Includes bibliographical references (p. [261]-262) and index.

Ch. 1. Pulling the Plug: A Brief History of Alternative Motion -- Ch. 2. A Dizzying Ride: Internal Combustion's Rapid Rise and Coming Decline -- Ch. 3. Engines of Ingenuity: New Technologies for the Clean Car -- Ch. 4. Road Warriors and Early Adopters: Living with a Battery Powered EV -- Ch. 5. U-Turn: The Big Three Get Serious about Green Cars -- Ch. 6. The Global Green Car: Germany and Japan on the Fast Track -- Ch. 7. Thinking about Tomorrow: Visionaries, Pessimists, and Investors at the Crossroads -- Ch. 8. Jump-Starting the EV: Federal Funding for Alternative Fuel -- Ch. 9. Clearing the Air: Clean Cars and Sustainable Transportation in the Twenty-First Century.

"Forward Drive presents the fascinating story of the race to build the cars of the future - ones that can help to address the problems (including global warming, fossil-fuel depletion, and urban sprawl) that have accompanied the rise and spread of traditional gas-powered cars.

The book traces the history of automobile development, including early attempts to create practical electric vehicles, and it explores new technologies for clean cars, especially hybrid (gas/electric) drives and hydrogen-based fuel cells."--BOOK JACKET.