Sept. 20th - Did a lightbulb recently go off in Car Mfr's heads?

Stocks That Will Profit From the Electric Car

By Jack Hough (Smart Money Magazine)
September 12, 2008

PITY AMERICA'S CAR sellers. They must think back 15 years to recall a worse six-month stretch than the first half of 2008. Blame falling house prices or layoffs, but mostly, blame costly gasoline. Thirsty pickups and sport-utility vehicles are backed up at the lots, their $5,000-cash-back offers ignored. Compact sippers are selling well enough, so long as they can be found. Toyota over the summer had a six-month waiting list for its hybrid Prius, which uses part-time battery power to burn less gasoline. In polls, four out of five consumers say they'll consider buying a hybrid next.

Comment: I was reading this article while waiting to have my hair done today and obviously found it quite interesting (or else I wouldn't be commenting on it now, would I?). While the article dealt with the "rise" of the electric car and the impact it will have on our society as well as the world (if done right this time), I was fasinated to learn that Thomas Edison had invented several workable versions of the battery-operated car back in 1909. Not only did they run, he drove them! So,my question is: "How come it's taken so long for someone to improve on the technology? Or better, yet (believing what I believe), why has it taken so long for the car manafacturers to actually get them onto the assembly line? Could it be that people are that greedy?