The Impact of Technology Development in Economics of Electric Vehicles in Fleet Operations

The electric vehicle in the past several years has developed into a basically reliable alternative to petroleum-dependent vehicles for certain fleet missions. The use of the electric vehicle thus far has, in fact, stimulated interest in exploring the practicality of the electric vehicle for extended range missions. General Telephone & Electronics has assessed the potential technological and economic advantage of Gulf+Western Industries, Inc. zinc-chloride battery and, based on recent tests of our vehicle and modification to mechanical design of the battery to suit vehicles being used by GTE fleet operators, will introduce three 750 pick-up trucks equipped with the zinc-chloride battery into its Pomona, California fleet during this year. This paper addresses modifications made to the battery design, test results, projected performance and potential economic impact.