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The electric car never went away. But the best battery technology for electric cars, called NIMH, was purchased by some big oil companies, who are refusing to license NIMH batteries for electric cars. This stopped the electric vehicle movement for several years.
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Now, however, a new battery technology for electric cars has emerged, the lithium-ion battery. And many new electric cars are in development. We may even start to see some of these cars in the next year or two. A sampling:
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From China: The Happy Messenger - only costs $10000, goes 150 miles per charge:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/12/chinese_ev_comp.html
Also from China: the BYD car, designed to be affordable, with a 250-mile range:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106930
The GEO EV, from Korea. It goes 155 miles on a three hour charge:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200505/18/200505182238171109900090609062.html
Also from Korea. The ENERGINE Electric-Pneumatic hybrid.
It runs on air and electricity. No gasoline:
http://www.energine.com/e_main.php
From Japan. The Subaru R1E. Charges to 90% in 5 minutes, costs under $18000:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8995780
Also from Japan. The Mitsubishi Colt EV. It can charge in 20 minutes, and is priced under $20k.
http://aftermarket.autoblog.com/2006/10/12/mitsubishi-looks-ahead-with-an-electric-i/
A chinese EV slated for import to the USA next year. It gets 200 miles/charge, and costs $28,500.
http://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html
The Tesla sports car:
http://www.teslamotors.com
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And if you don't want to wait - and if you don't mind not having the very latest technology, there are many small entrepreneurs doing electric car conversions right now, that you can buy for as little as $5000. Details are on this page:
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http://squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car/
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Don't believe what people are saying about batteries. Even the old tech batteries (lead-acid) are very affordable. The battery pack in my EV costs under $1000, and lasts for 20,000 to 30,000 miles. That's only four cents per mile. Electricity to charge the batteries only costs one cent per mile. That's way, way cheaper than gasoline.
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Best of luck!
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2006-10-16 16:35:15
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answer #1
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answered by apeweek 6
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There are many out there. Most car companies are going with the hybrid now because an electric car can not go a long distance between charges.
2006-10-16 04:45:59
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answer #2
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answered by BigD884389 1
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For the most part they where all bought back. Car companies leased them out so they could get real life information on long term usability. Great for short trips but long hauls are out. Plus the cost of installing new batteries was prohibitive. Its why you now see all the car companies doing hybrids.
2006-10-16 04:46:48
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answer #3
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answered by uthockey32 6
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The technology for pure electric cars is not quite there yet. So far it is much more practical (and cheaper) to use hybrids which save fuel by shutting the engine down at stops.
2006-10-16 09:02:05
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answer #4
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answered by trigunmarksman 6
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They have been around for over 100 years. The problem is the cost and weight of the battery. Also, the payback cost. By the time the extra cost of the batteries is realized it's time to replace them.
2006-10-16 06:38:29
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answer #5
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answered by ? 4
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There's actually a movie called "Who killed the electric car". Look it up.
2006-10-16 04:44:48
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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it didn't as good as petrol car
waiting for japan people :D
2006-10-16 04:48:50
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answer #7
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answered by rizLa 1
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It ran out of juice...er...energy.......
2006-10-16 04:45:12
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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IT DRIVE ALREADY!!!
2006-10-16 04:41:09
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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