|
[[Image:Bangladesh-demography.png|thumb|300px|right|Total population of Bangladesh, 1961-2003, in thousands. Source: [[FAO]]]]
[[Image:Rav4evdrawing.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The [[Toyota RAV4 EV]] is powered by twenty-four 12 volt batteries, with an operational cost equivalent of over 165 miles per gallon.]]
[[Bangladesh]] is [[Ethnic group|ethnically]] homogeneous. Indeed its name derives from the [[Bengali]] ethnic and linguistic group which comprises 98% of the population. Bengalis, who are also present in large number in the [[West Bengal]] province of [[India]] are one of the most populous ethnic groups in the world. Variations in Bengali culture and language do exist of course. There are many dialects of Bengali spoken throughout the country. The dialect spoken by those in [[Sylhet]] is particularly distinctive.
The most significant minorities are the [[Urdu]] speaking [[Biharis]] around [[Dhaka]], [[Rangpur]] and elsewhere and various tribal groups such as the [[Chakma]] concentrated in the [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]]. The Biharis emigrated from the Indian province of [[Bihar]] during the 1947 [[partition of India]]. In the 1971 independence struggle they supported West Pakistan, and those that remained became [[Stranded Pakistanis|refugees]]. [[Refugees International]] has called them a neglected and stateless people as they are denied citizenship and much of the 300,000 of them live in refugee camps, many being born there.<ref>[http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/publication/detail/7828/ Refugees of Nowhere: The Stateless Biharis of Bangladesh], Refugees International, 2006-02-15</ref>
A '''battery electric vehicle''' (BEV) is an [[electric vehicle]] storing chemical [[energy]] in [[rechargeable battery]] [[battery pack|packs]] to power [[electrical motor]]s.
The [[religions]] practiced in the region have changed significantly through history. At various times in the distance past, [[Buddhism]] and [[Hinduism]] were each the dominant religions. The [[Partition of India|1947 partition]] of Bengal along religious lines augmented the existing [[Sunni]] [[Muslim]] majority in the region. The most recent estimate of religious makeup from the 2001 census reported that the population was 89.58% Muslim, 9.34% Hindu, 0.62% Buddhist, 0.31% Christian and 0.15% Animist. [http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/bang_atg.pdf] .<ref name="bbs">[http://www.bbs.gov.bd/ Bangladesh Burueau of Statistics]</ref><ref name="cia_error">The CIA World Factbook's figures are apparently in error because they are incoherent. The 1990-1996 and 2001-2007 editions report 83% Muslim and 16% Hindu, but the 1997-2000 editions (as well as the 2005 Background Note from the US State Department) give Muslim 88.3%, Hindu 10.5%.</ref> About [[Demographics of Islam|5%]] of the Muslims (and most of the Biharis) are [[Shia]].
BEVs were among the earliest [[automobile]]s, and are more [[Energy conservation|energy efficient]] than common [[internal combustion engine]] (ICE) vehicles. They produce no [[pollution]] while being driven, and almost none at all if charged from most forms of [[renewable energy]]. Many are capable of [[acceleration]] performance exceeding that of conventional [[gasoline]] powered vehicles. New models can travel hundreds of miles on a charge, even after 100,000 miles of battery use. BEVs reduce dependence on [[petroleum|oil]], mitigate [[global warming]], are quieter than internal combustion vehicles, and do not produce noxious fumes. While limited travel distance between battery recharging, charging time, and battery lifespan have been drawbacks, new battery and charging technologies have substantially improved in these areas.
As in neighboring India, more than half of the population lives in [[agrarian]] rural villages. But urbanization is proceeding rapidly and the capitol [[Dhaka]] is one of the fastest growing and largest cities in the world. Other major urban centers include [[Chittagong]] and [[Khulna]].
Some models are still in limited production, but the most popular BEVs have been withdrawn and most of those have been destroyed by their manufacturers. A handful of future production models have been announced, although many more have been prototyped. In the US, the major domestic automobile manufacturers have been accused of deliberately sabotaging their electric vehicle efforts.
<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=npan&col=aohdq&geo=-29
| publisher = World Gazetteer
| title = Bangladesh: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population
| accessdate = 2006-07-28
}}</ref>
The least densely populated areas are in the [[Sundarbans]] jungle and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Bangladesh had one of the highest rates of population growth in the world in the 1960's and 1970's. Since then however it has seen a marked reduction in its total [[fertility rate]], from 6.2 thirty years ago to 3.2 (2003 UNDP figures).
[[Image:1991.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Battery electric vehicles at the Austria Solar 1991 Exposition (courtesy [http://www.greenfleet.info greenfleet.info])]]
==Demographic data from the CIA World Factbook==
==History==
[[Image:Detroit_Eletric_adBangladesh population pyramid 2005.jpgpng|thumb|300px|right|1912[[Population Detroitpyramid]] Electricof advertisementBangladesh]]
===Population===
:150,448,339 (July 2007 est.)
:124,355,263 (2001 Census)
BEVs were among the earliest automobiles. Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), [[Robert Anderson (businessman)|Robert Anderson]] of [[Scotland]] invented the first crude electric carriage. A small-scale electric car was designed by Professor [[Sibrandus Stratingh]] of Groningen, Holland, and built by his assistant [[Christopher Becker]] in 1835. Frenchmen [[Gaston Plante]], in 1865, and [[Camille Faure]] in 1881 improved the storage battery, paving the way for electric vehicles to flourish. France and Great Britain were the first nations to support their widespread development. <ref>Bellis, M. (2006) "The History of Electric Vehicles: The Early Years" ''About.com'' [http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aacarselectrica.htm article at inventors.about.com] accessed on 6 July 2006</ref>
===Age structure===
Before the preeminence of powerful but polluting [[internal combustion engines]], electric automobiles held many speed and distance records around the turn of the century. Most notable was perhaps breaking of the 100 kilometers per hour speed barrier, by [[Camille Jenatzy]] on April 29, 1899 in his rocket-like EV named ''La Jamais Contente''. It reached a top speed of 105.88 kilometers per hour (65.79 mph)
:0-14 years: 32.9% (male 24,957,997/female 23,533,894)
:15-64 years: 63.6% (male 47,862,774/female 45,917,674)
:65 years and over: 3.5% (male 2,731,578/female 2,361,435) (2006 est.)
===Median age===
BEVs were produced by [[Anthony Electric]], [[Baker Electric]], [[Detroit Electric]], and others during the first part of the 20th century and, for a time, out-sold gasoline-powered vehicles. Due to technological limitations and the lack of [[transistor]]-based electric technology, the top speed of these early production electric vehicles was limited to approximately 20 miles per hour. They were successfully sold as town cars to upper class customers and often marketed as suitable vehicles for women drivers due to their cleanliness, lack of noise and ease of operation.
:Total: 22.2 years
:Male: 22.2 years
:Female: 22.2 years (2006 est.)
===Population growth rate===
[[Image:Ed_d22m.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Thomas Edison]] and an electric car, 1913 (courtesy of the [[National Museum of American History]])]]
:3.09% (2006 est.)
