The document discusses the factors that led to the demise of the electric car in the 1990s, noting that while electric vehicles showed promise after winning races and prototypes being announced, limited and expensive battery technology prevented widespread adoption and mainstream automakers like GM ultimately made a rational business decision to discontinue electric car programs due to low consumer demand and lack of profitability given the high price points of early electric vehicles. Other contextual factors like declining oil prices in the late 1990s also decreased incentives for consumers and automakers to adopt electric vehicles over traditional gasoline-powered cars.