EV Owners Have Their Say, Part III: Miles by the Jolt — How I Acquired an EV
Published June 29, 2006
Paine, also a former GM EV1 owner, filmed a protest in Burbank last year, something that really galvanized my determination to buy an EV, even if it didn't feel like driving the Batmobile, Gibson's description of his EV1 experience.
Miracle, who hasn't seen the movie, said "EVs were an easy target for anyone who wished to sabotage their reputation. They appear to be fundamentally un-American. When compared to the gas cars that we have become accustomed to, we see that they are smaller, go slower for shorter distances and tend to be less sexy. They do not portray the sense of freedom that a tank full of gas being pumped into a V8 does. What hurt them the most is that they are coming to the playing field with a huge handicap and going up against a traditional and universally accepted superior product."
If GM didn't see the possibilities of the EV1, Toyota does see a future in plug-in technology. Last year in Tokyo, they introduced a plug-in Prius as a concept car destined for consumer in 2010. This one was even charged at a concept house powered by solar energy.
Current technology for battery-run EVs gives the best mile-range to the person with the most money. The best batteries (lithium) are wildly expensive — $2,000 each for a 100-mile range. My Force needs 13 batteries. Mass production would make them cheaper. Until then I'll settle for the NiMH for about $120 a pop and a 50-mile range.
Still, my affection for my Solectria, continues to grow, even if I still fantasize about the T-Zero and wait for the plug-in Toyota Prius.
Part one of this three-part series recounts the reactions of EV owners to the new film, Who Killed the Electric Car? In part two, the same owners describe their personal histories with the cars.
- EV Owners Have Their Say, Part III: Miles by the Jolt — How I Acquired an EV
- Published: June 29, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Sci/Tech: Energy/Environment
- Writer: Purple Tigress
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I just saw the "Who KIlled the Electric Car" Documentary on Showtime... its was awesome!!! the movie that is... The decision of GM to "Shred" the cars, is for one just un-unexcusable. I just don't get it. How does a company like GM think they have the luxury of "shredding" products that people want to acquire. I suppose I just answered my own question, as GM is in serious financial trouble... and the "Brain Trust" who lives in the penthouses offices decides to Shred Hundreds of cars that people would probably kill for now that our Oil Interests have gone so well in the Middle East where the price of a gallon of gas is now, today, $3.65 a gallon. The most ever paid in this state for gas.
How did the American car industry go into extinction? They lost the ability to adapt and adjust, just like the dinosaurs, will go into the shredder of history.
i watch the movie,can't believe all the ev's were shredded.i FOUND THIS ARTICAL searching for info electric conversion kits,(oil $125.00 a barrel today $5.75/gallon here)i hope someone makes GM eat that choice.i would like to convert a car over to electric,can't wait to see them on the roads.
Remember, the problem we now face was predictable. Fossil fuels and relations with the Middle East made them so. We had the potential to develop solar energy and make it a source of electrical energy. We had the choice in the US to go with EVs. In Los Angeles, we have the technical geniuses at Caltech working on projects and technical companies attempting to find the answer. The answer was there. Instead, now we are looking into biodiesel and hydrogen.
Remember how when the American auto companies were in trouble the government back them up and there were at least two waves of Japan-bashing focused on Japanese cars versus American cars.
America's industrial leaders made decisions that led us to this juncture.
We had the answer to the gasoline crisis in the US and in California. And our American industrial leaders dropped the ball as did our political leaders.
And look who picked up the ball and saw the future? Japan and the Toyota Prius.
Shame on GM. Shame on the oil companies.
The US auto companies and oil companies have an iron grip on the US government (and on the minds of US citizens, apparently) and have prevented an easy migration to alternative energy. But they, individually, are smart enough to know it can't last forever so they are just riding their sunset industries down into the dust, taking big dividends on the way. They will have their way since their lobbying and bribing make it possible.
But they know The End Is Near.
Just beware that they intend to dominate the alternative energy scene, too, when the time comes.
Beware, beware, beware.
bliffle, that seems a bit too "conspiracist" for me. The U.S. is a freaking huge country, with a lot of cars on the road. It is nearly infinitely harder for the U.S. to do *anything* nationwide than it is for *any* other country, and I really think that's all there is to it.
Could we have done it? Sure. But it's an tough uphill struggle even without ascribing nefarious tactics to companies who would benefit enormously if they could pull it off successfully.
Ask yourself why did GM insist on a paddle as opposed to a plug?
After all, older EV can be plugged in directly to the garage and do not require a special charging station.
Second, why destroy a car when you have buyers lined up?
As alternative energy systems come online the government will provide subsidies favorable to Big Companies and monopoly Intellectual Property judgements favorable to Big Interests.
It's in the nature of the kind of managed economy that we have developed in this country. Who, one must ask, is it managed in favor of?
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Just wanted to say that I thought this series was fantastic. I'd done some research on Electronic Vehicles while researching alternative fuel vehicles for my own articles, but you've gathered more info here than I was able to find in much web searching. Great job.
Dave