Vaporware and failed EV companies

[Toshi]

Chrysler ENVI program. Current status: Killed off once Chrysler got their bailout money despite claims that all the EVs above could make it to market in 2010. This program's conception and course is really shameful, even in my jaded opinion.

[Toshi]

Honda, Yamaha, KTM, and BMW electric motorcycles (and scooters). Current status: Vaporware for the whole lot.

[Toshi]

Piaggio MP3 PHEV. Current status: Vaporware from the perspective of US consumers. I'm not sure if it ever made it into production in congestion-charge-laden Europe.

[Toshi]

Miles EV. Current status: Vaporware, the company likely bankrupt (although I haven't seen confirmation of the same). Coda (and BYD) is in the same boat, although the former may have shipped one or two cars in California by now.

[Toshi]

Mindset REEV. Current status: Vaporware, with nothing relevant since its demonstration.

[Toshi]

Mission One. Current status: Dead. Mission Motors itself still lives in a limited role, trying to source EV components to OEMs instead of building complete machines.

[Toshi]

Ford Transit Connect EV. Current status: Dead, although an unknown number of vehicles were built prior to the battery maker, Azure Dynamics, going bankrupt in 2012. InsideEVs.com provides additional confirmation.

[Toshi]

VW Up! EV. Current status: Vaporware.

[Toshi]

Raytheon BluWave Hy-DRA. Offroad, hub-motored, A123-batteried BEV. Current status: NOT vaporware, but only available for your use if you're in the US military special forces.

On a very similar note:



CERV Quantum Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle, an AWD diesel-electric hybrid. Current status: Similarly only available for killing brown people under the flag of the US military.

[Toshi]

Saab Aero X, which was to run on 100% ethanol. Current status: Dead, as is Saab itself after prolonged death throes.

[Toshi]

VentureOne, later renamed Persu Hybrid. Current status: Dead, as is the company that made the rolling/tilting chassis, Carver.

[Toshi]

Arcimoto Pulse EV. Current status: Vaporware, as are all of their listed (Chinese catalog-sourced?) products from the standpoint of US consumers.

[Toshi]

Audi A1 E-Tron. Current status: Vaporware, although an R8 E-Tron, plaything for the rich, is still reportedly undergoing testing and development.

[Toshi]

Edison2 Very Light Car. Current status: Vaporware despite its victory at the Automotive X-Prize.

[Toshi]

Brammo Empulse. Current status: Still vaporware, although Brammo at least has shipped a few Enertias to show that they're for real.

[Toshi]

Epic EV Torq. Current status: Vaporware, not such a surprise for this one.

[Toshi]

Mini and Smart Electric Scooters, with Mini used in the sense of BMW, not as an adjective. Current status: Vaporware for both mini-companies' lineups.

[Toshi]

BMW C1-E. Current status: Vaporware, although it looks like at least one running prototype exists.

[Toshi]

Peraves E-Tracer, based on the BMW K-bike-based Monotracer. Current status: Vaporware, despite winning its class at the Automotive X-Prize.

[Toshi]

Piaggio NT3 city car, with 300cc hybrid powertrain option. Current status: Vaporware, and not destined for the US even if it materialized magically.

[Toshi]

Jaguar C-X75, supposedly a REEV with turbines (!) as the range extender. Current status: Need I even say it? Vaporware, of course.

[Toshi]

GM EN-V, basically a monstrous Segway. Current status: Vaporware, although a few prototypes do exist and were test "driven" by journalists including Tim Stevens from Engadget.

[Toshi]

Toyota RAV4 EV. Current status: Vaporware, although its vapors (and the associated Toyota money) are seemingly all that's keeping Tesla afloat these days.

[Toshi]

Infiniti LE. Current status: Vaporware, although Carlos Ghosn has reportedly green-lighted it for 2014. I'm still skeptical, but since Nissan actually is shipping Leafs in non-negligible numbers this one might have a chance of seeing the light of day yet.

[Toshi]

And that's all, folks. I'm caught up to the present date, having started back in 2008. A closing thought, of a BEV moon-bike that never saw the moon's surface: