Quote:
Originally Posted by allydriver
Proof that it is shelved intentionally to stifle development, other than an emoticon slapping it's forehead?
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Here's some proof for you...
Once Cobasys (owned by Chevron) got the patents to large scale NiMh batteries,
they sued Toyota for using them in their
electric vehicle RAV4. Despite the fact that battery packs cannot be sold anymore, I've seen an electric RAV4 recently still driving around Thousand Oaks, CA!!! With improved NiMh batteries both the RAV4 and EV1 were getting ranges from 100 to 160 miles per charge, way more than enough for city driving and making these vehicles practical.
Cobasys STILL OWNS the patents to this tech and EVEN TODAY car manufacturers cannot use NiMh for electric vehicles for this reason. Third party companies that convert Prius to plug-ins cannot use those batteries. That's why GM and others are going with the more problematic Lithium based batteries, not becuase they are better, but because Cobasys / Chevron won't let them use batteries known to work.