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The EV1 was supposed to be the next big thing in America. It had a good start in California where major supporters augmented its popularity and growth. Los Angeles was one of the dirtiest, most polluted cities in the country, but in 1996 General Motors set out to change things. With the first electric car on the road to success, the California Air and Resource (CAR) board set new, higher fuel efficiency and production standards for automakers in California. Auto companies including GM could not comply; they wanted the new standards to be repealed immediately. There were plenty of other industries rooting for the EV1 to fail. Oil companies especially did all they could to stop the news of the car from getting out. They did not want to lose any business. In order to prove that the EV1 was not in high enough demand, GM literally tracked down owners and took their cars from them. Why go to this extreme? They did not want to have to deal with the pressure to produce so many electric cars; so the only way to truly fix this was to convince the board that nobody wanted them. The CAR board did what the automakers wanted and repealed the standards to their original lower form. Electric cars, when not being stripped from the streets, have increased over the years, and have proven effective for the average person. The efficiency, affordability and simplicity of electric cars make them the most sensible choice when looking to help the environment and yourself through buying a car. You, as a consumer, need to express your want for such a car.

One of the biggest upsides to the all electric car is the fact that it doesn’t use a drop of gasoline. If you were to drive 40 miles, the average gasoline powered car would cost you $4.80. This is four times more than the $1.12 spent if you were driving an electric car. With the variance in today’s gasoline prices, you never know how much you’re spending to fill up your tank. On virtually all highways there are hundreds of gas stations awaiting your arrival. In an interview with Elon Musk of Tesla Motors, he expressed his hope that battery swap stations will take the place of gas stations in America. Here, you would swap out your car’s old battery for a new one that can easily be placed in the car. Your replaced battery would be charged and then swapped for another person’s used battery. And if these stations don’t become convenient enough, you can use an onboard charger while your car is not in use. Different types of batteries have been tested for safety reasons to try and expand range. Jim Motavalli’s book, Forward Drive discusses how the EV1, with its lead-acid battery, and other electric cars are good for day to day activities, but are not as useful for long distance trips. According to an article by Charlie Gillis called “Who Revived the Electric Car?”, the most promising seems to be the lithium ion battery which is more affordable. This type is the kind used in cell phones and computers.

There is a big hustle and bustle about the environment these days. The push towards sustainable energy resources and attempts to decrease pollution and global climate change has engrossed our lives and will continue to do so until we solve the ever growing problem. Luckily, electric cars can be the first big improvement for our environment. Automobiles account for 25% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced in the United States and with more cars on the road every year, we cannot afford to wait any longer to take action. Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas responsible for the warming of the planet; it traps heat and reflects it back towards the surface of the earth. Obviously, the government is as slow as molasses when it comes to passing legislation, so this needs to become a personal problem. Take it into your own hands. It is impossible to control what others do, but you can control yourself and that is what you need to do when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions. Even if only half of the cars on the road were electric, that would still half the automobile emissions. Also, if cars become “greener”, this will push other aspects of our society to follow. Houses, businesses and factories could be next.

One of the most popular cars on the road today is the Toyota Prius; this gasoline-electric mix has definitely increased the popularity of such hybrids. When one car company gains success, that causes opposing makers to have to come out with a similar car to counter it. Hybrids may sound like all that, but Musk believes that they are not as good as they are made out to be. He says that when a gasoline powered car is mixed with an electric powered one, the result is a weaker car. However, Stephen Dolezalek, in an article by Jeff Tollefson, says that more affordable, environmentally friendly hybrids will appear first and they will eventually evolve into pure electric ones. Even hybrids reduce the overall price you spend on your car. While they cost more initially, the upkeep and lack of gasoline save you loads more in the long run.

Chris Paine’s documentary called Who Killed the Electric Car? summarizes the history of the EV1 and its short lived life in California. The film informs us that consumers, regardless of price, would choose an electric car over a gasoline powered one. The benefits of electric cars on the economy and environment are astounding. Car buyers need to show their interest in them and hope that automakers comply with their request. It’s all up to the car companies to come out with an affordable car that is available to everyone.

SOURCES:
http://www.ev1.org/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10384917-54.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x177412
http://www.macleans.ca/business/companies/article.jsp?content=20081001_44826_44826
http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2008-12/charging-ahead (interview)
Who Killed the Electric Car?-Chris Paine (Documentary)
Forward Drive-Jim Motavalli (book)