Who Killed the Electric Car
A Lack Of Consumer Confidence... or Conspiracy
Chris Payne, Martin Sheen (Movie/DVD)
<Rating: 5 stars>This movie documents the birth, development and murder of modern practical electric cars in the 1990s. The events are fascinating, and sad, but finally promising. It reveals the almost absolute power of the oil and motor vehicle industries to maintain the status quo, to stagnate the development of motor vehicle technology, to stop improvements in fuel efficiency and ultimately keep us addicted to crude oil.
The promising part is that although most of the individual cars were destroyed, the concepts and technology cannot be killed. The electric car events of the 1990s were responsible for the existence and growth of hybrid and electric cars today. But we are not 'out of the woods' yet. Transition to zero emission vehicles is still hampered and slow, and we have other problems that are getting out of control: War in Iraq to secure crude oil supplies and the acceleration of global warming.
From 1996 GM and other car makers made commercially viable zero emission electric vehicles (EVs). These EVs were more popular than expected.
The documentary shows how the US Government is in bed with car and oil companies and that they "make too much money from technological stagnation" to make a switch to a cleaner more efficient drive system. When any alternatives appear, they fight to control it. These three culprits (oil, car and government) colluded to weaken California's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate and recall all the leased electric vehicles. For a more thorough overview see the SW synopsis of who killed the electric car.
The movie ends showing how modern electric and hybrid cars will continue to replace gasoline cars. Hybrid and electric cars are currently more expensive than gas cars, but the fuel and power costs are around half or less. As consumers are demanding more of these vehicles, they will be mass produced at a lower cost and more manufacturers will adopt hybrid or electric drive trains. I have two copies of the DVD and I can loan them for home viewing only.
It appears that the executives of the oil and car companies want buckets of money and a world they can't live in. Our unfolding global climate disasters are risking the extinction of all humans. Don't let them take us all down the path to global catastrophe. Demand transport alternatives.
more... synopsis of the movie
more... whokilledtheelectriccar(Sony Movie Classics)
more... www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com
more... imdb
more... wikipedia
more... myspace
more... SW electric and hybrid vehicle page
Get it in Australia Marcom Projects
Get it in USA Amazon
Updated Feb 2008