Ford cancels electric car division

[ƒORM]

NEWS
Ford Motor Company has abandoned its all-electric car division, making the case that electric cars are not yet profitable. General Motors and Honda both shut down their electric car divisions in 1999, and analysts say Ford's decision marks the death of the technology.

In 1999, Ford introduced two new electric vehicles: the TH!NK and the TH!NK City. The TH!NK was an all-electric golf cart, the TH!NK City a "neighborhood car," with the ability to travel 53 miles before its battery needed another 6-hour charge. Ford hoped to sell 5,000 TH!NK Citys and 10,000 TH!NKs each year, but only about 1,000 of the TH!NK Citys were even manufactured, and less than 1,700 TH!NKs have been sold to date.

The batteries used in these all-electric cars also inflate the price of the vehicle. For example, a gasoline-powered Toyota RAV4 costs around US$17,000, while its battery-powered counterpart costs $42,000.

Ford will shift its electric research into hybrid cars, which use gasoline and batteries that recharge themselves.

[Bitchin]

I dont wanna pay for gas when I drive...

LAME!

[Stephanie]

Of course it's not profitable if you don't market it! I've never heard of the TH!NK or TH!NK city until you just mentioned them. Never even heard about them at the car shows, or in the 2003 brochures. *sigh* Ford ain't as cool as it used to be. :(

[miss.myra]

That's odd..I didn't even know electric cars were mass produced (that goes with the whole lack of marketing thing, I guess..)

Interestingly enough, Ballard(which is a Vancouver-based company responsible for research and production of electric energy/emission saving cars, generators, etc. http://www.ballard.com) has made some HUGE accomplishments in this field. Two years ago they had a huge investment boom in their company, but not they're losing all of their investors, and a shitload of money at the same time. I think a lot of people are frustrated because they don't see these things being mass produced. Yet at the same time, a lot more work has to be done to ensure these things are absolutely safe and effective.

It's certainly frustrating...but the sooner we make some progress and movement with this whole thing, the sooner we can start doing stuff about air pollution.

[Bitchin]

I've heard of the whole electric car thing..but I dunno if it was with ford.. I cant remember.. heh

[Sh4n3]

fuck electric cars

bring out the ol gas guzzlin v8's!

[Stephanie]

^MMMM V8s! What about the W-18s? tee hee :tounge1:

The only electric cars I've heard of being mass produced was a car by Toyota (the Prius I believe it's called), and one by Honda.

[kiMMie]

Heard that this movie actress purchased an electrical car to be "environmentally conscience", plugged it in in her garage, and it short-fused. Her whole house, her dog, and almost her husband burned to the ground.

Sad, but true...

Guess there are risks to everything :soak:

[inkster]

i wonder how the california government will react...

[oFFseT]

electric cars would be so much more benefitial...but you know them...if they can't benefit then they'll just keep on polluting our earth and make money....grrrrrrrrr