Researchers and market advocates in a recent Detroit News interview argue that the electric vehicle movement is reaching the point where it will become an unstoppable force on the market before. Describes, Genevieve Cullen, the vice president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, an advocacy group for electric cars, “We think that increasing electric is inevitable. The speed is variable.”

I. The EV Movement has Faded Before — Will History Repeat Itself?

The question of whether the electrification movement will stick this time around is a compelling one.

In the early 1900s electric vehicles were extremely popular, outselling gas vehicles in some areas until the advent of mass production. With the arrival of modern engine designs, electric vehicles quickly faded from the mind of the auto industry and the public.

In the 1960s interest in electric cars once again rose, with concepts like the 1967 Comuta from Ford Motor Company (F). These efforts failed to gain traction, though. In the 1990s there was yet another electric revivalist movement with General Motors Company’s (GM) EV1. And yet again EVs were met with apathy and a hasty demise.

[Source & Read More: DailyTech]

Yesterday, we were first to run with the story that Beijing most likely will become EV capital of the world. Not because Beijing scientists have developed the miracle battery. Not because Chinese EVs suddenly go 400 miles on a single charge. Physics did not change. Beijing changes. Months ago, new car buyers in Beijing stopped dreaming about buying a new car.That dream was shattered. Now suddenly, an EV has become the only car a new car buyer can buy and drive tomorrow. Or on Monday. If one would be on sale. Here is what happened:

In Beijing, the car market has completely collapsed.

That does not grab you? Then what if the car market had come to a complete halt in Australia? Beijing has about the population of Australia and had car sales approaching those of Australia. Why did the Beijing market collapse? Because the city doesn’t want more cars on its roads. New car registrations are strictly rationed.

[Source & Read More: The Truth About Cars]

Built to celebrate Jaguar’s 75th anniversary, the C-X75 electric supercar concept vehicle was showcased in 2010 and has been making headlines ever since. Just look at this thing, it may be the sexiest electric vehicle ever! Watch out Tesla, there’s some competition coming your way!

The Jaguar C-X75 features lithium-ion battery technology in conjunction with two gasoline turbine engines that can recharge the battery pack for extended mileage. The C-X75 uses four 196 hp electric motors, one for each wheel, giving the car a total of 778 hp. The car can travel 68 miles on the battery pack alone, or 560 miles when working in conjunction with the gas turbine generators. In this sense, the C-X75 is more a hybrid than full electric vehicle; however, it’s system differs from other hybrids in the absense of a gas-powered engine. Rather, the gass generators help run the electric engines.

[Source & Read More: Energy Digital]

Scientists from Colorado State University presented their prototype design for a new, lithium-ion battery that features a three dimensional interior architecture at the National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in late March.

Researches claim the 3-D lithium-ion battery can be recharged in minutes instead of the typical hours it takes to charge standard lithium batteries currently being used in electric cars and several other devices across the nation. The leader of the scientific team, Amy Preito, stated the group currently has a working prototype that is about the size of a cell-phone battery, and that it can be charged in roughly 12 minutes compared to the two hours it would take a comparable battery.

[Source & Read More: Earth Techling]