What happened to all those electric cars back in the 90's? Why aren't they available now?

Answer 1

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Electric cars are not dead - in fact, I drive one. Electric vehicles can have performance as good or better than gas-powered cars, and they cost a lot less to operate (only a penny or two per mile.) Why don't we all know about them? Good question! Perhaps there are those who don't want you to know...
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Don't listen to criticisms of EVs based on the technology of 30 years ago. Many seem to assume that batteries never improve, and EVs will never work. Sorry, but technology doesn't stand still. So let's take a look at a modern electric car:
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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 indeed, it is a real car, being built right now for fleet use.
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Also don't listen to the oil-sponsored propaganda about EVs polluting. EVs are many times more efficient than gas cars, and so make much less pollution, even if dirty fuel is burned at powerplants. The same goes for so called 'battery pollution'. Modern EV battery chemistries are not hazardous, and have very long useful lives, after which they are fully recyclable.
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Answer 2

Most of them weren't very widely available back then, either. The only one that actually got pulled was the GM EV1. Those were all leased, and after the lease was up, GM took them back and crushed them rather than maintaining spare parts and supporting them. That choice was just based off of not making much money on the EV1, even though I'd say it was definitely a bad move.

The biggest problem on electric cars is building a battery pack that will last as long as people expect their cars to last now. A battery can be a simple wear item comsumers won't care about when it costs $60, but not when it's a couple thousand dollars.

Answer 3

They have not reached general production because the batteries aren't capable enough to maintain the energy needed to propel the vehicles. Even with modern "lithium" batteries (or whatever other type they use), they just don't have the necessary power to run a vehicle for long periods of time. Even if they could, their expense makes them prohibitive; in an article published in Car and Driver a few issues ago, the writer maintains that electric vehicles remain prohibitively expensive, since the batteries necessary for extended operation add nearly ten to fifteen thoiusand dollars to the cost of the car. Since most of the manufacturers think in terms of pennies per auto in terms of cost cutting, it stands to reason that you won't be seeing too many electric powered autos anytime in the near future.

Answer 4

The auto makers SUED the California Air Resources Board to remove their Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate put in place in 1996. Auto makers (specifically GM) have many of their stocks owned by OIL COMPANIES---there is no way oil companies want this technology out there.

As far as it "not being good enough due to batteries"---take a look at the 900 Toyota RAV4 EVs STILL running in California!!!

some of them have 95,000 GAS FREE miles on them!

Answer 5

They disappeared primarily because the manufacturer would have become responsible for disposing of the hazardous waste products (spent batteries). Batteries contain a number of health hazards including mercury and benzene.

The article below discusses other stuff as well.

Answer 6

i own a shop and they didn't exactly make it on the car market,they gave a lot of problems also and the early model ones cost more to keep up than you could save with them,there's one here in my home town though that's still running,an older man drives it once in a while,but most of them got scrapped out,good luck with it hope this helps.

Answer 7

About the same thing that's going to happen now. Nobody wanted them then and nobody wants them now.

Answer 8

They were using lead/acid batteries, and replacing them all the time became expensive, and the hydrogen vapors were harmfull, and dangerous.

Answer 9

Ask George Bush.....

Answer 10

big oil, runaway polititions, bad publicity