In 1969 the US Government, back when it actually made sensible social and industrial policy, was deeply concerned about rising traffic congestion and pollution. Electric city cars, wild new forms of mass transit, everything was on the table for a while. But, eventually changing administrations, the cost of the new systems, all wore down the effort as the UMTA faded and the DoE and EPA went back to focus on pollution controls. Carmakers in the US were always happy to explore with government research dollars.