What are Electric Cars?
The electric vehicle (EV), or, more colloquially, ZEV electric car, is gaining traction as a viable alternative form of personal transportation, and remains just out of arms' reach as a mainstream way to get around. The cars run on energy stored in large packs of batteries instead of the more conventional internal combustion engine, making them very attractive to those concerned with using less oil and causing fewer greenhouse gas emissions. When driving, they don't emit any carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas, nor any nitrogen oxide or other smog-forming compound. The first electric car to be commercially available in the US, General Motors' EV1, is pictured above, and much was made about who killed the electric car; keep reading to get the scoop on whodunit.
Before we dive in to the EV1, a little context: historically, EVs have had issues with high battery costs, limited travel distance between battery recharging, charging time, and battery lifespan, which have limited widespread adoption. Ongoing battery technology advancements have addressed many of these problems; many models have recently been prototyped, and a growing handful of future production models have been announced. Toyota, Honda, Ford and General Motors all produced EVs in the 1990s in order to comply with the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, which was later defeated by the manufacturers and the federal government.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Who killed the Electric Car? Who was responsible for the catastrophe?
I know there were different players who sabotaged the successful electric car prototype in California, but who?And what about the whole executive branch in the decision to all this?
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ANSWER:
Electric cars have had several incarnations. They died out when electric starters were put in petrol vehicles. They died out as extensive trolley lines when a conspiracy bought out companies eliminated the tracks. They died out again when automakers successfully sued the California Air resources board collectively and each member individually. Each time they have returned. And each time a stronger vehicle is presented. Chris Paine's new movie is called "Revenge of the Electric Car" and just recently been shown at the Tribecca Film Festival. Reviewers claim it is an uplifting movie with a positive message: The electric vehicle is back.Tesla Motors has sold over 1500 of their roadsters. Electric vehicle sales for the first quarter of this year have topped 7000 vehicles (BLOMBERG news) We presently have the Leaf and many new models of electric vehicles are scheduled to be released in the fall of this year.
Especially with higher gas prices people are beginning to discover that electric vehicles are not for everyone. Presently only about 80% of the population has a commute that will accommodate an electric vehicle.
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QUESTION:
Who is the Solar Panel Company in the documentary: Who Killed the Electric Car?
I am doing some research on flexible solar panels, for school, and I remembered that the company in the documentary produced, but I cannot remember, for the life of me, the company from Who killed the Electric Car?Any help is very appreciated. Thanks!
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ANSWER:
use perhaps the Riemann's dzeta function
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QUESTION:
What are your thoughts on the documentary - Who Killed The Electric Car?
I just watched the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car"
I was just wonder if anyone has more information on this subject and what are your feelings on the movie. Do you think it is accurate? What groups can I jion to help bring it back? I live in Chicago and this debate was mostly in California. So does anyone know of groups in Illinios?-
ANSWER:
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Great movie!
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Here'a a site where hundreds of electric vehicle owners show off their cars:
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http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/
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In fact, here's my EV:
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http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/775
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Check out the links on that site for EV groups all over the country. in particular, the Electric Auto Association has local groups in many places:
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http://www.eaaev.org/
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A few interesting EVs for sale either now or very soon - this one can charge in 10 minutes:
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http://66.218.37.153/index.htm
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This one is a sports car that can beat a Ferrari:
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http://www.teslamotors.com
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Here's a Chinese import that gets 200 miles per charge:
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http://milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html
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This one is slow, but cute as hell - and only ,000:
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http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=188
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And this page is all about how an EV can save the average driver lots of money. And also about where to find EV conversions that cost as little as 00:
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http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car/
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QUESTION:
Who killed the electric car in you opinion?
based on the documentary
Who killed the electric car? this is mid 1900s by the way
this is for a project lol-
ANSWER:
The public killed the electric car. If give a choice between a car that has a limited range and one that basically has an unlimited range which would you choose. The public picked the one with unlimited range.Hate to say it's that simple but it's that simple.
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QUESTION:
Is "Who Killed the Electric Car" an appropriate movie to show my students?
I teach a seminar on global warming and pollution at a 4-year college in Boston. I thought "Who Killed the Electric Car" might be an interesting movie to show my students, but does the movie's condemnation of GM and American politics make it inappropriate?Btw, the viewing would be optional as I am planning to show it on a school holiday.
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ANSWER:
I doubt I will earn the 10 points, but have you considered if it is legal?Copyright laws can be sensitive issues--especially at some universities.
If you are legal, then I say show it. College students need exposure to all ideas.
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QUESTION:
Social Essay: Who killed the electric car?
It is a 7 paragraph social essay and the question is "who killed the electric car?"The three body paragraphs will focus on car companies, oil companies, and the government/CARB.
Does anyone have any tips or any points or good evidence I could use?
I'm really stuck and appreciate everyone's help!
Thanks.
I have seen the movie-
ANSWER:
Land developers and zoning killed the electric car. And not out of any desire to kill electric cars. Most electrics don't have the capabilities to cope with modern American population distributions. So you're going to have to look way earlier than CARB for your answer.And if you're going to go on about the darling of the movie by the same name (which, BTW, is why this is a terrible name for your essay...I hope that's your professor's idea and not yours), the EV-1, it's because the cars cost GM hundreds of thousands of dollars for which they made tens of thousands of dollars. It was an experiment. It was never meant to not be killed.
No one killed it, it was basically stillborn.
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