===Birth rate===
Introduction of the [[electric starter]] by [[Cadillac (automobile)|Cadillac]] in 1913, which simplified the difficult and sometimes dangerous task of starting the internal combustion engine, contributed to the downfall of the electric vehicle. As did [[radiator]]s, in use as early as 1895 by [[Panhard-Levassor]] in their [[Systeme Panhard]] design,<ref>Bellis, M. (2006) "The History of the Automobile: The First Mass Producers of Cars - The Assembly Line" ''About.com'' [http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aacarsassemblya.htm article at inventors.about.com] accessed on 5 July 2006</ref> which allowed engines to keep cool enough to run for more than a few minutes, before which they had to stop and cool down at horse troughs along with the [[steam car|steamers]] to replenish their water supply. EV's may have fallen out of favor because of the mass produced [[Ford Model-T]] which went into production four years earlier in 1908. <ref>McMahon, D. (2006) "Some EV History" ''Econogics, Inc.'' [http://www.econogics.com/ev/evhistry.htm essay at econogics.com] accessed on 5 July 2006</ref> Ultimately, technological advances in internal-combustion powered cars advanced beyond that of their electric powered competitors, resulting in the superior performance and practicality of gasoline powered cars. By the late 1930s the early electric automobile industry had completely disappeared, with battery-electric traction being limited to niche application such as industrial vehicles.
:29.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
===Death rate===
The 1947 invention of the point-contact [[transistor]] marked the beginning of a new era for BEV technology. Within a decade, Henney Coachworks had joined forces with National Union Electric Company, the makers of Exide batteries, to produce the first modern electric car based on transistor technology. The [[Henney Kilowatt]] was produced in 36 volt and 72 volt configurations. The 72 volt models had a top speed approaching 60 miles per hour (96 km/h) and could travel nearly 60 miles on a charge. Despite the improved practicality of the Henney Kilowatt over previous electric cars, they were too expensive and production was ended by 1961. Even though the Henney Kilowatt never reached mass production volume, their transistor-based electric technology paved the way for modern EVs.
:8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
===Net migration rate===
===Incentives and quotas in the US===
:-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Since the late 1980s, electric vehicles have been promoted in the US through the use of tax credits. BEVs are the most common form of what is defined by the [[California Air Resources Board]] (CARB) as [[zero emission vehicle]] (ZEV) passenger [[automobile]]s, because they produce no emissions while being driven. The CARB had set a minimum quota for the use of ZEVs, but it was withdrawn after complaints by auto manufacturers that it was economically unfeasible due to a lack of consumer demand. Many believe this complaint to be unwarranted because there were thousands waiting to purchase or lease electric cars. Companies such as [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], and [[Chrysler Corporation|Chrysler]] refused to meet the demand despite their production capability. US electric car leases in the 1990s were at reduced costs, and so whether high enough volumes to avoid financial loss could have been obtained is unknown.
===Sex ratio===
The California program was designed by the CARB to reduce air pollution and not specifically to promote electric vehicles. So the zero emissions requirement in California was replaced by a combined requirement of a very small number of ZEVs to promote research and development, and a much larger number of [[partial zero-emissions vehicle]]s (PZEVs), an administrative designation for an ''super ultra low emissions vehicle'' ([[SULEV]]), which emit about ten percent of the polution of ordinary low emissions vehicles and are also certified for zero evaporative emissions.
:At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
:Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
:15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
:65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female
:Total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
===OutsideInfant themortality USrate===
:Total: 60.83 deaths/1,000 live births
[[Image:DynastyEVSedan.jpg|256px|right|thumb|The Canadian [[Dynasty EV]] 4 door sedan [[neighborhood electric vehicle]] ]]
:Male: 61.87 deaths/1,000 live births
:Female: 59.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
===Life expectancy at birth===
;France
:Total population: 62.46 years
:Male: 62.47 years
:Female: 62.45 years (2006 est.)
===Total fertility rate===
[[Image:elcidislarochelle.jpg|256px|right|thumb|[[Citroën Berlingo]] Electrique vans of the ELCIDIS goods distribution service in [[La Rochelle]], France]]
:3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)
===HIV/AIDS===
[[France]] has known a large development of battery-electric vehicles in the 1990s, with the most successful vehicle being the electric [[Peugeot Partner]]/[[Citroën Berlingo]], of which several thousand have been built, mostly for fleet use in municipalities or by [[Electricité de France]].
:Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
:People living with HIV/AIDS: 13,000 (2001 est.)
:Deaths: 650 (2001 est.)
===Major infectious diseases===
;Norway
:Degree of risk: high
:Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
:Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
:Water contact disease: leptospirosis
:Animal contact disease: rabies (2005)
===Nationality===
In [[Norway]], zero-emission vehicles are tax-exempt and are also allowed to use the [[bus lane]].
:Noun: Bangladeshi(s)
:Adjective: Bangladeshi
===Ethnic groups===
;Switzerland
:Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)
===Religions===
In [[Switzerland]], battery-electric vehicles have some popularity with private users. There is a national network of publicly accessible charging points, called [http://www.twikeklub.ch/lemnet/index.htm Park & Charge], which also covers part of [[Germany]] and [[Austria]].
:Muslim - 89.58%, Hindu - 9.34%, Boudhists - 0.62%, Christian - 0.31% and Animists - 0.15% (2001 Census) [http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/bang_atg.pdf]
;United Kingdom
:Muslim - 88.31%, Hindu 10.52%, Boudhists - 0.58%, Christian - 0.33% and Animist - 0.26% (1991 census)
In [[London]], electrically powered vehicles have been exempted from the [[London congestion charge|congestion charge]]. In most cities of the [[United Kingdom]] low speed electric [[milk float]]s (milk trucks) are used for the home delivery of fresh [[milk]].
:Muslim - 86.65%, Hindu - 12.13%, Boudhists - 0.62%, Christian - 0.31%, Animist - 0.29% (1981 Census)
===Selected production vehicles===
{{mainarticle|List of production battery electric vehicles}}
===Languages===
Some popular battery electric vehicles sold or leased to fleets include (in chronological order):
:Bangla (official, also known as Bengali)
===Literacy===
<div style="clear: both"></div>
:Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
{|class="wikitable"
:Total population: 43.1%
!Name
:Male: 53.9%
!Comments
:Female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
!Production years
!Number produced
!Cost
|-
==Other demographic data==
![[Henney Kilowatt]]
Naturally there is some degree of uncertainty about the population, especially in a developing country such as Bangladesh with a high level of illiteracy and rural population. Thus the margin of error is such that in 2005 it was unknown which of Bangladesh and [[Russia]] has the larger population. For example the UN's ESA ranked Russia 7th and Bangladesh 8th, whereas the CIA World Factbook ranked Bangladesh 7th and Russia 8th. At any rate, the population of Russia is in decline while that of Bangladesh is growing. Most rankings in 2007 now show Bangladesh to be larger. The following table lists various recent estimates of the population.
|The first modern (transistor-based) electric car, capable of highway speeds of up to 60mph and outfitted with modern hydraulic brakes.
|1958-1960
|<100
|
|-
{|class="wikitable"
![[General Motors EV1]]
|For lease only, all recovered and most destroyed
|1996-2003
|>1000
|~ US $40K without subsidies
|-
![[Twike|TWIKE]]
|Three-wheeled EV with pedal assist option. Produced in Germany.
