US PUSHING ELECTRIC VEHICLES BUT HYBRIDS ACCELERATE

The United States is unique in that half its total oil consumption is in transport. Petrol has now increased in price to around 66 c/gall (33 p/gal), and political attempts to reduce oil imports by taxing crude oil and the business use of oil as part of the President's energy bill are discussed. Alternative considerations have therefore been given to the introduction of battery-electric vehicles, leading to intensive development programmes financed by government support not only for pure battery-electric but also for hybrid vehicles and batteries. Rapid advances in technology as a result of the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research Development and Demonstration Act of 1976, and the 1978 amendment designed to improve the federally financed programme are described. It is considered that, as a result of this programme, some 10 million electric and hybrid vehicles will be operating by the year 2000 resulting in a saving of 100 million barrels of oil a year. Illustrations and descriptions provide information on some of the electric vehicles and hybrid vehicle developments exhibited at the international electric vehicle exposition held in Philadelphia in October, 1978. Electric vehicle development programmes in France, West Germany and Britain are briefly described. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Business Press Limited

  35 Perrymount Road
  Haywards Heath, Sussex,   England 
• Publication Date: 1978-11-30

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 75-79
• Serial:
  • Electrical Review International
  • Volume: 203
  • Issue Number: 17
  • Publisher: IPC Electrical Electronic Press Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Costs; Development; Electric vehicles; Fuel consumption; Fuels; Hybrid vehicles; Research
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• Geographic Terms: France; Germany; United Kingdom; United States
• ITRD Terms: 1243: Car; 224: Cost; 1282: Electric vehicle; 8036: France; 3850: Fuel; 232: Fuel consumption; 8125: Germany; 8119: United Kingdom; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Energy; Finance; Highways; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00193908
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 13 1979 12:00AM