1. The 1970s oil crisis: The 1970s oil crisis led to a sharp increase in the price of gasoline, which made electric cars more expensive to operate than gasoline-powered vehicles. This led many people to choose gas-powered cars over electric cars.
2. The lack of infrastructure: In the 1970s and 1980s, there were very few charging stations for electric cars, which made it difficult for people to use them for long-distance travel. This also contributed to the decline of the electric car.
3. The development of more efficient gasoline engines: In the 1980s and 1990s, automakers developed more efficient gasoline engines that made gasoline-powered cars more competitive with electric cars.
4. The rise of SUVs: In the 1990s and 2000s, SUVs became increasingly popular, which also contributed to the decline of the electric car. SUVs are typically larger and heavier than cars, which means that they require more energy to operate.
5. The lack of government support: In the United States, the federal government has not provided significant financial support for the electric car industry. This has made it difficult for electric car companies to compete with the major automakers.
It is important to note that there is no single factor that killed the electric car. Rather, it was a combination of factors that led to its demise.
In summary, while oil companies may have played a role in the demise of the electric car, it was a combination of factors, including the 1970s oil crisis, the lack of infrastructure, the development of more efficient gasoline engines, the rise of SUVs, and the lack of government support, that ultimately led to its demise.
