Electric Car - History - 1990s To Present: Revival of Interest

1990s To Present: Revival of Interest

The energy crises of the 1970s and 80s brought about renewed interest in the perceived independence that electric cars had from the fluctuations of the hydrocarbon energy market. In the early 1990s, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) began a push for more fuel-efficient, lower-emissions vehicles, with the ultimate goal being a move to zero-emissions vehicles such as electric vehicles. In response, automakers developed electric models, including the Chrysler TEVan, Ford Ranger EV pickup truck, GM EV1 and S10 EV pickup, Honda EV Plus hatchback, Nissan lithium-battery Altra EV miniwagon and Toyota RAV4 EV. These cars were eventually withdrawn from the U.S. market.

The global economic recession in the late 2000s led to increased calls for automakers to abandon fuel-inefficient SUVs, which were seen as a symbol of the excess that caused the recession, in favor of small cars, hybrid cars, and electric cars. California electric car maker Tesla Motors began development in 2004 on the Tesla Roadster, which was first delivered to customers in 2008. As of March 2012, Tesla had sold more than 2,250 Roadsters in at least 31 countries. The Mitsubishi i MiEV was launched for fleet customers in Japan in July 2009, and for individual customers in April 2010, followed by sales to the public in Hong Kong in May 2010, and Australia in July 2010 via leasing. Retail customer deliveries of the Nissan Leaf in Japan and the United States began in December 2010, followed in 2011 by several European countries and Canada.

In the 2011 State of the Union address, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed an "ambitious" goal of putting 1 million plug-in hybrids, extended range electric vehicles, and all-electric vehicles on roads in the U.S. by 2015. The objective include "reducing dependence on oil and ensuring that America leads in the growing electric vehicle manufacturing industry."

As of July 2012, other electric automobiles, city cars, and light trucks available in some markets for purchase or leasing-only include the REVAi, Buddy, Citroën C1 ev'ie, Transit Connect Electric, Mercedes-Benz Vito E-Cell, Tazzari Zero, Smart ED, Wheego Whip LiFe, Mia electric, BYD e6, Bolloré Bluecar, Ford Focus Electric, BMW ActiveE, Coda, Renault Fluence Z.E., Tesla Model S, Honda Fit EV and several neighborhood electric vehicles. There are also several demonstration vehicles undergoing trial programs including the Volvo C30 Electric, Toyota RAV4 EV, and Volkswagen Golf blue-e-motion.