The Electric Car: Development and Future of Battery, Hybrid and Fuel-Cell Cars (IEE Power & Energy Series, 38) [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Michael H. Westbrook (Author) "This book has been written to provide a comprehensive picture of the history, current status and the likely future development of electric cars, as it..." (more)
Key Phrases: Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, General Motors (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book covers the development of electric cars -- from their early days to new hybrid models in production -- together with the very latest technological issues faced by automotive engineers working on electric cars, as well as the key business factors vital for the successful transfer of electric cars into the mass market. Considerable work has gone into electric car and battery development in the last ten years with the prospect of substantial improvements in range and performance in battery cars as well as in hybrids and those using fuel cells. This book comprehensively covers this important subject and will be of particular interest to engineers and managers working in the automotive and transport industries.

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The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world's leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. The IET publishes more than 100 new titles every year; a rich mix of books, journals and magazines with a back catalogue of more than 350 books in 18 different subject areas including:

-Power & Energy
-Renewable Energy
-Radar, Sonar & Navigation
-Electromagnetics
-Electrical Measurement
-History of Technology
-Technology Management

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: The Institution of Engineering and Technology; 1st edition (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0852960131
• ISBN-13: 978-0852960134
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #665,608 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of electric cars, January 22, 2007

By	Edward Durney (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Electric Car gives an excellent overview of electric cars. And as promised by the subtitle, Westbrook discusses the development and future of battery, hybrid and fuel-cell cars. All in all, this book is the best I have found on this important subject. I recommend it highly.

As interest increases in electric cars, particularly hybrids, books on the subject increase as well. Some are interesting and helpful. A surprisingly large amount are not. Few, if any, match the depth and breadth of the information and opinion in The Electric Car.

Westbrook spent his career working with electric cars. That shows in the book's detailed information and patient discussion. This is a book by an industry insider, who knows what he is talking about. What he does not know, he finds out, through contacts in the industry that he keeps active.

Westbrook does tend a little toward the pedantic. And he loves a long and complex sentence. No fluffy reading here. In fact, the book can be hard to get through if you are tired and not at the best of your game.

Nonetheless, if you have strong interest in electric cars, in my opinion you need this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introductory book, June 3, 2004

By	Frank "kpbvi" (Atlanta, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

This book provides an accurate history of electric and hybrid cars, however it may be a bit lacking in terms of charting the future of electric cars and their power sources. All in all a solid buy for a intoduction to electric car technology.