1. Historical background, battery technologies and performance claims

The first two "waves" of electric vehicles (see "History" box) were relatively short-lived. The first was driven by real technical interests in terms of performance, and then by a situation of economic restraint during the Second World War, but the next, much longer-lasting wave in the 1990s was triggered by a structural political situation combined with ecological and geological awareness.

Echoing this situation, new programs have emerged in the road transport sector, aimed at boosting the development of alternative energies and reviving the use of electric vehicles for private and public transport.

These cars remained very expensive, however, due to the high cost of the battery, which was usually leased from the automaker, and failed to convince consumers. They also failed to live up to the expectations of automakers, who were counting...