THE GAS-guzzlers of today may speed their way to extinction as the electric car of the future changes to fourth gear. USA's Advanced Battery Consortium -- formed by Ford, Chrysler and General Motors -- recently awarded Ovonic Battery Company a US $18.5-million contract to develop a battery which will take an electric car further and faster than conventional lead-acid storage batteries can.

Ovonic will work on a "mid-term" nickel-metal hydride battery. When fully developed, it will allow an electric car to cover 192 km to 249 km on a single battery charge -- more than twice the range of today's battery.