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Production battery electric vehicles (BEVs) like the GM EV1 and Chevrolet S10 EV, Chrysler TEVan, Honda EV Plus, Ford Ranger EV, Nissan Altra, Toyota RAV4 EV, and Solectria Force have been made available to the consumer market in very limited quantities and locations. Even though all were placed very few were ever actually for sale, and so it's very unfair to say that there is no market. They would be cost competitive if put into mass production, and they have been cheap to maintain and operate with as little as 7 moving parts in the electric power train. Just imagine no oil to change, no filters, no spark plugs. A number of Rav4-EVs have over 100,000 miles on their NiMH battery packs, which are also used in current hybrids. They may be unavailable because they are too good, since their range of about 150 miles was as good as the best of HFCV (hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) and today their range can be comparable to gas cars. HFCVs have about 7 very costly fuel stations, yet EVs already have a worldwide refueling infrastructure with outlets at every gas station and garage. Today EV's make good sense for the Consumer, Environmental, and Energy Conservation stand points, but perhaps not from the short term manufacturer, dealer, and oil producer standpoints. We are all going to have to Demand that they make these cars and trucks available instead of waiting yet another 30 years for HFCV's.
[edit] Modern Production BEVs
- GM EV1 (Several hundred produced for lease only, all recovered, most destroyed)
- Chevrolet S10 EV (Some sold to fleets, available on secondary market as refurbished vehicles)
- Chrysler TEVan (1993-1995) and Second Generation EPIC (1998-200?)
- Ford Ranger EV (1998-2003, some sold, most leased and recovered and destroyed)
- Honda EV Plus (Several hundred produced for lease only, all recovered, most destroyed)
- Toyota RAV4 EV (Rare, Some leased and sold, out of production, supported)
- Solectria Force
- Nissan Altra
[edit] Low Volume / Prototypes / Startups
[edit] Motorcycles
[edit] See also
