There have been various rumors that the government and oil companies are lobbying to stall the production of electric cars, but some think it’s just the outstanding cost.

Thomas Gleisen, co-owner of www.amescars.com – the only car dealer in the state that sells a fully electric car – is quick to defuse those rumors, saying it is a lack of reasonably priced technology that is slowing the process down.

“We can do it, it’s just ‘how much do you want to spend for your car,'” Gleisen said.

Gleisen, who drives a fully electric car every day, says the level of technology just isn’t available for fully electric cars to be sold at affordable rates.

“The ability to store enough energy in some kind of battery pack or ultra compositor in an affordable manner is what’s holding back the electric car – that’s the only thing,” he said.

Iver Anderson, adjunct professor of materials science and engineering, has worked on the materials that go into electric motors and echoed Gleisen’s ideas.

“Large manufacturers point to the need for large battery modules that will store what they consider adequate energy,” Anderson said.

However, Anderson believes big manufacturers are too concerned with having long range capabilities.

“There are some applications – in big cities – where the average commute might be 30 to 40 miles, but there are many applications where commutes will be 20 miles,” Anderson said.

Anderson suggested the solution of providing more places to charge and keep electric cars charged, making it easier for people to drive them longer distances.

“If employers were supplying plug-ins for cars at workplaces you would only need a one-way charge,” Anderson said.

Right now the only electric cars you will find are smaller cars that are limited in speed and in the distance they can cover.

Most are also regulated to staying in town.

“Mine goes 42 mph, and I get about 40 to 50 miles in range,” Gleisen said. “Right now you can’t find a mass manufactured electric car that you can drive on the interstate.”

The city of Ames has also taken steps toward the use of alternative energy by using a 2007 Zenn electric car around town. It is used by different city employees to get around the city of Ames, as a car that is better for the environment.

Paul Hinderaker, director of the city’s fleet services, points out that driving the electric vehicle is purely experimental and is only used for short commutes.

“The car is based at City Hall and used to go from city building to city building and within neighborhoods,” Hinderaker said.

The car is used on short trips for good reason – it is only capable of going around 26 mph.

Its low speed is a bit of a problem on the faster-paced roads of Ames, but the car is capable of sustaining power around town.

“Under normal conditions it’s rated to go 40 to 50 miles on one charge.”

Erin Enquist, sophomore in English, supports the idea of electric cars being used.

“I would hope that by the time I had the money out of college, the technology would be better so they could go faster and farther,” Enquist said.

Gleisen is optimistic about the future of electric cars. He thinks the public is not informed enough on the current state of electric vehicles.

“We’re still in the infancy of the technology, but when the technology comes, you’ll see electric cars,” he said.