? ?The Ford motor company’s abandonment of
electric cars effectively signals the end of the road for the technology,
analysts say. ? ?General Motor and Honda’ ceased production of
battery, powered cars in 1999, to focus on fuel cell and hybrid electric
gasoline engines, which are more attractive to the consumer. Ford has now
announced it will do the same. ? ?Three years ago, the company
introduced the Think City two-seater car and a golf cart called the THINK, or
ThinkNeighbor. It hoped to sell 5,000 cars each year and 10,000 carts. But a
lack of demand means only about 1,000 of the cars have been produced, and less
than 1,700 carts have been sold so far in 2002. ? ?"The bottom line
is we don’t believe that this is the future of environment transport for the
mass market. "Tim Holmes of Ford Europe said on Friday. ?"We feel we have
given electric our best shot". ? ?The Think City has a range of
only about 53 miles and up to a six-hour battery recharge time. General Motors’
EVI electric vehicle also had a limited range, of about 100 miles. ?
?The very expensive batteries also mean electric cars cost much more than
petrol-powered alternatives. An electric Toyot-RAV4 EV vehicle costs over $
42,000 in the US, compared with just $17,000 for the petrol version. Toyota and
Nissan are now the only major auto manufacturers to produce electric
vehicles. ? ?"There is a feeling that battery electric has been
given its chance. Ford now has to move on with its hybrid program, and that is
what we will be judging them on. " Roger Higman, a senior transport campaigner
at UK Friends of the Earth, told the Environment News Service. ?
?Hybrid cars introduced by Toyota and Honda in the past few years have sold
well. Hybrid engines offer greater mileage than petrol-only engines , and the
batteries recharge themselves. ?Ford says it thinks such vehicles will help
it meet planned new guidelines "on vehicle emissions" in the U.S. ?
?However, it is not yet clear exactly what those guidelines will permit. In
June, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler won a court injunction, delaying by
two years Californian legislation requiring car-makers to offer 100,000
zero-emission and other low-emission vehicles in the state by 2003. Car
manufacturers hope the legislation will be rewritten to allow for more
low-emission, rather than zero-emission,
vehicles.
What have the Ford motor company, General Motor’s and Honda done concerning electric cars?
? ?The Ford motor company’s abandonment of
electric cars effectively signals the end of the road for the technology,
analysts say. ? ?General Motor and Honda’ ceased production of
battery, powered cars in 1999, to focus on fuel cell and hybrid electric
gasoline engines, which are more attractive to the consumer. Ford has now
announced it will do the same. ? ?Three years ago, the company
introduced the Think City two-seater car and a golf cart called the THINK, or
ThinkNeighbor. It hoped to sell 5,000 cars each year and 10,000 carts. But a
lack of demand means only about 1,000 of the cars have been produced, and less
than 1,700 carts have been sold so far in 2002. ? ?"The bottom line
is we don’t believe that this is the future of environment transport for the
mass market. "Tim Holmes of Ford Europe said on Friday. ?"We feel we have
given electric our best shot". ? ?The Think City has a range of
only about 53 miles and up to a six-hour battery recharge time. General Motors’
EVI electric vehicle also had a limited range, of about 100 miles. ?
?The very expensive batteries also mean electric cars cost much more than
petrol-powered alternatives. An electric Toyot-RAV4 EV vehicle costs over $
42,000 in the US, compared with just $17,000 for the petrol version. Toyota and
Nissan are now the only major auto manufacturers to produce electric
vehicles. ? ?"There is a feeling that battery electric has been
given its chance. Ford now has to move on with its hybrid program, and that is
what we will be judging them on. " Roger Higman, a senior transport campaigner
at UK Friends of the Earth, told the Environment News Service. ?
?Hybrid cars introduced by Toyota and Honda in the past few years have sold
well. Hybrid engines offer greater mileage than petrol-only engines , and the
batteries recharge themselves. ?Ford says it thinks such vehicles will help
it meet planned new guidelines "on vehicle emissions" in the U.S. ?
?However, it is not yet clear exactly what those guidelines will permit. In
June, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler won a court injunction, delaying by
two years Californian legislation requiring car-makers to offer 100,000
zero-emission and other low-emission vehicles in the state by 2003. Car
manufacturers hope the legislation will be rewritten to allow for more
low-emission, rather than zero-emission,
vehicles.
What have the Ford motor company, General Motor’s and Honda done concerning electric cars?
A.They have started to produce electric cars. B.They have done extensive research on electric Cars C.They have given up producing electric cars. D.They have produced thousands of electric Cars
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