Japanese Car Makers Abandon Plans To Develop Fully Electric Automobiles

Nissan’s Vice Chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, who is often referred to as the “father of the Prius,” announced that his company would follow in the footsteps of Japanese auto giant Toyota and abandon plans to roll out a fully electric vehicle.

“Because of its shortcomings — driving range, cost and recharging time — the electric vehicle is not a viable replacement for most conventional cars. We need something entirely new.”

Both Nissan and Toyota have indicated that current battery technology makes marketing fully electric vehicles impractical. Japanese automakers will concentrate on fuel-cell cars that convert hydrogen to electricity until more efficient and affordable batteries become available.

Even the White House has backed off on their plans for electric vehicles, despite President Obama’s focus on green technology. Last week, the Obama Administration announced they were abandoning the goal to put one million fully electric vehicles on the road by 2015. Instead the President will recommend a program to develop more affordable advanced vehicles over the next nine years.

Speaking in advance of Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s speech at the 2013 Washington D.C. Auto Show, an Energy Department official continued to mention the 2015 target date, despite the White House statements to the contrary:

“Whether we meet that goal in 2015 or 2016, that’s less important than that we’re on the right path to get many millions of these vehicles on the road.”

Adding to the confusion over fully electric cars, many of the world’s leading automobile builders are developing highly efficient internal combustion engines that will get excellent mileage from gasoline and provide stiff competition for battery powered vehicles. Even Ford is rethinking their plans for the future, cancelling the hybrid version of the Escape.

The continuing concerns over just how the auto industry plans to overcome the many problems associated with fully electric automobiles has certainly shaken the confidence of car builders and the general public. Car buyers are becoming increasingly aware that fully electric cars still require a major technological breakthrough before they can compete with vehicles that use fossil fuels.