CARS AND KILOWATTS

This brief review of electric and hybrid vehicle development in the U.S. and abroad, notes that while U.S. manufacturers remain uncommitted, private industry in Europe and Japan has already taken the initiative in this area. The Department of Energy is currently developing data relating to the present state of the art of electric and hybrid vehicles. Commercial vehicles such as the English Electric light delivery truck and the British-built Harbilt vans the described, and comments are made on hybrid vehicles such as the Volkswagen taxi. Electric vehicle development programs conducted in Europe and Japan contrast with approaches favored in the U.S. German projects emphasize the systems approach in which attention is divided between vehicles, batteries and support systems. The Europeans believe that urban transportation (delivery vehicles, buses) is the logical first role for these vehicles. The thrust of the Japanese national effort in this field is toward evaluating new construction and propulsion technologies. Experimental batteries and their performances are discussed. It is pointed out that the success of future vehicles could hinge on the availability of spare parts and trained service personnel.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00189235
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

  3 Park Avenue, 17th Floor
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5997
• Authors:
  • Schwartz, H J
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 65-68
• Serial:
  • IEEE Spectrum
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • ISSN: 0018-9235

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Conservation; Delivery vehicles; Electric automobiles; Electric batteries; Energy; Hybrid vehicles; Light trucks; State of the art studies; Taxicabs; Urban transportation
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167613
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1981 12:00AM