Readers get charged up over electric cars

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Industry coalitions drives electromobility forward

How much would you pay for an electric car?

I would pay the same as for a luxury petrol car. We pay in Brazil around 22,000 euros for a Volkswagen that would never sell a single car in Europe. There's no innovation at all - zero quality, no guarantee and no money back at all. -- Fernando, Brazil

I would pay no more than 12,000 euros. The buyer still pays for the electricity so the cost remains with the driver. -- Malcolm, Canada

I would buy them if they were as well built as the Skoda. The main problem is the high price and low energy density in comparison with thermal engines. -- lcys, Romania

120 km is not a great range for car batteries. Why not simply build vehicles with standard-size batteries located underneath the vehicle? Empty batteries will be exchanged for charged-up ones in a few minutes at battery exchange stations. The beauty of such a system would be: No downtime waiting for recharging to be complete, and the empty batteries could be recharged on location by solar and wind power stations. In remote areas this would be of huge benefit, since no fuel would need to be transported. More should have been done right at the beginning of the motor car to search for cleaner fuel. As far back as 1897 a man named Fischer had built an electric vehicle! Why do we still use petrol 104 years later? If electric is it, roll-out/roll-in batteries are the way to go. -- Dieter, Australia

From Facebook:

It costs up to 20 percent more than the equivalent-priced petrol-only model. If only there would be significant tax breaks on purchasing and "fueling" the car. I'm willing to pay a premium in terms of the initial cost, but a hybrid or full-electric car has to be realistically-priced even after taking into consideration the potential for long-term fuel and maintenance costs - or else what's the point? -- Brad

The electric car can save the Earth but can't save our cash. Hybrid is more economical. -- Aan

Exactly what generates the electricity that powers these cars? In the US, it's likely coal. Isn't it therefore more accurate to say it's a coal-powered vehicle? -- James

The federal government must get behind this change to electric cars by funding the change, or it will not come to pass. -- Atheling

Compiled by Stuart Tiffen
Editor: Nancy Isenson