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GM: Aren't you the guys who killed the electric car?

7K views 7 replies 2 participants last post by  Jason M. Hendler 
#1 ·
http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/articles/index.jsp?id=2

Aren't You the Guys Who Killed the Electric Car?

We are the guys that developed and launched EV1, the first modern-day electric vehicle, back in 1996. We are also the guys that devoted tremendous resources to design, engineer, and market this vehicle. Although the technical innovation and marketing efforts behind the EV1 were unparalleled, only 800 people were willing to lease the EV1. Yes, the EV1 quickly became the worldwide benchmark for electric vehicles, but its timing wasn't quite right. When GM launched the EV1, gas was cheap, there wasn't a war in Iraq, and there was less discussion about global warming. There were far fewer reasons for people to make the trade-offs in their transportation lifestyle to make the EV1 work for them.
“We didn't kill the electric car; electric vehicle technology is far from dead.”

The good news is that both the technology and the GM team who developed the EV1 live on. Chevy's next generation of low- and zero-emission vehicles - Tahoe and Malibu Hybrids,(1) Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicles,(2) and our range-extended electric E-Flex system (found on the concept Volt) - all feature technologies and innovations from the EV1. We didn't kill the electric car; electric vehicle technology is far from dead.

- Jill Banaszynski
Manager of Electric Vehicle Programs
General Motors Corp.

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Evan: Man oh man, what a distortion. And some of you guys wonder why there are still so many people who doubt GM's dedication to the Volt. I'd way rather see something on the order of:
"Yes, we made a huge mistake in giving up on the EV1 and it has put us behind other automakers when we had a chance to be far ahead. But we are now making every effort to regain the market leadership with the development of the Volt and the rest of the E-flex system. We regret crushing the EV1 and that we alienated so many people who believed in GM and the EV1. It's a mistake we won't make again."
 
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#2 ·
The sad fact is, GM openly shared their hopes to produce electric cars in the future, and CARB rewarded that admission with a mandate that they had to sell EV's at a certain percent of total sales. Over zealous regulation killed the EV, not GM.

CARB is now getting it right, pacing demands with automaker capabilities and rewarding the automakers on a sliding scale for the hybrids they are already producing.

All parties recognize the impact that foreign energy has on the US economy, and all are working together to mainstream renewable energies in a manner that doesn't hurt the consumers.
 
#3 ·
There's no question that an overzealous CARB had an impact, but GM, Toyota, Ford and others also share responsibility for the dealth of the EV movement...as do consumers.
My only problem with this "FAQ" is the blatant denial of any responsibility by GM and the over lack of regret for what was done.

Do you not think that the sample response I posted would be better received and more honest than the one currently on the site?
 
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