Performance Achievements Alongside the manu-
facturers of new, made-from-scratch models, several
companies specialized in the electric conversion of
standard gasoline-powered vehicles. These included
U.S. Electricar and Solectria Corporation. Major
manufacturers also took this route, with Ford pro-
ducing an electric version of its Ford Ranger small
pickup truck, and GM, an electric version of its
Chevrolet S-10 pickup. The electric cars produced
during this period were essentially handmade vehi-
cles, produced in relatively small numbers.
As important as the actual production of models
was the revitalization of research efforts. These in-
cluded the formation of the Calstart incubator for
electric vehicle research, based in Alameda, Califor-
nia, in 1996. Another important galvanizing influ-
ence was the American Tour de Sol, a race sponsored
by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
throughout the decade. In 1999, Solectria cele-
brated its long run of first-place finishes with its
Solectria Force electric sedan, with a driving range
of 142 miles on a single charge. It competed in a field
of some fifty vehicles, including electric cars manu-
factured by Ford, DaimlerChrysler, and Toyota.
The Solectria winner was powered by a nickel-
metal hydride battery, which was in widespread use
in electric vehicles by late in the decade. Three
of the electric vehicles available in 1998, for in-
stance—the Toyota RAV4 sport utility, the Honda EV
Plus sedan, and the Chrysler EPIC
minivan—also used nickel-metal hy-
dride packs. In contrast, GM’s two-
passenger sports car, the EV1, used
a lead-acid battery.
Many of these electric vehicles
showed impressive performance.
The GM EV1 could accelerate from
0 to 50 mph in less than 7 seconds
and had a top speed of 80 mph. The
electric Ford Ranger could acceler-
ate from 0 to 50 mph in 12 seconds,
had a range of 65 miles, a top speed
of 75 mph, and a payload of 700
pounds.
While electric vehicles of the
later decade would have met the
needs of many drivers, prices rang-
ing from $30,000 to $40,000 (in
1998 dollars) put them out of the
reach of most consumers, although
tax credits and incentives somewhat mitigated the
situation. One of the most important developments
occurred not in the United States but Japan, where
in 1997 Toyota introduced the first mass-produced
hybrid gas-electric vehicle. Named the Prius, it
would become the standard-bearer in the hybrid
market.Impact Although the electric car remained more
dream than reality by the end of the decade, the in-
creased attention being given to the concept, and
the technological advances achieved in batteries
and body design, helped make possible widespread
acceptance of the hybrid vehicles that would be-
come a significant part of the nation’s automobile
fleet beginning in the first years of the next decade.Further Reading
Anderson, Judy, and Curtis D. Anderson.Electric and
Hybrid Cars: A Histor y. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland,- A history providing information on electric
car manufacturers and models, with discussions
of technical challenges and relevant political and
environmental issues. Also discusses popular re-
actions and contains a useful glossary.
Kirsch, David A.The Electric Car and the Burden of His-
tor y. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University
Press, 2000. A comprehensive history, especially
valuable for its tracing of public attitudes through
The Nineties in America Electric car 307
General Motors’ electric car, the EV1, was introduced in 1996 in California and Ari-
zona as a lease-only vehicle.(AP/Wide World Photos)