The Ford motor company’s abandonment of electric cars effectively signals the end of the road for the technology, analysts say.



General Motors and Honda ceased production of battery-powered cars in 1999, to focus on fuel cell and hybrid electric-gasoline engines, which are more attractive to the consumer. Ford has now announced it will do the same.



Three years, ago, the company introduced the TH!NK City two-seater car and a golf cart called the TH!NK, or Think Neighbor. It hoped to sell 5000 cars each year and 10,000 carts. But a lack of demand means only about 1000 of the cars have been produced, and less than 1700 carts have been sold so far in 2002.