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| The Original Electric Car: The GV1 |
A hundred years ago, more electric cars were used than gas
vehicles. Then, the automobile industry
started to advertise gas guzzlers as sexy, fast cars, and those took off
running. It wasn’t until the early 1990s, that electric vehicles rolled back
into action. In efforts to control the horrendous air quality, The California Air Resources Board (CARB) passed the Zero
Emissions Vehicle Mandate in 1990 which set targets on the number of electric vehicles
California Car Companies had to produce. The EV1, introduced
by General Motors (GM) in 1996 set precedent for a speedy and slick electric
vehicle.
However, the automobile industries that were creating
electric vehicles were the same ones fighting the mandate. In a confidential 1995
memo, the American Automobile Manufactures Association wrote that they sought
to hire a PR firm to create a “grassroots educational campaign” to repeal the
mandate. Even more shocking was the challenge they were fighting so hard to prevent: a “greater consumer acceptance of electric vehicles.” Companies like
GM lobbied CARB to compromise the mandate, and ultimately ended up dismantling
their electric cars and EV1 staff in 2001.
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| A EV1 Vigil after GM reports to take back cars |
Even though people who had EV1s loved them, GM ultimately
forced these people to give up their leases and took all their cars off the
road. The film shows people begging to keep their beloved cars, and then
flashes to GM taking the same cars to get crushed in the Arizona desert. Tom
Everhart, who was on the GM board from 1989-2002, said that many people in the
company didn’t believe the car could make a profit. Meanwhile, there were
waiting lists 4,000 people long waiting to buy these cars. People loved them so
much that there were vigils for the cars, when GM announced they were
taking them away.
Some may blame the car as not being high-tech
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| Photos of crushed EV1s in Arizona Desert |
This car’s journey has not been an easy one. It has found
itself stuck in many potholes, and only now is it having the opportunity to get
out. It is important for corporations and people to remember their mistakes, so the next great solution doesn't find itself stuck behind so many red lights.Everything you need to know...