|1996+
|>750
|[http://www.twike.us/buy.html ~ US $16K]
|-
| Source
| align="center" | Year
| align="center" | Population (millions)
![[Chrysler EPIC]] minivan
|Second generation of the [[Chrysler TEVan]], [http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/waterandpower/program_ev_chryslerev.asp using 324 volt lead-acid batteries in '97 and 336 volt NiMH from '98 on]; [http://avt.inel.gov/pdf/fsev/sce_rpt/epic_nimh_report.pdf 80 miles per hour top speed, range 70-90 miles]
|1997-2000
|[http://www.satcon.com/R_and_D/mm/tm.html <351]
|leased to government and utility fleets only
|-
| National Census<ref name="bbs"/>
| align="center" | 1991
| align="center" | 112
![[Honda EV Plus]]
|First BEV from a major automaker without lead acid batteries. 80–110 mile range (130–180 km); 80+ MPH (130 km/h) top speed; 24 twelve volt [[Nickel metal hydride battery|NiMH batteries]]
|1997-1999
|~300
|US $455/month for 36 month lease, or $53,000 without subsidies
|-
| National Census<ref name="bbs"/>
| align="center" | 2001
| align="center" | 129
![[Toyota RAV4 EV]]
|Rare, some leased and sold on U.S. East and west coast, supported. Toyota agreed to stop crushing.
|1997-2002
|1249
|US $40K without subsidies
|-
| UN Population Fund<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.unfpa.org/profile/bangladesh.cfm | publisher = [[United Nations Population Fund]] | title = Indicators: Bangladesh | accessdate = 2006-07-28}}</ref>
| align="center" | 2003
| align="center" | 150
![[Chevrolet S10 EV]]
|S-10 with [[General Motors EV1|EV1]] powertrain, 45 sold to private owners and survived; some sold to fleets, available on secondary market as refurbished vehicles.
|1998
|100
|
|-
| UN Dept Economic and Social Affairs<ref>Medium fertility variant, {{cite web | url = http://esa.un.org/unpp/ | title = World Population Prospects: 2004 Revision | publisher = UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs}}</ref>
| align="center" | 2005
| align="center" | 142
![[Citroën Berlingo]] Electrique
|[http://www.satcon.com/R_and_D/mm/tm.html 65+ MPH top speed, 40-60 mile range]; [http://membres.lycos.fr/cit43/Autoshorsserie_2/Electrique_Berlingo.htm 27 cadmium-nickel 6 volt, 100 amp-hour batteries] in three packs. Very similar to the [[Peugeot Partner]] which has also been offered as a BEV.
|1998-2005
|
|
|-
| US State Dept<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3452.htm | publisher = [[U.S. Department of State]] | title = Background Note: Bangladesh | date = 2005-08}}</ref>
| align="center" | 2005
| align="center" | 144
![[Ford Ranger EV]]
|Some sold, most leased; almost all recovered and most destroyed. Ford has announced reconditioning and sale of a limited quantity to former leaseholders by lottery.
|1998-2002
|1500, perhaps 200 surviving
|~ US $50K subsidized down to $20K
|-
| Population Reference Bureau<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.prb.org/TemplateTop.cfm?Section=PRB_Country_Profiles&template=/customsource/countryprofile/countryprofiledisplay.cfm&Country=395 | publisher = Population Reference Bureau | title = Country Profiles: Bangladesh | accessdate = 2006-07-28}}</ref>
| align="center" | 2005
| align="center" | 144
![[Nissan Altra EV]]
|Mid-sized station wagon designed from the ground up as [http://www.altfuels.org/events/testdriv/altra.html the first BEV to use Li-ion batteries; 75+ MPH top speed], [http://www.evuk.co.uk/hotwires/rawstuff/art9.html 120 mile range, 100,000+ mile battery lifetime]
|1998-2000
|~133
|US $470/month lease only
|-
| CIA World FactBook<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2006/geos/bg.html#People | publisher = CIA | title = CIA World Factbook 2006 }}</ref>
| align="center" | 2006
| align="center" | 147
![[Think Nordic]] TH!NK City
|Two seat, [http://www.thinkev.com/ 85 km (52 mile) range, 90 km/h (56 MPH) top speed], [[Nickel-cadmium battery|Nickel-cadmium batteries]]
|1999-2002
|1005
|
|-
| UN Population Fund<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2006/english/notes/indicators/e_indicator2.pdf | publisher = United Nations Population Fund | title = State of World Population 2006 }}</ref>
| align="center" | 2006
| align="center" | 144
![[REVA]]
|India-built city car (40 mph top speed,) now also sold in England as the "G-Whiz"
|2001+
|[http://www.goingreen.co.uk/index.html?PageID=FAQ >1600]
|[http://www.goingreen.co.uk/?PageID=DesignYourOwnGW ~ £8K] US $15K
|-
| CIA World FactBook<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bg.html#People | publisher = CIA | title = CIA World Factbook 2007 }}</ref>
| align="center" | 2007
| align="center" | 150
!colspan=5|[[Neighborhood electric vehicle]]s (NEVs, top speed limited to 25 MPH)
|-
| UN<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2006/wpp2006_highlights.pdf | publisher = UN | title = World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision}}</ref>
| align="center" | 2007
![[Global Electric Motorcars]]
| align="center" | 159
|Five models currently in production, including two pickup trucks; all electronically limited to 25 MPH to qualify as NEVs, and using lead-acid batteries. [http://www.gemcar.com/asp/history.asp Acquired by [[DaimlerChrysler]] in 2000.]
|1998+
|>30,000
|varies by model, [http://www.gemcar.com/asp/e2.asp US $7K] to [http://www.gemcar.com/asp/e6.asp $12.5K]
|-
![[Dynasty EV]]
|Five models currently in production, all very similar to [http://www.itiselectric.com/specs/sedan.pdf Sedan] model, using lead-acid batteries and limited to 25 MPH to qualify as NEVs. Sedan range is 30 miles.
|2001+
|
|
|}
==Comparison to internal combustion vehicles==
===Cost===
Electric vehicles typically cost between two and four cents per mile to operate, while gasoline-powered ICE vehicles currently cost about four to six times as much. <ref>Idaho National Laboratory (2005) "Comparing Energy Costs per Mile for Electric and Gasoline-Fueled Vehicles" ''Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity'' [http://avt.inel.gov/pdf/fsev/costs.pdf report at avt.inel.gov] accessed 11 July 2006.</ref>
The total cost of ownership for modern BEVs depends primarily on the [[#Batteries|cost of the batteries]], the type and capacity of which determine several factors such as travel range, top speed, battery lifetime and recharging time; several trade-offs exist.
===Energy efficiency===
Production and [[Electric vehicle conversion|conversion]] BEVs typically use 0.3 to 0.5 kilowatt-hours per mile (0.2 to 0.3 kWh/km). <ref>Idaho National Laboratory (2006) "Full Size Electric Vehicles" ''Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity'' [http://avt.inel.gov/fsev.html reports at avt.inel.gov] accessed 5 July 2006</ref> <ref>Idaho National Laboratory (2006) "1999 General Motors EV1 with NiMH: Performance Statistics" ''Electric Transportation Applications'' [http://avt.inel.gov/pdf/fsev/eva/ev1_eva.pdf info sheets at inel.gov] accessed 5 July 2006</ref> <!-- EV1 efficiency of .179 kWh/mi and .373 with poor charging, See Talk. --> Nearly half of this power consumption is due to inefficiencies in charging the batteries. The U.S. fleet average of 23 miles per gallon of [[gasoline]] is equivalent to 1.58 kilowatt-hours per mile and the 70 MPG [[Honda Insight]] gets 0.52 kWh/mi (assuming 36.4 kWh per U.S. gallon of gasoline), so battery electric vehicles are relatively [[energy efficiency|energy efficient]]. When comparisons of the total energy cycle are made, the relative efficiency of BEVs drops, but such calculations are usually not provided for internal combustion vehicles (e.g. the energy used to produce specialized fuels such as gasoline is usually left unstated.)
