Who Killed the Electric Car?
I came across this website, who killed the electric car? recently and it caught my attention. The website is well-designed, informative and very thought provoking! Whatever happened to the GM EV1 electric car? According to the website’s presskit, inspired by GM’s electric vehicle prototype, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) created the Zero Emissions Mandate (ZEV) to combat auto pollution. in 1990 California passed the ZEV, requiring 2% of new vehicles sold in California to be emission-free by 1998, 10% by 2003.
In response to ZEV, GM launched their revolutionary car EV1. The EV1 required no gas, no oil changes, no mufflers and rare brake maintenance. A routine maintenance checkup for the car consisted of topping up the washer fluid and rotating the tires. I am sitting here thinking to myself, where is this car? how can I buy one? and most importantly, WHY DID IT DISSAPEAR?
According to the automakers, the lack of consumer demand created the demise of the EV1 and other models like it. Why would consumers not embrace a car that would cost less to drive, require minimal maintenance and be better for the environment? Something is not adding up! Upon further reading of the press kit, the disappearance of the electric car was a result of many factors and suspects; consumers, oil companies, car companies, the United States Government, California Air Resources Board, Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology.
Excerpt taken from the website:
“GM, Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Nissan, and Toyota all developed electric vehicle programs in response to California’s zero emission mandate—and most ended up crushing at least part of their EV fleets.
Electric cars are a threat to the profitability of the conventional gas-powered auto industry. GM said that it spent more than $1 billion to market and develop the EV1. Not only would a successful electric car program cannibalize sales of conventional cars, but the electric car costs the auto industry in other ways: lacking an engine, it saves the driver the cost of replacement parts, motor oil, filters, and spark plugs. The EV1’s regenerative braking system, in which the car’s electronic controls handled much of the work of slowing down the car, spared the car’s mechanical brake system from wear. Brake parts and repair is a billion-plus dollar industry alone. The EV1’s efficiency was a winner for consumers but a loser for the auto industry.”
It is clear to see why the auto industry quickly moved away from their electric vehicle programs. In the long term it would cost them billions of dollars in revenue. Parts, repairs and service revenue would not be contributing to their bottom line. They would also experience a decline in traditional auto sales as many consumers (I personally think the demand would be quite high) would switch to an electric model.
I feel sick to my stomach now that I have read more information about the EV1 and other models that were created in the 90′s. I can’t believe we sit by and allow the lobbyists, oil companies and BIG business determine our future on this planet. We need to embrace better technologies and cleaner fuel alternatives and stop being passive consumers. I highly recommend that you visit the whokilledtheelectriccar.com website and better yet watch the movie. I know that I will be going to watch it as soon as it comes to a theatre near me.
If you would like to learn more about the electric car and the EV1, please visit, Save the EV1s!
If you want to join the campaign to save electric cars, please visit, DontCrush.com
Another great site to visit is, the Smithsonian website, America on the Move
One last website to visit, www.ev1.org.
Written by steve on August 21st, 2006 with no comments.
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