EV Technology and Fleet Experience

This paper delineates the interelationships of technical improvements in components, electric vehicle performance, energy use per mile travelled and cost in dollars per pound of hardware spread over the 4-year history of Public Law 94-413, the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1976. It then presents several problem areas in battery module interconnections, transmission short falls and regenerative braking system limitations with proposed directions for technical progress to alleviate problem areas. The level of presentation is intended to be understandable by and useful to the vehicle owner and user. Discussion of problem areas and suggestions for improvement hopefully will be a stimulus for manufacturers and vendors of components to synthesize solutions.