Electric cars have been hailed at various times as the answer to the adverse effect of the internal combustion engine on urban pollution and the generation of greenhouse gases, but in spite of considerable work by the automotive industry, electric vehicles and particularly electric cars have failed to raise much interest in the car buying public. Limitations of range and performance are well known and perception has not been helped by the unsuccessful launch of electric cars of very limited capability in recent years. Considerable work has however gone into electric car and battery development in the last ten years with the prospect of substantial improvements in range and performance in battery cars as well as in hybrids and those using fuel cells.
Preface
Glossary
Chapter 1 : Introduction
Chapter 2 : The History of Electric Cars up to 1990
Chapter 3 : Propulsion Methods
Chapter 4 : Energy Sources 1 - Storage Batteries
Chapter 5 : Energy Sources 2 - Other Technologies
Chapter 6 : Charging
Chapter 7 : Controls and Power Electronics
Chapter 8 : Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Chapter 9 : Vehicle Design and Safety
Chapter 10 : Economics of Electric Vehicles
Chapter 11 : Future Developments
Index
