The candidate battery systems for electric vehicles have been evaluated on a common basis. The batteries with the highest probability of successful development and commercialization appear to be lead‐acid, nickel‐iron, nickel‐zinc, zinc‐chlorine, lithium‐metal sulfide, and sodium sulfur. The relative development risk was assessed and compared to the desirability of the corresponding batteries. No clear‐cut ’’winner’’ can be projected since each advanced battery has less than 50% probability of successful development. The overall probability that at least one of the batteries will be successfully developed by 2000 AD is judged greater than 75%.