Answer To An Oft-Asked Question (Who killed the EV1?)

[Big Dave]

The initial link was an engineer working on the EV1 and he was sweatin’ it after 35 miles. You would think such a guy would know how far the rascal could go.

A local university was investigating electric vehicles for building maintenance tradesmen. They are looking at a Step-Van with electric drive but had to put a propane heater on them to be able to drive them in the Midwest winters. This is a good, if limited niche, for electrics. These trucks sit most of the day, but they need a gas or diesel “parts-runner” vehicle back at the shop.

When somebody invents a righteous battery, the electric car will take over quickly. Until then, it is doomed to limited niches.

[MPaulHolmes]

Well, if he was going 45 miles per hour, then the range was 220 miles with the NiMH batteries. I'm no mathematician, but 35 miles < 220 miles. I'd start sweating at maybe 200 miles.