By SARA LAWSON
Assistant News Editor

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — The search for more fuel-efficient vehicles has been growing since the 1997 release of General Motors’ EV1.

“About one-third of the energy (in fossil fuel vehicles) is used in actual driving…two-thirds is wasted heat,” said Alexander Richards, assistant professor of automotive technology management.

As part of the Earth Day observance on campus, Lifelong Learning will present the Electrify Your Commute event Friday at the Missouri Safety Center, located at 1200 S. Holden St.

A variety of electric cars will be on display at the center from 2 to 6 p.m. Richards will give a presentation on the history and current technology of electronic vehicles and how they differ from vehicles that use fossil fuels from 3 to 4 p.m.

Richards said electronic vehicles have major advantages. Some of the advantages include the savings on gas costs because electronic vehicles use electricity to recharge; the cost to buy an electric vehicle is about the same as a fossil fuel vehicle; and electronic vehicles don’t emit greenhouse gases.

He said the major disadvantages for most people are the time it takes to charge the vehicle after use and that the mileage, depending on the car and driving style, only ranges from 75 to 250 miles on a single charge, which means they can’t get very far without needing another charge.

Test drives or ride-alongs will be up to the discretion of the owner or representative of the vehicle.

A Tesla Model S, two Nissan Leafs and two Chevy Volts are among the vehicles that will be on display.

Richards said the technology for these vehicles is constantly changing and that with solar and wind energy, an electronic car can actually get cleaner.