Now Showing on Autoblog: Who Killed the Electric Car?
I didn't go see the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? when it was originally released in theaters on June 28th. For whatever reason, many of you may not have either. So I'm happy to report that the film is available to watch in its entirety (and in good quality) right here on the site thanks to Google Video. It seems to have been uploaded by Truth911.com at some point (don't know when), what by all measures appears to be a conspiracy theorist site. But I'm less interested in the site that did this than in the movie itself, which I just watched in full for the first time.
My thoughts about the electric car and the pursuit of alternative fuels and power sources has certainly changed after watching the film, though I'm reticent to say the documentary presented a fair argument for its conclusions. Like many modern documentaries, the film relies heavily on emotion and the pulling of heart strings while at the same time presenting some misleading claims as facts. Check out this article by Karl Brauer, editor of Edmunds.com, to see these claims presented as they should've been. However, the film did leave me with a sense that a) regardless of its motives, GM missed an opportunity to parlay its investment in the EV1 project into further research and development on new battery technologies or at least hybrid drivetrains that could present electric propulsion in a package more acceptable to the mainstream consumer, and b) that hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are currently benefiting from a big PR push right now that doesn't guarantee in 20 years that they'll be able to offer better performance and range than a pure electric vehicle, especially considering how fast batteries are advancing thanks to other industries that heavily rely on the technology (i.e. the personal computer industry).
One particular point I liked in favor of EVs was the lack of infrastructure they require. The idea of not having to visit a gas station every week or so because the energy my vehicle requires can be delivered to my garage across powerlines is certainly appealing, and lack of a delivery infrastructure is one of the major impediments facing not only hydrogen, but also other alternative fuels like E85 ethanol.
Anyways, I highly recommend you watch the film, if not just to have it under your belt and to be able to say you saw it. Feel free to discuss its finer points in the comments after you're done, but keep it intelligent and on point.
Also, here are just a few great related posts from AutoblogGreen about the film and issues surrounding it that have been published since its release in theaters.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mac Pinscher 4:48PM (10/15/2006)
I've read same article on http://www.autobloggreen.com/
few months ago
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hj 3:44PM (10/15/2006)
Funny how no other automaker has made a purely electric car.
Who killed the electric car? Sorry bleeding heart anti-oil libs, it was the market. Nobody wanted an electric car and no automaker has found a way to mass produce one and maintain a profit. Battery technology is still a long way off from making electric vehicles practical for everyday use. That's why toyota and honda focused on hybrids instead of a purely electric vehicle.
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qaz 3:56PM (10/15/2006)
maybe this is why mitsubishi suddenly decided to not make electric cars
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hj 4:00PM (10/15/2006)
Funny how the 1 company that puts out an electric car gets bashed for it. That's typical lib logic.
Who killed the electric car? The market, period. Gas was cheap, people wanted bigger more powerful cars, you make them what they want becuase as an automaker you're out to make $$$. Why pump millions of RnD into technology that wont prove profitable for 15 years especially in the global cutthroat competitive market that we've had for the past 20 years.
Everyone with any engineering knowledge knows that becuase of battery technology we won't see practical 100% electric cars for a long time. That's why toyota developed the hybrid instead of going all out electric.
Definition of a liberal: Someone who is so open minded their brain falls out.
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DPC car videos 4:01PM (10/15/2006)
Long video but very informative.
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Punk Rawk Paulie 4:01PM (10/15/2006)
Electric cars are just too expensive to make and maintain. Contrary to the evinronmental wackos, car manufacturers are FOR PROFIT and not a NON PROFIT. Maybe if some of these leftists actually RAN A BUSINESS, they'd get this simple economic concept.
Sure, it would be great ot have electric cars or other modes of transporation that didn't rely on foreign oil (we could have tons of domestic oil but the same environmental zealots who hate oil companies made it even more difficult to drill here in the US) but the technology is with gas engines..and soon diesel engines. Until other technologies become cheaper, we are stuck with gas burning engines.
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RP 4:11PM (10/15/2006)
The segment on the auto-repair industry was eye-opening. I'm not sure how much money the car dealers make on service vs. sales, but you could see maintenance being a lot simpler with no oil, gas, fuel injectors, intake, exhaust, emissions controls, simpler 2-speed tranny, etc. It sounds like there's almost no maintenance... just swap out the batteries every 8-15 years.
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Shawn 4:14PM (10/15/2006)
It was me. I'm the one that killed the electric car. I lured it into my basement with some batteries. There I hooked up its tailpipes to electros and tortured it for hours until the dashboard shorted. Then I dismembered it with a gas powered chainsaw and recycled it.
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zz 4:14PM (10/15/2006)
"Like many modern documentaries, the film relies heavily on emotion and the pulling of heart strings while at the same time presenting some misleading claims as facts. "
Yes which is why I call it TOTAL ENVIRO WACKJOB BS!
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RP 4:17PM (10/15/2006)
Some clever ideas being mentioned with EVs: (not sure how feasible they all are, but seems doable)
1. When it's hot outside, when you stop at a store/restaurant, you can leave the A/C running in your car so it's nice and cool when you return.
