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Some models are still in limited production, but the most popular BEVs have been withdrawn and most of those have been destroyed by their manufacturers.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.
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==History==
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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.
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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.
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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.
===Incentives and quotas in the
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.
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===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.
▲[[Image:1991.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Battery electric vehicles at the Austria Solar 1991 Exposition (courtesy [http://www.greenfleet.info greenfleet.info])]]
===Lifespan===
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