CO<sub>2</sub> emissions <ref>US Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency (Model year 2007) "Search for cars that don't need gasoline" ''Fuel Economy Guide'' [http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm database at fueleconomy.gov] accessed 5 July 2006</ref> are useful for comparison of electricity and gasoline consumption. Such comparisons include energy production, transmission, charging, and vehicle losses. CO<sub>2</sub> emissions improve in BEVs with [[sustainable]] electricity production but are fixed for gasoline vehicles. (Unfortunately, such figures for the [[EV1]], [[Ford Ranger EV]], EVPlus, and other production vehicles are unavailable.)
<center>
{|class="wikitable"
!Model!![[Short ton]]s CO<sub>2</sub><br>(conventional,<br>mostly [[fossil fuel]] <br>electricity production)!!Short tons CO<sub>2</sub><br>(renewable electricity <br>production, <br>''e.g.,'' [[solar panel]]<br>or [[wind power]])
|-
|2002 Toyota RAV4-EV (pure BEV)||3.8||0.0
|-
|2000 Toyota RAV4 2wd (gasoline)||7.2||7.2
|-
!colspan=3|Other battery electric vehicle(s)
|-
|2000 Nissan Altra EV||3.5||0.0
|-
!colspan=3|[[Hybrid vehicle]]s
|-
|2001 Honda Insight||3.1||3.1
|-
|2005 Toyota Prius||3.5||3.5
|-
|2005 Ford Escape H 2x||5.8||5.8
|-
|2005 Ford Escape H 4x||6.2||6.2
|-
!colspan=3|Internal combustion engine vehicles
|-
|2005 Dodge Neon 2.0L||6.0||6.0
|-
|2005 Ford Escape 4x||8.0||8.0
|-
|2005 GMC Envoy XUV 4x||11.7||11.7
|}</center>
[[Drag (physics)|Aerodynamic drag]] has a large impact on energy efficiency as the speed of the vehicle increases. [[Drag coefficient#Typical values and examples|A list of cars and their corresponding drag coefficients]] is available.
===Environmental impact===
Due to their relatively beneficial effect on environment, electric vehicles are important for improving motor vehicle traffic to provide a healthier living environment.
Many factors must be considered when comparing vehicles' total environmental impact. The most comprehensive comparison is a "cradle-to-grave" or ''lifecycle'' analysis. Such an analysis considers all inputs including original production and fuel sources and all outputs and end products including emissions and disposal. The varying amounts and types of inputs and outputs vary in their environmental effects and are difficult to directly compare. For example, whether the environmental effects of [[nickel]] and [[cadmium]] [[pollution]] from a [[NiCd battery]] production facility are less than those of [[hydrocarbon]] [[emission]]s and [[petroleum]] [[Oil refinery|refining]] is unknown. Similar comparisons would need to be addressed for each input and output in order to make fair judgement of relative total environmental impact.
A large lifecycle input difference of BEVs compared to ICE vehicles is that they require electricity instead of a liquid fuel. When the electricity is provided from [[renewable energy]], this is a considerable advantage. However, if the electricity is produced from [[fossil fuel]] sources — as most electricity is — the relative advantage of the electric vehicle is substantially reduced. <ref>Tahara, K. ''et al.'' (2001) "Comparison of CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions from Alternative and Conventional Vehicles." ''World Resources Review'' '''13''':52-60 [http://www.ilea.org/lcas/taharaetal2001.html summary at ilea.org] accessed 5 July 2006</ref> So, developing additional renewable energy sources is necessary for electric vehicles to further reduce net emissions. Still, the environmental impact of electricity production (''indirect emissions'') depends on the electricity production mix, and are usually considerably lower than the direct emissions of ICE vehicles. <ref>Van Mierlo, J., ''et al.'' (2003) "Environmental Damage Rating Analysis Tool as a Policy Instrument" ''20th International Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition'' (Long Beach, California) [http://etecmc10.vub.ac.be/etecphp/publications/JVMdamagerating.pdf conference paper at etecmc10.vub.ac.be] accessed 14 July 2006</ref>
Another lifecycle input of electric vehicles differing from internal combustion vehicles is the large [[battery pack]]. Modern batteries have been shown to be able to outlast the vehicle they are used in. Batteries tested by [[Toyota]] have shown only minimal degradation in performance after 150,000 miles. BEVs do not require a fuel-burning engine and their support systems or the related maintenance, so they are often more reliable and require less maintenance. Although BEVs are uncommon, advances in battery technology have taken place in other markets such as for mobile phones, laptops, forklifts and [[hybrid electric vehicle]]s. Improvements to battery technology in such other markets make BEVs more practical. <!-- It would be good to link to, or provide, a table of efficiencies of various transport technologies, say space shuttle, aeroplane, rail-train, maglev, ICE car, HEV, BEV, bicycle, pedestrian. http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/articles/Summer03/maglev2.html -->
===Acceleration performance===
[[Image:VenturiFetish.jpg|frame|right|[[Venturi Fetish]] - a limited production electric car capable of reaching 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds]]
Many of today's BEVs are capable of [[acceleration]] performance which exceeds that of conventional gasoline powered vehicles. Electric vehicles can utilize a direct motor-to-wheel configuration which increases the amount of available [[Power (physics)|power]]. Having multiple motors connected directly to the wheels allows for each of the wheels to be used for both propulsion and as braking systems, thereby increasing [[traction]]. In some cases, the motor can be housed directly in the wheel, such as in the [[Whispering Wheel]] design, which lowers the vehicle's [[center of gravity]] and reduces the number of moving parts. When not fitted with an [[axle]], [[Differential (mechanics)|differential]], or [[Transmission (mechanics)|transmission]], electric vehicles have greater [[torque]] availability, directly accelerating the wheels. A gearless or single gear design in some BEVs eliminates the need for gear shifting, giving the such vehicles both smoother acceleration and braking, and allows higher torque at a wide range of [[Revolutions per minute|RPMs]]. For example, the [[Venturi Fetish]] delivers [[supercar]] acceleration despite a relatively modest 300 [[horsepower]], and a top speed of only around 100 miles per hour. Some [[Electric motor#DC motors|DC motor]]-equipped drag racer BEVs, have simple two-speed transmissions to improve top speed. <ref>Hedlund, R. (2006) "The 100 Mile Per Hour Club" ''National Electric Drag Racing Association'' [http://nedra.com/100mph_club.html list at nedra.com] accessed 5 July 2006</ref> <ref>Hedlund, R. (2006) "The 125 Mile Per Hour Club" ''National Electric Drag Racing Association'' [http://nedra.com/125mph_club.html list at nedra.com] accessed 5 July 2006</ref> Larger vehicles, such as electric trains and land speed record vehicles, overcome this speed barrier by dramatically increasing the [[watt]]age of their power system.
