These are all little factoids taken from the documentary Who Killed The Electric Car?
EV1
Electric car, capable of 80-90mph and a 60-80 mile range
California Air Resources Board
First proposed Zero Emissions Mandate
After pressure from car companies (sued) they eliminated it.
GM only leased their EV1, never sold them
They reposessed the cars after the leases ended
They crushed and shredded every single EV1
Ovonic Oshinsky battery
First purchased by GM
Wasn't included in EV1 until 2 years after
Later sold to Chevron/Texaco
Oil companies lobbied hard to build opposition to the electric car
Editorials in newspapers
Claims that environmental benefits from electric cars were "dubious"
They had bought up and shut down the Pacific Electric Trolley Car system before
Combined profits of ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, Connoco-Phillips
2003: $33b
2004: $47b
2005: $64b
Confidential 1995 memo by the American Automobile Manufacturers Association
Looking to hire a PR firm to 'create a grassroots campaign to create a climate to repeal the Zero Emissions Mandate' by the ARB
Feared they could not turn bigger profits on electrics and hybrids
Toyota sold 150,000 hybrids in 2005, expecting 50% increase in 2006. Actual numbers:
Feared the loss of profit from parts of internal combustion engine
GM dedicated more resources to the Hummer
Gov Schwarzenegger had a hydrogen Hummer special-made for promotional appeareances.
Hydrogen was seen as a temporary bait-and-switch away from electric - ARB boardmember
Idea of large vehicle caught on faster (even though we've seen it crushed like a tin can right here in Jefferson Parish)
2003 stimulus moved people towards large cars like Hummers due to attractive tax breaks - 60 Minutes
Maximum federal tax credit for an electric vehicle in 2002:
$4,000
Maximum federal tax deduction 6000lbs+ vehicle in 2003:
$100,000
GM buys Hummer from AM General in December 1999
One month later, GM closes their EV1 Assembly line in Lansing, Michigan
Federal govt sued California to stop the electric car
Andrew H Card, Jr Chief of Staff (2000-2006) (Former VP of GM)
Also President and CEO of AAMA
Federally Mandated Average Fuel Economy In Cars (CAFE)
Increases dramatically over ten year period from 1975 to 1985
Stays the same over twenty year period from 1985 to 2005
Jimmy Carter big on energy, "never use more foreign oil than this nation did in 1977"
Oil imports:
1977: 8.8 million barrels per day
2005: 13.5 million barrels per day
Ronald Reagan
Radically different energy policies
Even took down solar panels Jimmy Carter put up
6 OPEC nations drop prices on oil during Reagan's admin
Clinton
Compromise on hybrid (gasoline-electric) over alternative fuel technologies
GWB
Development on hybrids drops
Toyota and Honda push forward development of hybrids to stay ahead of American auto manufacturers
Average fuel economy as of 2006
Japanese hybrid vehicles: 42mpg
American hybrid vehicles: 25mpg
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