The Rise of the Electric Car (Again)

impelmented? Could a plan that involves widespread charging stations convince people to ditch the gas-guzzling SUVs in exchange for a hatchback that plugs into the wall?

GM and the EPRI want to dispel any myths about battery-powered cars while also working with public policy leaders to ease the transition from petroleum to electricity as a fuel source. They will be planning public awareness campaigns to educate the public on how to safely charge your electric car.

General Motors VP of Global Program Management Jon Lauckner views the partnership as nothing short of a "plug-in revolution." He said in a statement: "We are focused on creating affordable, highly desired vehicles that will take advantage of the grid - and providing accessible, reliable, convenient low cost electricity to plug-in customers."

Electric cars are even getting their share of attention in political discourse. John McCain has expressed how the Chevy Volt is "the future of America and the world."

McCain is also offering a $300 million prize to anyone who creates a first battery with the "the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars." By the way, the prize money is twelves times the amount offered for the capture of Osama Bin Laden.

But as much hype as there is behind the electric car, questions still remain: if a power station can only give the Volt, say, 40 miles per charge, what happens to drivers with longer commutes to work? How expensive will these cars be? And will gas and oil executives truly let the electric car flourish, or will they play a role in its demise once again.

Digital Journal TV delves inside GM's new partnership to find out what consumer benefits electric cars offer. What do you think: Will this finally be the era of the electric car, or a fad soon to be replaced like old tires?

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• digitaljournal
• david
• silverberg
• electric
• car
• hybrid
• general
• motors
• chevy
• volt

[Redshift21]

GM.... weren't they the guys who had a great electric car out ten years ago and then killed it off ?

[heartlessvietboy]

Heck! Forget to charge your car? If we can use a 400 volt or higher electric charging unit, electric cars can be charged in 25 minutes. Twenty five minutes for you to use the restroom, grab a snack and a drink, sit down in the shade and read a magazine.

[MrBry329]

hey redshift one you are right gm fraightliner and international if i am correct had alot to do with it and they still cant make a hybrid because of toyota is there cousin the hell with gm

[voivod616]

Nobody foresees someone steeling your plugin cord? Dont charge your battery CHANGE it . Not CHARGING stations CHANGING stations . They need to standardize battery size, connection, and location in the car. Then make it easy to change. Let someone else charge the batteries at a central location while you just pull up to the station and swap your low battery for a full one.

[SuperMagnetizer]

I love the electric car, but I'd never buy one from GM (Government Motors). Ford all the way, baby !!

[UNDguy1987]

I wanna know how they plan to get an electric car to work in Minnesota or North Dakota or Canada in the middle of winter. We all know what happens to batteries in in Sub zero Temps.

[3089280288]

@heartlessvietboy Someone can park in front and unplug from the other car and plug it into thier car with all that extra line.

[heartlessvietboy]

Do not install charging units on our public streets!!! Wires hanging around is an eye sore!!!

[sukha55]

cant someone just take out the plug?

[sukha55]

@ectopet there is going to be more then one charging station so you wouldn't have to wait for another car to get done charging. And that what the video talks about... building the infrastructure so you wouldn't have to go through all of that.

[katakisLives]

I don't see why these charge stations cannot be everywhere! you pay to park in a multistory car park they should throw in a charge bollard for free, office car parks should have them and schools etc.