There is one in production which has better performance than many exotics (although in the same price range) and an estimated range of 250 miles per charge. A more economical 'family' model is planned for development sometime after the roadster hits the market.
See: http://www.teslamotors.com/
Most EV's currently on the road are home-built conversions.
http://www.evconvert.com
For a whole bunch of samples:
http://www.evalbum.com/
See also:
http://www.acpropulsion.com
http://www.metricmind.com
As to why they aren't currently being made be the Big Three or other major companies... as you've said the oil companies have a vested interest in vehicles which consume gas, oil and related petroleum based products required by an Internal Combustion Engine. Additionally GM claimed that their EV-1 cost and related financial loss was astronomical. I say BS.
But all in all, the biggest problem I see is that way too many people buy into the marketing propaganda that says EV's are too costly to produce, not a significant way to reduce pollution, can't match a traditional ICE powered vehicle, etc., etc. and as long as the FUD flinging is effective there's no reason to give up the profits in ICE vehicles, make any real innovation or do anything that would reduce the cost of EV drive systems.
See also:
http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/
2007-03-28 09:22:38
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Notice most of the anti-electric car arguments you see here are based on the EVs of 30 years ago. The entrenched interests would have us believe that EV technology never advances. Sorry, technology doesn't stand still.
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Take a look at this car, which is on the market today:
http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet.html
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The Phoenix electric pickup truck - using new, advanced Altairnano batteries (based on research from MIT) - can:
-Travel up to 250 miles per charge
-Carry 5 passengers plus cargo at 95mph.
-Charges batteries in as little as TEN MINUTES.
-Has batteries that last 250,000 miles (never need replacement.)
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Yes, it is a real car - being manufactured right now for fleet customers like PG&E. This car did not come out of any government program. It was not financed or subsidized by taxpayers. For that matter, our government, automakers, and oil interests are doing their best to pretend this technology is still impossible.
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Driving on electricity is very cheap. I drive an EV (a very old one.) My cost for electricity is only about a penny per mile, much cheaper than gasoline (thanks to the extremely high efficiency of electric motors.) And contrary to oil-industry propaganda, electric cars need almost no maintenance. Electric motors have only one moving part, and can run for decades with no service. My 25-year-old EV still has all the original motor parts.
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Don't buy into the 'EV pollution' nonsense. Even if powerplants burn dirty fuel, electric cars cause very little pollution, thanks to their extremely high efficiency.
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My next project is to install a solar panel on my garage, and drive for ZERO cents per mile, and ZERO emissions. No other alt-fuel option can beat ZERO.
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2007-03-28 12:08:53
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answer #2
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answered by apeweek 6
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There are several All-Electric vehicles out there, BUT , if you happen to want to do the speed limit to work, leave early ! Now the new Hybrids are progressing very nicely, and can get on the Freeway fairly well, Please wait till the Highway is clear for a good distance before you floor it! Actually, it's really not that bad, but keep checking with Magazines or with local dealers, they HAVE to keep up with all the latest. And alot of Good Luck to ya !!
2007-04-01 07:46:29
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answer #3
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answered by fuzzypetshop 4
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There are some electric cars, but not completely electric,,,,,Honda, Toyota make wonderful cars that run on electric and gas power......
There are some totally electric cars out there but none have made it to production.....I think it is call "big oil companies trying to buy them out"....I was watching the discovery channel the other day and there is a fellow that has invented a car that will run on compressed air......the engine runs on air and the by product is cold air......I think he was in Germany?
2007-03-28 08:09:34
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answer #4
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answered by 2muchcoffee 4
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Forget electric cars and any other transpotration is all over i tell youI was just in St Marten in the Caribbean, what has happened there is a direct reflection of what will happen here in North America, to many cars on the roads to many trucks every one in a hurry headed no-place to go traffic is at a stand still everyone just sitting around tooting their horns its a joke., whats going on here?
are we all going crazy. in Canada we are paying well over 5 dollars a gallon for gas. 1.05. a litter. the gas that is coming to America is from Canada and we are paying three times what Americans are paying why? all we have to do is stop driving cars for one month. no one moves a wheel no gas used no gas sold the companies would be on their knees begging us to use our cars, but what we dont realize is once we stopped paying all that financing and taxes for gas and buyong new cars the country would go broke, our ploaticians are claiming they cant do anything well thats just a lie they can but if they did it would be communism and the lord knows Americans and Canadians just hate communists. what a joke if everyone stayed home for one week we would have them right where we want them.
2007-03-28 08:27:49
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answer #5
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answered by t-bone 5
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there are electric cars...they are just not feasible for traveling distances of more than 100 miles without a charge...btw do you know how most electricity is generated in the USA?
2007-03-28 08:04:45
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answer #6
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answered by Robert P 6
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you are missing the point
electric cars are really burning coal to make the power.
don't believe the hype
2007-03-28 08:07:22
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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