The rapid growth of cities has been accompanied by congestion, pollution and uncontrolled urban sprawl. Adverse effects of these have been felt on the health of the people, their quality of life and the productivity of the economy. The IC engine, once considered a boon to mankind, is being increasingly viewed as a curse, due to the severe pollution it has caused. The search for alternative fuels has yet to produce an acceptable option. The commercialisation of one such option, the "Electric Vehicle", has been constrained by its perceived limitations of "range", "speed" and "acceleration" performance. This paper argues that these limitations are not relevant for urban use, particularly in developing countries like India. The electric car holds tremendous promise for most oil importing countries, typically those where the demands of a consumer are guided by operating economy, rather than speed and power.
Abstract