PROSPECTS FOR ELECTRIC CARS: ELECTRIC VEHICLE IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY. FINAL REPORT, 15 DECEMBER 1975--30 APRIL 1978

The characteristics of future electric cars were projected by means of parametric models of weight, cost, and performance. They included urban ranges as much as two to four times those of recent electric cars: up to 150 km for improved lead-acid batteries, 250 km for nickel-zinc batteries, and 450 km for lithium-sulfur batteries. From data tapes of major travel surveys in Los Angeles and Washington, these ranges were found to be sufficient for most needs of all three major groups of drivers: secondary and primary drivers at multi-driver households, and drivers at one-driver households. Even with the longest design ranges, however, the electric cars would be incapable of occasional long trips now made by conventional cars, and only at the shortest design ranges would they be competitive in cost. Through modeling of supply and demand for over 200 U.S. utilities it was projected that, by the year 2000, almost 60% of US cars could be electrified, only 17% of the recharging power would come from petroleum. Modeling of air pollutant emissions for 24 large urban regions showed that electrification of all cars would reduce regional hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions by roughly half, but increase sulfur oxide emissions some 20%. Traffic noise would be significantly reduced, even after major quieting of conventional vehicles. Identified resources of battery materials suffice for tens of millions of electric cars, but not necessarily for complete electrification of all US autos. Economic impacts aside from added costs for motorists would be relatively minor.

• Corporate Authors:

  General Research Corporation

  P.O. Box 3587
  Santa Barbara, CA  United States  93105

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Hamilton, W
• Publication Date: 1978-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 487 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Battery chargers; Carbon monoxide; Costs; Economic impacts; Electric automobiles; Electric batteries; Electric vehicles; Environmental impacts; Evaluation; Forecasting; Hydrocarbons; Impact studies; Lead acid batteries; Lithium sulfur batteries; Markets; Nickel zinc batteries; Noise; Performance; Pollutants; Public utilities; Reviews; Simulation; Sulfur oxides; Urban areas; Vehicle performance; Vehicle range; Weight
• Geographic Terms: Los Angeles (California); United States; Washington (District of Columbia)
• Old TRIS Terms: Recharge
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Finance; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00312699
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Contract Numbers: EY-76-C-03-1180
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1980 12:00AM