Learn about the History and Future of the Electric Car

The electric car has come and gone for many years.  During the early 1900’s there were electric cars on the roads, but cheap power had never been an issue.  By 1920, the internal combustion engine had been created and it took over the streets and cars were truly born.  Unfortunately, no one could predict the damage that cars would have on our environment.  Gas was cheaper all around at one point in time, paired with speed and the ability of mass production; it is no wonder why it took over the car industry.  Why do we not see alternatives now?  There are a few, but none have made it as far or had consumer interest as the electric car. 

Smog has become more apparent in the last 30 years. In fact, in 1989 15 to 25 percent of the California population had some sort of lung disease.  California has hit many Stage 1 smog alerts and CA is the number one location in the world for air pollution.  Gasoline produces 19 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon and this gas is a big part of global warming.  Due to the populations in California and the already “bad air”, people have tried many times to invent a car that is better for the environment along with trying new legislation that would help auto makers in this process. 

The California Air Resources board was created and in 1990 the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate was introduced.  Many people thought that this would help global warming.  This mandate enforced that if car makers wanted to produce vehicles to sell in CA some of those must be zero emission.  Auto companies resisted, but they did comply.  GM’s Saturn division introduced the EV1.  This car was fast, quiet, and something new to change the environment.  The cost was the same and consumers could get around 70-80 miles per charge.  There were many skeptics afraid that consumers wouldn't catch on to the EV1.  There were no TV advertisements and it was said that only the wealthy could afford these vehicles.  The automakers had to have something or prove that there was no demand for the electric car.  So TV ads were made, but they were not very friendly.  It was hard to get an electric vehicle even if you were wealthy.  There were some that had them.  Tom Hanks and Mel Gibson were some few celebrities who truly enjoyed their electric car, but the public believes that GM didn't try hard enough to create a demand for them. 

By 2001 the EV1 production line began to close shop.  Automakers sued the California Resources Board and eventually there would be a large fight that in the end would shut down all production of the electric car.  Now, put this with the backing the president was giving to the technology, and it’s hard to believe hydrogen fuel and the electric car was becoming just a memory.  April 24, 2003 the mandate was killed and people began to see their leased electric cars taken away.  They were not given any choice.  They offered to pay for the cars, but no choice was given.  People had to turn them in or suffer the consequences laid out by law.  It didn’t matter who you were or what you did, you had to give up your car.  What did they do with them?  They were found sitting in a parking lot.  The EV1’s sat there for a long while and then they were gone.  Eventually they were found in a GM racetrack in Mesa, AZ crushed and stacked.  They were going to recycle them. 

There are many people who contributed to this massacre of cars.  There is not one person or company to blame.  However, automakers, big oil, and consumers all had a fair share in this.  Consumers couldn't see a difference in the electric car other than price.  GM sold their interest in the electric battery to Texaco/Chevron.  And the oil companies eventually crushed the battery.  So who killed the electric car?  EVERYONE.

With the changing mind set of Americans due to global warming and peak oil, the electric car is poised for a comeback.  Innovative technologies and companies are coming forward to meet the high demand for the fuel efficient and environmentally friendly electric car. Even the oil industry cannot stop this new surge.