Killing the Electric Car - USA

Sep 2006
Did General Motors deliberately sabotage the marketing of electric cars because they threatened the motor industry? That's the allegation made in a controversial new documentary.

Ten years ago, GM unveiled the EV1 -- the first electric car for the mass market. "The EV1 was really special because it was cool and fast and fun to drive," states former GM marketer Chelsea Sexton. "These cars were so good, they would challenge the status quo of the oil industry." But despite their popularity among owners, GM quickly pulled the plug on its new product. It claims there was simply no mass market. "You could only go 100 miles before you had to recharge it so had to adapt your lifestyle to meet the needs of the vehicle," states spokesman Dave Barthmuss. But other workers believe GM never intended the EV1s to work and were more interested in promoting Hummers. "We got indications along the way that they weren't as sincere as they would have people believe," states Sexton. All the EV1s had been leased, instead of sold, to their owners. When the leases expired, GM refused to renew them and sent the cars to be crushed. But demand for electric cars keeps on growing. Some enthusiasts have converted their own cars to run on electricity and claim they have invented a battery that will last for 500km.

Produced by SBS/Dateline
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Electric
• Car
• General
• Motors
• EV1
• environment
• Journeyman
• Pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman
• journeyman pictures

[USAon3]

GM scrapped an electric vehicle made a decade before the rest, with a range of 100 miles - and now markets a pseudo-hybrid with a range of only 40 miles - and they say it's "better"? I wonder how long before they start gathering up Volts to stack at the crusher. This is why there will never be another GM product in my garage.

Oh - and the Hummer? Other than the body, it's a Chevy Tahoe under the skin. But don't tell the testosterone-OD'ing pinhead who drives one that. His dick will shrink.

[pinkyzoey]

100K tax credit for a Hummer, 4k for an electric car.

[TheSportsbot]

i wonder what would help a battery keep the charge. any good ideas?

[casiliemanh1]

I very like supper car Well Come to you in usa iam from Vietname

[ClassActionHero]

I usually only put about 100 miles worth of gas in my car. That dude is full of shit.

[marybuggy1]

this man is full of shit ..

[marybuggy1]

next is the volt crush

[Seattlecarnut]

I'd buy an electric car if one were available. The idea of zero emission vehicle sounds better than having to rely on fossil based fuel. So why did General Motors kill the car? That doesn't make a lick of sense.

[eddiegogan]

america is addicted to fuck the world is true they go and kill for the oil in iraq