Clives post about the price of fuel and the release of the new Ford Focus Electric got me thinking..
Not really one for conspiracy theories, but maybe there is something in it when you look at the slowest technological advance in modern history.
Putting into context, in 1939 the RAF still had bi-plane fighters, at the end of the war technology had advanced so much that the first operational jet fighters were in service.
Only 10 years separated the design of the Lancaster bomber and the Vulcan bomber. We even got a man on the moon with technology a fraction of the power of your average smart phone.
Meanwhile, the humble Electric Milk float, which originated just after the war, was battery powered and had a range of 25 miles.
In 70 years, the electric vehicle has now advanced to the 2016 Ford Focus, which has a range of..
drum roll... 76 miles 
Admittedly we've increased speed from 15mph to 84mph, but compare normal engine technology over the last 70 years, or even 25 years.
Electric Car Evolution... in 70 years, we have increased the range from 25 miles, to 76 miles...
Image source: milkfloats.org.uk
So do all these crack pot conspiracy theorists have a point? Have all the oil companies being buying up and burying ideas and new technologies over the years?
Or is the world wide engineering and scientific community just rubbish at developing electric cars?
Genuinely doesn't make any sense. Give us all a ford focus that will do 400 miles between charges, and your half way to solving climate change. If we can go from biplane to jet fighter in 6 years, surely we can do better for electric vehicles?
Nowadays I can fit 4 mobiles in my back pocket and not worry all day whether I will run out of charge... Lithium is the way ahead for the motoring industry, were still probably 10-20 years away from before we get 300 miles plus per charge but eventually there'll get there. Will always need oil though without it the wheels won't turn, planes won't be able to fly or ships sail...
