Honda has pulled the plug on its production of electric vehicles, becoming the first major automaker to admit that the battery-powered cars aren’t making inroads with consumers. Honda plans to focus on other alternative-fuel technologies, such as fuel cells, and some industry watchers speculate that the company’s move may indicate that it has another zero-emissions vehicle in the pipeline. California officials are unhappy with Honda’s decision and question the company’s ability to meet a 2003 state deadline by which 4 percent of new cars sold must be zero-emissions vehicles.
