Although state mandates such as California's Low Emission Vehicle Program require major automakers to manufacture large numbers of zero-emissions vehicles by 1998, current transportation technology cannot meet this goal. Electric vehicles are the only automobiles capable of fulfilling the zero- emissions standard. Unfortunately, significant barriers to the introduction of electric cars exist. In addition, the potential ecological benefits of electric vehicles are difficult to predict because of variables such as battery technology, infrastructure, and market acceptance.
Current automotive technology has developed two types of electric vehicles: pure electrics and hybrids. Pure electric vehicles are exclusively battery-powered. Hybrid vehicles include a small internal combustion engine and fuel tank as well as an electric motor. In some hybrid designs, known as "series" hybrids, operation of the combustion engine at a constant speed acts as a generator for the electric battery. Hybrid designs with separate electric and fuel-burning powertrains are known as "parallel" hybrids.
The success of electric vehicles is dependent on battery technology: "Batteries are clearly the critical, make-or-break factor affecting the performance and economic viability of electric cars" (3:76). Unfortunately, battery technology has not progressed as quickly as the automotive industry had anticipated. Despite a century of research, manufacturers have thus far been unable to develop an electric vehicle battery efficient enough to power an electric car. The battery dilemma caused Henry Ford and Thomas Edison to abandon their plans for electric vehicles. In an effort to assist the automotive industry in solving this complex problem, the federal government is jointly funding the United States Battery Consortium (USABC). Established in 1991, USABC is a cooperative venture whose major partners include the Department of Energy, the Electric ...