==Batteries==
[[Image:NASA_Lithium_Ion_Polymer_Battery.jpg|thumb|right|300px|75 watt-hour/kilogram [[lithium ion polymer battery]] prototypes. Newer Li-poly cells provide up to 130 Wh/kg and last through thousands of charging cycles.]]
[[Rechargable battery|Rechargable batteries]] used in electric vehicles include [[Lead-acid battery|lead-acid]] ("flooded" and [[VRLA]]), [[Nickel-cadmium battery|NiCd]], [[Nickel metal hydride battery|nickel metal hydride]], [[Lithium ion battery|lithium ion]], [[Lithium ion polymer battery|Li-ion polymer]], and, less commonly, [[Zinc-air battery|zinc-air]] and [[Molten salt battery|molten salt]] batteries.
Batteries are usually the most expensive component of BEVs. Although the cost of battery manufacture is substantial, increasing [[returns to scale]] may serve to lower their cost when BEVs are manufactured on the scale of modern internal combustion vehicles. For new battery technology considered appropriate for serious competition with internal combustion vehicles, large cost decreases will certainly occur when [[patent]]s covering the new technologies expire.
===Charging===
Batteries in BEVs must be periodically recharged. BEVs most commonly charge from the [[power grid]], which is in turn generated from a variety of domestic resources; primarily [[hydroelectricity]], coal, natural gas, and [[Nuclear power|nuclear]]. Home power such as roof top [[photovoltaic]] solar cell panels, [[Micro hydro|microhydro]] or [[Wind power|wind]] may also be used. Electricity can also be supplied with a portable fueled generator. Although not strictly a BEV, the [[Ford Reflex]] concept car incorporates photovoltaics into its exterior to help power its hybrid powertrain.
Charging time is limited primarily by the capacity of the [[grid]] connection. A normal [[household]] [[outlet]] is between 1.5 [[kilowatt]]s in the US to 3 kilowatts in the rest of the world (countries with 240 [[V]] supply). The main connection to a house might be able to sustain 10 kilowatts, and special wiring can be installed to use this. At this higher power level charging even a small, 7 kilowatt-hour (14–28 mi) pack, would probably require one hour. This is small compared to the effective power delivery rate of an average [[petro]] [[pump]], about 5,000 kilowatts. Even if the supply power can be increased, most batteries do not accept charge at greater than their charge rate ("C1".)
In 1995, some charging stations charged BEVs in one hour. In November 1997, Ford purchased a fast-charge system produced by [[AeroVironment]] called "PosiCharge" for testing its fleets of [[Ford Ranger EV|Ranger EVs]], which charged their lead-acid batteries in between six and fifteen minutes. In February 1998, General Motors announced a version of its "Magne Charge" system which could recharge [[Nickel metal hydride battery|NiMH]] batteries in about ten minutes, providing a range of sixty to one hundred miles. <ref>Anderson, C.D. and Anderson, J. (2005) "New Charging Systems" ''Electric and Hybrid Cars: a History'' (North Carolina: McFarland & Co., Inc.) ISBN 0-7864-1872-9, p. 121.</ref>
In 2005, [[handheld]] device battery designs by [[Toshiba]] were claimed to be able to accept an 80% charge in as little as 60 seconds. <ref>Toshiba Corporation (2005) "Toshiba's New Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Recharges in Only One Minute" [http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2005_03/pr2901.htm press release at toshiba.co.jp] accessed 5 July 2006</ref> Scaling this [[specific power]] characteristic up to the same 7 kilowatt-hour EV pack would result in the need for a peak of 336 kilowatts <!-- 7000 *.8 =5600Wh *60min = 336kW --> of power from some source for those 60 seconds. It is not clear that such batteries will work directly in BEVs as heat build-up may make them unsafe.
Most people do not require fast recharging because they have enough time (6 to 8 hours) during the work day or [[overnight]] to refuel. As the charging does not require attention it takes a few seconds for an owner to [[plug]] in and unplug their vehicle. Many BEV drivers prefer refueling at home, avoiding the inconvenience of visiting a [[fuel station|petro-station]]. Some workplaces provide special parking [[bay]]s for electric vehicles with charging equipment provided.
The charging power can be connected to the car in two ways:
*The first is a direct electrical connection known as [[conductive]] [[coupling]]. This might be as simple as a [[mains]] lead into a [[weather]] [[proof]] [[socket]] through to special high capacity cables with connectors to protect the user from [[high voltage]]s.
*The second approach is known as [[inductive]] coupling. A special '[[paddle]]' is inserted into a [[slot]] on the car. The paddle is one winding of a [[transformer]], while the other is built into the car. When the paddle is inserted it completes a magnetic circuit which provides power to the battery pack.
The major advantage of the inductive approach is that there is no possibility of [[electrocution]] as there are no exposed conductors, although interlocks can make conductive coupling nearly as safe. Conductive coupling equipment is lower in cost and much more efficient due to a vastly lower component count.
===Travel range before recharging===
[[Image:GM EV.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The [[General Motors EV1]] had a range of 75-150 miles with [[NiMH]] batteries in 1999.]]
The range of a BEV depends on the number and type of batteries used, and the performance demands of the driver. The weight and type of vehicle also has an impact just as it does on the mileage of traditional vehicles. [[Electric vehicle conversion]]s usually use lead-acid batteries because they are the most available and inexpensive. Such conversions generally have a range of 20 to 50 miles (30 to 80 km). Production EVs with lead-acid batteries are capable of up to 80 miles (130 km) per charge. [[NiMH]] batteries have higher energy density and may deliver up to 120 miles (200 km) of range. New [[lithium-ion battery]]-equipped EVs provide 250-300 miles (400-500 km) of range per charge. <ref>Mitchell, T. (2003) "AC Propulsion Debuts tzero with LiIon Battery" ''AC Propulsion, Inc.'' [http://www.acpropulsion.com/LiIon_tzero_release.pdf press release at acpropulsion.com] accessed 5 July 2006</ref> Finding the balance of range versus performance, battery capacity versus weight, and battery type versus cost challenges every EV manufacturer.
EVs can also use [[pusher trailer]]s or [[genset trailer]]s in order to function as a [[hybrid vehicle]] for occasions when extended range is desired without the additional weight during normal short range use. Such vehicles become internal combustion engine-powered when utilizing their trailer, allowing greater range that may be needed for longer trips.
===Replacing===
An alternative to recharging is to replace drained batteries with charged batteries. Discharged modular electric car batteries can be replaced by charged ones in the fuel stations, car shops or similar places.
===Lifespan===
Individual batteries are usually arranged into large [[battery pack]]s of various [[voltage]] and [[ampere-hour]] capacity products to give the required energy capacity. Battery life should be considered when calculating the extended cost of ownership, as all batteries eventually wear out and must be replaced. The rate at which they expire depends on a number of factors.
The depth of discharge (DOD) is the recommended proportion of the total available energy storage for which that battery will achieve its rated cycles. Deep cycle lead-acid batteries generally should not be discharged below 50% capacity. More modern formulations can survive deeper cycles.
