It's not like this was predictable or anything. > This just in from Ford (noted on the Think EV list). > > http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/020830/autos_ford_think_2.html > > Reuters Business Report > Ford Ending Investment in Electric Car > Friday August 30, 9:49 am ET > > DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - News) on Friday said it was > pulling the plug on its Think electric vehicle division due to poor customer > demand and lack of government support for the environmentally friendly cars.
Poor customer demand? Outside the EVDL, has anyone even heard about customer _supply_? And the thing was limited to below a safe freeway speed, might I point out.. > Ford, which bought Norway-based Think in 1999 for $23 million and invested > $100 million in electric vehicle battery technology, will instead focus on > developing fuel cell and hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles to meet > environmental regulations for cars and trucks, spokesman Tim Holmes told > Reuters. How exactly did Ford invest $100 million in EV battery technology? I must have missed that part, maybe someone could tell me about which chemistries? > "The bottom line is we don't believe that this is the future of > environmental transport for the mass market," Holmes said. "Or at least, not until we've gotten done burning every drop of oil we can get our hands on". > Ford will try to sell Think, or work with the Norwegian government to > transform the company to create a viable business, Holmes said. Ford hopes > to make a decision by the end of September on the future of Think, which has > two facilities outside Oslo and employs about 150 people. How about doubling the number of watts in the drive? > Other automakers have also backed away from electric vehicles due to their > low range and long recharging times. "long recharging times"? Give Rich another year and he'll have a PFC-100, and you can recharge your car in a hour.. ;-) If you have enough service to your house anyway. "low range"? 100 miles! If you need more, just tow a tiny trailer with a generator on the back - why is it us amatuars can figure out ways around all these problems but the pros can't? Next thing you know, Toyota will be cancelling the RAV4.. [sighs] Looks like if we want 'em, we've got to build 'em ourselves. S.