2. When it's cold outside... keep your car warm by running the heater while you're away from your car.
3. If you forget to turn off your headlights -- who cares. The batteries can run them for days.
4. Charge your EV's batteries at night, when electrical rates are lower (in some areas). If you come home during the day (when rates are higher), and you have power left in your EVs batteries, use it to power your house. (Time shifting of power)
5. If utility power goes out, run your house from your EV's remaining charge.
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Tyler Lonczak 4:22PM (10/15/2006)
Another reason for not having EV is that our power companies could not handle the demand. Remember the power problems (e.g. the blackouts) the North east (USA) was having a year ago? I don't see how it would be possible given our stressed power plants to provide enough electricity to switch to EV. Also, while I believe we need to do something about our dependence on oil pointing the finger and saying GM is the problem is ignorant and is not helping with the problem. Perhaps EV is not the way to go.
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cars specifications 4:32PM (10/15/2006)
One hour and half of video more than intersting.
Thanks
http://www.carsprofile.com/
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Andy 5:03PM (10/15/2006)
99% of people with an IQ would tell you that EVs didn't sell because the larger public didn't want them over sporty cars and trucks. Contrary to the documentary's view, the EV-1 was not a fast, sexy sports car. It was a small, slow econo-box. GM is a capitalist enterprise. If the EV-1 was a big money-maker, GM would pump out a million per year. The EV-1 wasn't. You can get a hundred celebs and environmentalists--that doesn't change the facts. Yeah--Ralph Nader and a laid-off GM employee really does a lot for defense of GM.
My opinion about the movie? It's the most un-bias documentary since Fahrenheit 9/11. I love the old ad about Iraqi oil. There is good news for EV lovers. The Tesla Roadster has been a hit, offering a 250 mi. range and a top speed in excess of 130 mph. The numbers are close to the Venturi Fetish's, which came out before and cost $670,000. The Tesla runs for $100,000 and ran past the Venturi sales in just months. That’s a step forward.
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nab2420 5:10PM (10/15/2006)
It is helarious that they use Naked Gun as a source! LOL!
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Peter 5:07PM (10/15/2006)
I am 30 mins in now. Everything seems pretty realistic and balanced.
The car companies were not interested. And the oil companies fought it hard.
I would be there in a heartbeat with decent batteries. I think Hybrids, will lead to plug in Hybrids, to eventually full blown electrics. It is only a matter of time.
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Colin L 11:29PM (10/24/2006)
I think most of you are missing the real point here. I havent even watched the movie yet and I get it. I worked in the car business for 5 years and watched the hybrid being brought in. You talk about the impractical application of electrical cars due to cost. Just so you know depending on the auto maker (and only 2 have a truely "hybrid" car) you will pay between 10,000 and 15,000 MORE for the same car you would buy in gas just to get it in hybrid form. Guess what? People are STILL buying them. I think that the auto manufacturers back then didn't think into the future and what the electric car could have done. If they continued with the production of the car and DIDN'T scrap it the technology in 2006 for battery power would be leaps and bounds ahead of what it is right now. Its just closed mindedness that got us where we are.
Oh yeah ... as for the practical use of the car in terms of operating cost?? Have any of you heard of Regenerative Braking where the car uses the energy from everyday braking (and in this day and age lets face it we use our brakes ALOT) to rechardge the BATTERIEES while you are driving.
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peter 5:29PM (10/15/2006)
tesla motors...
Hopefully they will not be bough out by anyone. So we will be able to see more mass produces electric cars.
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Young 5:50PM (10/15/2006)
No closed caption?
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Electric hype 5:53PM (10/15/2006)
#17. Tesla motors doesn't mass produce their cars. They are very limited (100) so far. And at ~$90k not quite a car that your average person will be able to afford.
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Robert 6:13PM (10/15/2006)
I think it’s unfortunate that the movie was uploaded by truth911.com because it makes it a bit easier for the curmudgeons to dismiss it, though I doubt they need any prodding. Has anyone who denounces the movie actually watched it?
To say there is no market for an EV is without question a lie. The real question is the viability of it as a mass market product. Without a revolutionary advance in battery capacity I can’t see any EV paralleling the 64 Mustang or 86 Taurus. Still there’s no reason it can’t work as a niche product just as everything outside the Accord, Camry, and Civic has become. That’s a major point the movie makes that even as a severely compromised vehicle the EV1 has a fanatic following by people willing to pay. Now those people are likely loyal Prius owners and no one can argue with Toyotas profitability.
#11 Tyler does bring up the point that our existing electric infrastructure would be unable to handle EVs. I don’t see it as a legitimate argument against them because like any commodity as demand rises spending on its procurement will follow. Just look at the lengths we go to obtain and transport petroleum. Whether it’s due to poor policy, uncertain profits, or the chaotic nature of the underlying physics of it the electrical grid is not as robust as it should be, but EVs could actually help streamline the system. If rates are adjusted so it’s advantageous for EV owners to charge when demand is low it lessens fluctuations in the system and justifies efficient baseline power plants.
I don’t understand why people are so quick to dismiss the fact that a number of parties have money to loose in a multibillion dollar business if EVs become mainstream. Its obvious dealers would loose out on lucrative maintenance and petroleum producers would have a new competitor for consumer dollars. Does anyone actually believe that they didn’t lobby to have the EV1 marginalized? It would be reckless for them not to. It’s not a conspiracy theory, it plain and simple business.
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