In real world use, some fleet [[Toyota RAV4 EV]]s, using [[NiMH]] batteries, have exceeded 100,000 miles (160,000 km) with little degradation in their daily range. <ref>Knipe, TJ ''et al.'' (2003) "100,000-Mile Evaluation of the Toyota RAV4 EV" ''Southern California Edison, Electric Vehicle Technical Center'' [http://www.evchargernews.com/miscfiles/sce-rav4ev-100k.pdf report at evchargernews.com] accessed on 5 July 2006</ref> Quoting that report's concluding assessment:
:''The five-vehicle test is demonstrating the long-term durability of Nickel Metal Hydride batteries and electric drive trains. Only slight performance degradation has been observed to-date on four out of five vehicles.... EVTC test data provide strong evidence that all five vehicles will exceed the 100,000-mile mark. SCE’s positive experience points to the very strong likelihood of a 130,000 to 150,000-mile Nickel Metal Hydride battery and drive-train operational life. EVs can therefore match or exceed the lifecycle miles of comparable internal combustion engine vehicles.''
:''In June 2003 the 320 RAV4 EVs of the SCE fleet were used primarily by meter readers, service managers, field representatives, service planners and mail handlers, and for security patrols and carpools. In five years of operation, the RAV4 EV fleet had logged more than 6.9 million miles, eliminating about 830 tons of air pollutants, and preventing more than 3,700 tons of tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions. Given the successful operation of its EVs to-date, SCE plans to continue using them well after they all log 100,000-miles.''
[[Jay Leno]]'s 1909 [[Baker Electric]] still operates on its original [[Edison cell]]s. Battery replacement costs of BEVs may be partially or fully offset by the lack of regular maintenance such as oil and filter changes required for internal combustion engine vehicles, and by the greater reliability of BEVs due to their fewer moving parts.
Batteries can pose an environmental hazard, incurring disposal or recycling costs. Some of the chemicals used in the manufacture of advanced batteries such as [[Lithium ion battery|Li-ion]], [[Lithium ion polymer battery|Li ion polymer]] and [[Zinc-air battery|zinc-air]] are hazardous and potentially environmentally damaging. Traditional car batteries have very successful [[recycling]] programs. Widespread use of battery electric vehicles would require the implementation of similar recycling programs. More modern formulations also tend to use lighter, more biologically remediable elements such as iron, lithium, carbon and zinc. In particular, moving away from the toxic heavy metals [[cadmium]] and [[chromium]] makes disposal less critical. Batteries might not pose a greater risk than is currently accepted for fossil fuel-based transportation, as petroleum-powered transportation leads to substantial environmental damage in the form of spills, smog, and distillation byproducts.
===Safety===
[[Firefighter]]s and rescue personnel receive special training to deal with the higher voltages and chemicals encountered in electric and hybrid gas-electric vehicle accidents.
==Hobbyists, conversions, and racing==
[[Image:NoveltyEV-3.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[http://www.stanford.edu/dept/DoR/Marsh/Schneeveis.html Bob Schneeveis] demonstrates his ''Silver Sofa'' hobbyist BEV at the 2005 [http://eaasv.org/rally.html 33rd annual Silicon Valley Electric Automobile Association's Stanford Electric Car Rally].]]
[[Image:NoveltyEV-1.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The ''Silver Sofa'' can spin in place and is charged by solar panels.]]
Hobbyists often build their own EVs by [[Electric vehicle conversion|converting]] existing production cars to run solely on electricity. There is a cottage industry supporting the [[electric vehicle conversion|conversion]] and construction of BEVs by hobbyists. Universities such as the [[University of California, Irvine]] even build their own custom electric or hybrid-electric cars from scratch.
Short-range battery electric vehicles offer the hobbyist comfort, utility, and quickness, sacrificing only range. Short-range BEVs may be built using high-performance lead–acid batteries, using about half the mass needed for a 60 to 80 mile (100 to 130 km) range; the result is a vehicle with about a thirty mile (50 km) range, which when designed with appropriate weight distribution (40/60 front to rear) does not require [[power steering]], offers exceptional acceleration in the lower end of its operating range, is freeway capable and legal, and costs little to build and maintain. By including a [[manual transmission]], short-range BEVs can obtain both better performance and greater efficiency than the single-speed BEVs developed by major manufactures. Unlike the converted golf carts used for [[neighborhood electric vehicle]]s, short-range BEVs may be operated on typical suburban throughways (40 to 45 MPH or 60 or 70 km/h speed limits are typical) and can keep up with traffic typical on such roads and the short "slow-lane" on-and-off segments of freeways common in suburban areas.
Some drag race such conversions as members of [[National Electric Drag Racing Association]] (NEDRA). Battery electric vehicles are also very popular in quarter mile (400 meter) racing. The NEDRA regularly holds electric car races and often competes them successfully against exotics such as the [[Dodge Viper]].
[[Image:Eliica.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Eliica prototype]]
Japanese Professor [[Hiroshi Shimizu (professor)|Hiroshi Shimizu]] from Faculty of Environmental Information of the [[Keio University]] created the limousine of the future: the '''Eliica (Electric Lithium Ion Car)''' has eight wheels with electric 55 kilowatt hub motors (8WD) with an output of 470 kilowatts and zero emissions. With a top speed of 190 kilometers per hour, and a maximum reach of 320 kilometers provided by lithium-ion-batteries. ([http://www.eliica.com/ video at eliica.com])
==Future==
The future of battery electric vehicles depends primarily upon the cost and availability of batteries with high energy densities, power density, long life, as all other aspects such as motors, motor controllers, and chargers are fairly mature and cost-competitive with internal combustion engine components. [[Li-ion]], [[Lithium ion polymer battery|Li-poly]] and [[Zinc-air battery|zinc-air batteries]] have demonstrated energy densities high enough to deliver range and recharge times comparable to conventional vehicles. [[Aluminium battery|Aluminium batteries]] offer exceptional theoretical performance <ref>Ab Europositron Oy (2005) "Background -- Why Aluminium?" ''Europositron'' [http://www.europositron.com/en/background.html corporate web page at europositron.com] accessed 18 July 2006.</ref> and have been proposed as an international shipboard energy transfer mechanism <ref>van Pelt, P. (2004) "Cheap electricity from Iceland" ''EV World'' [http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=article&storyid=765 project proposal at evworld.com] accessed 18 July 2006.</ref>
[[Image:New Vehicle Purchase Preference.gif|right|thumb|300px|The number of US survey respondents willing to pay $4,000 more for a [[Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle|plug-in hybrid]] car increased from 17% in 2005 to 26% in 2006.]]
While [[hybrid vehicle]]s apply many of the technical advances first developed for battery electric vehicles, they are not considered BEVs. The development and production of hybrid vehicles are, however, improving the cost and performance of batteries, electric motors, chargers, and motor controllers, which will help battery electric vehicles and [[plug-in hybrid]] vehicles (PHEVs). As hybrids become more refined, battery life, capacity and energy density will improve and their internal combustion engine will be used less. A non-profit program, the [http://www.calcars.org/ California Cars Initiative, or "CalCars"] at the [[University of California, Davis]], has converted hybrid [[Toyota Prius]] automobiles to operate as a [[plug-in hybrid electric vehicle]] (PHEV) through the installation of additional batteries and software modifications. This vehicle operates as a pure electric for short trips, taking its power from household and workplace rechargers. For longer trips the vehicle operates normally as a [[Hybrid electric vehicle|hybrid]]. Prototype conversions using lead-acid batteries are in use today. It is expected that a production conversion would use a more advanced battery. CalCars is currently soliciting donations of additional vehicles and funds for their project.
