Who Killed the Electric Car Essay Example
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Out of the many different kind of cars on the road today, one car stands above the rest. With its zero emissions and sleek design, the General Mortars EV 1 was unstoppable. This car runs entirely without gas or oil of any kind. It runs only on electric power which makes it very eco-friendly. This car was the answer to the smog problem in California and would soon be able to help stop global warming and more of our planets environmental issues. So, why are there none of these cars on the road today? Who made sure that none of these EV 1’s where ever mass produced. Who killed the electric car?
This act did not go unnoticed by the public. Consumers were outraged by the recalling of the EV1’s. They wanted to know why someone would get rid of a car that would help out the environment and would make things better for future generations. Someone is to blame for killing the electric car, but whom? Was it the big oil companies and their fear of losing money? Could it be the battery technology in the EV1’s that was faulty? Maybe it was the CARB (California Resources Board) who did not want to support the project. Or was it the consumers themselves who would not accept the idea of a seemingly unreliable car? Chris Pine, the director of the documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” says that all these factors are to blame. But, there could only be one who could take the name of Car Killer.
The car companies are the biggest suspect in killing the electric car. General Motors was the car company that started the EV1 project. They started leasing them publicly in 1997. All 660 that were available for lease, got leased. Then in 2000, tragedy struck as all EV1’s were recalled and the plant was closed down. In 2003 GM officially closed down the entire EV1 project despite the long waiting lists and positive feedback from EV1 drivers. Why would the company that started the project in the first place, decide to shut in down without even 20 years
Out of the many different kind of cars on the road today, one car stands above the rest. With its zero emissions and sleek design, the General Mortars EV 1 was unstoppable. This car runs entirely without gas or oil of any kind. It runs only on electric power which makes it very eco-friendly. This car was the answer to the smog problem in California and would soon be able to help stop global warming and more of our planets environmental issues. So, why are there none of these cars on the road today? Who made sure that none of these EV 1’s where ever mass produced. Who killed the electric car?
This act did not go unnoticed by the public. Consumers were outraged by the recalling of the EV1’s. They wanted to know why someone would get rid of a car that would help out the environment and would make things better for future generations. Someone is to blame for killing the electric car, but whom? Was it the big oil companies and their fear of losing money? Could it be the battery technology in the EV1’s that was faulty? Maybe it was the CARB (California Resources Board) who did not want to support the project. Or was it the consumers themselves who would not accept the idea of a seemingly unreliable car? Chris Pine, the director of the documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” says that all these factors are to blame. But, there could only be one who could take the name of Car Killer.
The car companies are the biggest suspect in killing the electric car. General Motors was the car company that started the EV1 project. They started leasing them publicly in 1997. All 660 that were available for lease, got leased. Then in 2000, tragedy struck as all EV1’s were recalled and the plant was closed down. In 2003 GM officially closed down the entire EV1 project despite the long waiting lists and positive feedback from EV1 drivers. Why would the company that started the project in the first place, decide to shut in down without even 20 years