by a few thousand dollars based on the type and number of batteries required.
<strong>4. Battery Recharge Time: </strong>Depending on the kind of batteries and voltage and current available, some vehicles may be recharged in as little as 20 minutes while the vast majority of vehicles require overnight charging.

With the above stated disadvantages, should I use my money to purchase an electric car? Is it possible for an electric car to be perpetual? A perpetual motion solution would maintain the advantages offered by an electric car while eliminating the disadvantages.