Various pre-production announcements by major manufacturers suggest that there may soon be a breakthrough in the availability of commonplace, general purpose electric vehicles suitable for everyday use on available roads in mixed traffic conditions:
*[[General Motors]] has reportedly been developing a plug-in hybrid, which may be ready in time for the Detroit auto show in January, 2007. <ref>Green, J. (2006) "GM Plans Gas-Electric Car to Catch Up to Toyota, People Say" ''Bloomberg News'' [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aB.YH1WLpQgo report at bloomberg.com] accessed 10 July 2006.</ref>
*[[Mitsubishi]] [http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1269.html has committed] to creating a flexible product line based upon the Colt [[minivan]] with motors within the wheels that can be produced as a BEV, a hybrid, or a fuel cell vehicle. No North American import commitment has been made, however.
*[[Subaru]] may accelerate their [[Subaru R1e|R1e]] prototype development. Initially proposed for 2007 production, this was pushed back to 2010 but may be moved up in response to fuel prices, advances in battery technology, and worldwide market interest.
*[[Toyota]] has suggested that the next generation [[Prius]] may have Lithium-Ion batteries and a nine mile "stealth" range to support 110 MPG in appropriate conditions, suggesting the future possibility of a [[Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle|plug-in hybrid]] Prius.
*While the General Motors investment in [[Ovonics|Ovonics's]] large format Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries was sold <ref>Coker, M. (2006) "Baby, You Can Still Drive My Electric Car," ''Orange County Weekly'' (16 May 2006) [http://www.ocweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content2&task=view&id=25134&Itemid=47 story at ocweekly.com] accessed 18 July 2006. See also [http://www.batteriesdigest.com/id378.htm#ecd__energy_conversion_devices__ovonics note at batteriesdigest.com]. These large format batteries are no longer available.</ref> to [[Texaco]], now part [[Chevron]]<!--(the COBASYS unit, which has declined NOT to manufacture/market these batteries in the US and has shut down through patent control Panasonic's large format importation to the US)-->, no oil company controls the lithium battery market. Developed by East Asian firms for use in portable computer equipment, the [[patent]]s and production are beyond the reach of [[Big_Three_automobile_manufacturers|US automakers]] and [[Big oil|oil companies]], except as they may lobby for tariffs on the import of batteries or vehicles (as has been done with imports of ethanol fuels currently taxed at 100 percent of value at the behest of maize-based ethanol producers.) <!-- This may prove difficult for both the global [[Big Oil|oil]] and US [[Big_Three_automobile_manufacturers|auto]] industries as there is no domestic (US) [[mass marketing|mass market]] electric vehicle production to [[protectionism|protect]] and such tariffs would be counter to the prevailing "free market" philosophies of [[neo-liberalism]]. -->
===Production announcements===
The following BEV models have been announced as entering production:
*AC propulsion announces plans to convert [[Scion (car)|Toyota Scion]] xA and xB vehicles: [http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_FAQs/FAQ_cars.htm frequently asked questions at acpropulsion.com] (items 8 and 9).
*[[Mitsubishi]], a [[Japan|Japanese]] automobile manufacturer, announced on May 11 2005 that it will mass-produce its MIEV (Mitsubishi In-wheel Electric Vehicle.) Test fleets are to arrive in 2006 and production models should be available in 2008: [http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=746971&page=1 story at abcnews.go.com.] The first test car, revealed to be [[Mitsubishi Colt EV|Colt EV]], is expected to have a range of 93 miles using lithium-ion batteries and in-wheel electric motors. The target price of a MIEV should be around [[United States dollar|US$]]19,000. No export decision has yet been made: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7816102/ story at msnbc.msn.com]
*[[Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle]]s have been developed by the [http://www.calcars.org/ California Cars Initiative], Edrive Systems, and Hymotion. They take a Toyota Prius, add more battery capacity and modify the controller. Then they can get 250 miles per gallon by plugging in at home for a small light charge each night. Edrive and Hymotion in 2005 announced plans to modify other hybrid models, including the Ford Escape. <ref>International Humanities Center (2006) "2006 Goals and 2005 Year-End Report" ''California Cars Initiative for Plug-In Hybrids'' [http://www.calcars.org/2006.html report at calcars.org] accessed 10 July 2006.</ref>
*SVE (Société de Véhicules Électric, a company formed by the French [[Dasseault]] and [[Heuliez]] group) announced they will produce the [http://www.cleanova.com/public/sve/ Cleanova II] (French only), based on the [[Renault Kangoo]]. It will be available in pre-mass-production in 2007 and mass-production in 2008. The system exists in two versions: all electric (200 km autonomy) and rechargeable hybrid (500 km autonomy). The system include an electric engine developed by [http://www.tm4.com TM4] a subsidiary of Hydro-Quebec, from Quebec Canada who developed also since 20 years an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:A-Hrafn/Wheel_motor electric wheel motor].
*Venturi "Fetish" sports car to use AC propulsion components [http://www.venturi.fr/us/fetish/specs/specs.php3 from venturi.fr] (Flash animation with music background; see also [http://www.forbes.com/vehicles/2004/10/05/cx_dl_1005vow.html Forbes — Vehicle of the Week — Car Fetish])
===List of recent prototypes===
Recent [[prototype]] EVs include:
*[[Cree SAM]]
*[[Eliica]] (Electric LIthium-Ion Car) designed by a team at Keio University in Tokyo, led by Professor Hiroshi Shimizu.
*[[Ford E-Ka]]
*[[Lexus EV]] (Featured in the film ''[[Minority Report (movie)|Minority Report]]'')
*[[Maya-100]]: Li-ion "super"-polymer battery; 360 kilometer range claimed ([http://www.electrovaya.com/innovation/zev_tech.html announcement at electrovaya.com])
*[[Mitsubishi Colt EV]]: Li-ion battery, in-wheel motors ([http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1269.html annoucement at media.mitsubishi-motors.com])
*[[Pinanfarina Ethos II]]
*[[Renault EV Racer]]
*[[Solectria Sunrise]]
*[[Subaru Zero EV]] ([http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8995780/ announcement at msnbc.msn.com])
*[[Suzuki EV Sport]]
*[[Volvo 3CC]]: Three seater with lithium ion batteries ([http://volvocars-pr.com/index.asp?par=conceptcars&pag=overview&model=194&lang=1&flash=0 announcement at volvocars-pr.com])
==Controversy==
[[Image:evcrushed.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[General Motors EV1|EV1s]] crushed by [[General Motors]] shortly after production]]
The three major US automobile manufacturers, [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]], [[Chrysler Corporation]] and [[Ford Motor Company]] have been accused of deliberately [[Sabotage|sabotaging]] their own BEV efforts through several methods: failing to market, failing to produce appropriate vehicles, failing to satisfy demand, and using lease-only programs with prohibitions against end of lease purchase. By these actions they have managed to terminate their BEV development and marketing programs despite operators' offers of purchase and assumption of maintenance liabilities. The Chrysler "golf cart" program has seemed to some as an insult to the marketplace and to government mandates; Chrysler has been accused of intentionally failing to produce a vehicle usable in mixed traffic conditions. Moreover, he three major American motor companies have almost exclusively promoted their electric cars in the American market, where gas has been comparatively cheap, and virtually ignored the European market, where gas is significantly more expensive. This can be seen as avoiding the market. Because of the much higher fuel costs, the latent demand for electric vehicles would presumably be higher in Europe, and the outcome of increased BEV sales would be more certain.
