The Role of Government and Industry in the Development of the Electric Vehicle

Today's conventional automobiles not only have a harmful effect on the environment, but through their dependence on foreign petroleum, they pose a threat to the energy security of the United States. In response to these concerns, the United States government has created legislation that requires a percentage of vehicles, in certain parts of the nation, to be powered by cleaner, safer, domestically produced fuels. One of the leading alternatively fueled vehicles currently being investigated is the electric vehicle. Joint government and industry research and development efforts are working toward the advancement of electric vehicle technologies. In addition, federal and state legislation is supporting the introduction of the electric vehicle. This report investigates the development efforts of government and industry in support of the electric vehicle and analyzes whether or not these efforts will have a major impact on the automobile market.