Why didn't electric cars catch on?

Question

Why didn't electric cars catch on?

Answer 1

Main reason is due to heavy batteries making them impractical in todays technology.

However they have overcome that and we are starting to see more and more electric cars and prius conversions to run on 100% electricity.

Another problem to overcome is the inefficency of coal stations & power plants which would often be more environmentally destructive to run electricity from a coal plant.

They are now creating electric cars that are winning all the drag racing events and are being termed "amp" heads.

If the electricity is being created from a environmental renewable source & the problem of heavy batteries are being overcome then the electric car is becoming much more attractive, practicable & environmentally friendly.

Answer 2

The truth of the matter is, there are still Trillions of dollars of revenue to be generated from the oil that's still in the ground. Although they have the technology to mass produce electric cars, they would end up shorting themselves out of a lot of money. Being the greedy rich corporate b******s that they are, they pretend they're working on alternative sources of energy, when in fact, they're just buying more time to steal your money at the gas pump.

Answer 3

It takes a long time for alterinative fuel vehicles to catch on. I watched this Naked Science show that had the car talk guys on it. They said that there wouldn't be a full switch until 2050. hope I helped!

Answer 4

The EV-1 cost about $500,000 so they were not economically feasible.  They were a nice experiment.  The Chevy Volt is the result, and it will probably be mass produced.

Answer 5

The batteries are too heavy, replacement cost, and their lack of mileage production capability(MPC). Get little cars(geos,etc) put small moped engines in them, and add a bicycle chain set up, so locally you could pedal your car, and there's the cure. But not ethanol. ETHANOL KILLS-starving babies and people.(Thanks Al. Gore)

Answer 6

Typical amenities and conveniences like stereo systems and electric butt warmers made the cars impractical for the American market.

Answer 7

The best electric car the EV1 didn't catch on because car company's were pressured by the oil company's not to make them otherwise they'd go out of business. plus electric cars could only go 60-100 miles between recharges.

Answer 8

Electric cars didn't catch on becuase they don't give you good milage, and if you live in Florida, the battery will overheat, and you don't want to be stuck out on the interstate with an overheated battery!

Answer 9

maybe because they're kind of slow and expensive

Answer 10

oil industry didn't want ev's to catch on. as far back as 1964 GE and General motors were working on ev's. go to Electrifying Times site and scroll down the page to Ralph Nader and GE's HEV for the story. also, watch Who Killed the Electric Car.

Answer 11

The electric power supply does not give U the range. The range to have a chance should be 600 miles an 70 mph. To add more batteries is not the answer as they are so heavy.

Answer 12

It depends on what you mean:

1.  Batteries - these are way behind gasoline in performance with today's technology.  I'm not sure if they'll ever catch up.

2.  Capacitors - these are way behind batteries in performance with today's technology.  There are some promising technologies on the way.  

3.  The power grid - Not only would be need new cars, we'd need to upgrade the roads.  I think in a couple of decades when oil supplies really start to dwindle, we'll try this somewhere on a larger scale.   This would give you as much performance as you need, so it would be really nice.  A couple of cities already do this for busses.  Bumper cars are powered this way too.  

http://www.canalstreetcar.com/trolleybus...

http://citytransport.info/Scans/Merc_0_3...

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...

Answer 13

I heard its not fast enough.