The manufacturers, in their defense, have responded that they only make what the public wants. EV supporters point out that this response is the same argument used by GM to justify the intensively promoted 11 miles per gallon, 6500 pound (2,950 kg) [[Hummer H2]] [[SUV]]. However, at the end of their programs GM destroyed its BEV fleet, despite offers to purchase from drivers. Ford's Norwegian-built "Th!nk" fleet was covered by a three-year exemption to the standard US motor vehicle safety laws, after which time Ford had planned to dismantle and recycle its fleet. However, Ford was persuaded by activists to refrain from destroying its fleet and return them to Norway and sell them as used vehicles. Ford also sold a few lead-acid battery [[Ford Ranger EV|Ranger EV]]s, and some fleet purchase Chevrolet S-10 EV pickups are being refurbished and sold on the secondary market.
Both Honda and Toyota also manufactured BEVs. Honda followed the lead of the other majors and terminated their lease-only programs, completely destroying their fleet and its components by shredding. Toyota offered vehicles for both sale and lease. While Toyota has terminated manufacture of new vehicles, it continues to support those manufactured. A small number of [[Toyota RAV4 EV]]s are still on the road.
A film on the subject, directed by former EV1 owner and activist Chris Paine, entitled ''[[Who Killed the Electric Car?]]'' premiered at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] and at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]] in 2006, and was released July, 2006.
===Proponents' arguments===
Supporters point out the following:
* BEVs reduce dependence on (foreign) oil;
* BEVs mitigate [[global warming]];
* BEVs are quieter than internal combustion engine vehicles;
* BEVs do not produce noxious fumes;
* BEVs can readily satisfy the needs for short trips;
* Home recharging is more convenient than trips to gasoline stations;
* Recharging costs are more predictable than gas prices, and not subject to volatile international incidents;
* Maintenance such as oil changes, smog inspections (and their sometimes expensive consequences), cooling fluid replacement, and periodic repair and adjustments are reduced or completely eliminated, significantly reducing the cost of ownership; and
* BEVs can be powered indirectly by home [[solar cell|photovoltaics]] using [[net metering]], which offers advantages to both power producers and other grid users through peak demand satisfaction and to the EV user through cost reduction and load balancing, especially with time of use net metering.
The greatest supporters of BEVs are often those who have obtained or built and used them. This is a self-selected group because BEVs have not been promoted by the major manufacturers in the United States, so their enthusiasm may be misleading. Owners of conventional gasoline vehicles, once given the chance to live with an BEV often leave their gasoline cars sitting in the driveway. Spouses, lukewarm when the vehicle is purchased often take over the vehicle from the purchaser once they use it.
===Detractors' arguments===
Skeptics of the viability of BEVs fall into two groups, one arguing on conventional practicality grounds, and the other arguing in more general terms.
The former group points, among other issues, to:
* Limited driving range available between recharging;
* Most electricity is currently produced using fossil fuels, at 1.3 pounds of CO<sub>2</sub> (0.59 kg) per kilowatt-hour;
* Expensive batteries; and
* Poor cold weather performance of some kinds of batteries.
The other group ponders the [[future of the car]] as a transport solution for even more widespread global adoption, noting that the issues of traffic jams, noise pollution, total life-cycle pollution, energy expenditure and the health toll of a sedentary lifestyle, will not be solved by zero-emission vehicles.
==See also==
[[Image:EVScooterAtVancouver.jpg|right|thumb|220px|[[Electric scooter]] at the 2005 Vancouver EV gathering]]
*[[Electric boat]]
*[[Electric scooter]]
*[[Electric vehicle production]]
*[[Golf cart]]
==References==
*{{CIA WFB 2006}}
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
*{{StateDept}}
==External links==
* [http://www.avere.org/ AVERE - European Electric Road Vehicle Association]
* [http://www.citelec.org/ CITELEC - Association of cities interested in electric vehicles]
* [http://www.eaaev.org/ Electric Auto Association]
* [http://www.electriccarsociety.com/ Electric Car Society]
* [http://www.electricdrive.org/ Electric Drive Transportation Association]
* [http://www.battery-electric.com/ SUBAT: life cycle assessment of electric vehicle traction batteries]
* [http://www.cei.org/gencon/003,05415.cfm A press release] claiming that it was consumers, not the automobile industry that killed the BEV <!-- preceding is typical of the "blame the consumer" arguments - relevant and worthy of inclusion, even if false - User:Leonard G. -->
* [http://mylink.tblog.com/post/1969905792 Future electric car uses 7,000 cell phone batteries to run]
===Patents===
* {{US patent|523354}}, E. E. Keller, ''Electrically Propelled Preambulator''
* {{US patent|594805}}, [[Hiram Stevens Maxim]], ''Motor vehicle''
* {{US patent|772571}}, H. S. Maxim, ''Electric motor vehicle''
<!-- ----------------------------------------------------------
===News stories===
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a
* [http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/223/index.html NOW on PBS] has a streaming interview with Chris Paine, who directed "Who Killed the Electric Car", as well as an electric car timeline, insight from a transportation expert about fuel alternatives, and an interview with EC enthusiast/former Baywatch actress Alexandra Paul: "When the Exxon Valdez spilled in 1989, I was angry. And then I said to myself, 'Hey Alexandra, you're part of the problem -- you're buying gas.' And that's when I decided I didn't want to be a part of the problem, so I bought my first electric car a few months later."
discussion of different citation methods and how to generate
* San Francisco Chronicle: [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/24/MNGDTCEA9B1.DTL Owners charged up over electric cars, but manufacturers have pulled the plug] [[24 April]] [[2005]]
footnotes using the <ref>, </ref> and <reference /> tags
* [http://www.pbs.org/pov/borders/2004/air/index.html The Air We Breathe, The Cars We Drive], 2004
----------------------------------------------------------- -->
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A61508-2003Oct21?language=printer The Electric-Car Slide], [[October 22]] [[2003]]
<div class="references-small">
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/01/earlyshow/main576116.shtml Slim Fit For The Freeways] [[2 October]] [[2003]]
<references />
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{{Asia in topic|Demographics of}}
{{Sustainability and energy development group}}
{{Asia topic|Ethnic groups in}}
[[Category:AlternativeDemographics propulsionby country|Bangladesh]]
[[Category:AutomobilesBangladeshi society]]
[[Category:Automotive technologies]]
[[Category:Electric vehicles|*]]
[[Category:Green vehicles]]
[[Category:Production Electric vehicles]]
[[fr:Démographie du Bangladesh]]
[[cs:Elektromobil]]
[[de:Elektroauto]]
[[fr:Véhicule électrique]]
[[ja:電気自動車]]
[[ru:Электромобиль]]
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