POWER FAILURE - AN EXAMINATION INTO THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE

In the late 1890s and early 1900s, the electric vehicle (EV) stood poised, ready to become the world's vehicle of choice to succeed the horse and carriage. By the late 1920s, however, it was clear that the EV had yielded to its arch rival - the internal combustion engine vehicle. Since that time, numerous opportunities for the resurgence of the EV have presented themselves, including the oil crisis of the 1970s and the environmental movement of the 1970s and 1980s. Those opportunities have also failed to give way to the EV. This paper will explore the political economy of the EV, and attempt to determine the reasons behind its chronic failure to become a mainstream technology. Although the paper will focus on the last decade, the earlier historical periods of importance to the EV will serve as valuable guide in interpreting present trends.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/11832770
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Saskatchewan, Canada

  Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  Canada  S7N 0W0
• Authors:
  • Schwartz, D
• Conference:
  • Transportation: Emerging Realities. Canadian Transportation Research Forum, Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
  • Date: 1997-5-25 to 1997-5-28
• Publication Date: 1997

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 768-784
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Saskatchewan University, Canada
  • Publisher: University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • ISSN: 1183-2770

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic factors; Electric vehicles; History; Political factors; Technology assessment
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Highways; History; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00797507
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 22 2000 12:00AM