At the turn of the century there were more electricvehicles than...

At the turn of the century there were more electric
vehicles than petrol driven cars.By 1920 the petrol
engine was dominant.

Because of air pollution, the Californian resource board
[CRB] in 1990 passed a zero emission vehicle mandate,
meaning that if auto makers wanted to sell a car in
California, 10% of their cars had to have no exhaust.

Enter the electric EV1 coupe.GM marketed the car in
California and Arizona between 1996/2000.Plug in
stations were provided as well as home sockets for
recharge.Sales were by lease agreement only.

GM at the time didn't like being forced to make electric
cars via the CRB.By 2000 several consumer groups with the
backing of "big oil" had begun a negative newspaper and
television campaign suggesting that the EV1s environmental
advantages were dubious. [coal for electricity]

Auto makers Chrysler and General Motors sued the CRB and
with the help of the Federal Government forced them to drop
the zero emission legislation.

GM truly believed the EVI wouldn't be a success.It became
a fight for principles on being told "what to do" and the
type of vehicle to build.[they should have listened]

GM made a decision to buy the Hummer from AM General in
Dec/99 and in Jan 2000 GM closed its EV1 assembly line.

By April 2003 California had killed the the electric car
mandate, with GM re-enforcing that their decision to drop
the electric car,was that it didn't meet the needs of the
people.Subsequent surveys concluded that the EV1 met 90%
of the customers requirements.

The EV1s used the common lead/acid batteries..however an
inventor Stan Oshinsky had already developed the nickle
metal hydrate battery which gave twice the performance.

GM had a controlling interest in Oshinsky's company,
eventually Oil majors brought out GMs share of the
battery maker and shut him down.Oil companies lobbied
to contain the EV1,for fear of the tech spreading across
the country.

GM gathered up all the leased UV1s took them to the auto
graveyard where they were crushed and shredded.Toyota
lined up with their Rav EVs as did Ford and Honda with
their electric trucks and "new" cars respectively.

Many Californians tried to stop GM from destroying the
last batch of 78 that were destined the same fate by
presenting GM with a cheque for $US 1.9 M, GM refused.

What killed the electric car....
lack of company wisdom,
Big oil and the CRB,
and the American people,for they didn't embrace the idea
that vehicles could have these limited ranges and still be
functional,useful and practical.

With Peak Oil everything has changed.

Toyota stated last month that by 2020 the hybrid would
become the company's standard drive train and would account
for 100% of their new cars.A fully electric car is also
on their agenda.

China may well pass Japan this year as the worlds largest
car manufacture.Not only by producing more cars,but
utilizing its REEs in superior battery technology,for
mass electric vehicle production,and they are heading
this way.

Electric vehicles are being built in the U.S.that travel
distances of 550 KMs on one charge and reach speeds of
140 klm per hour.

The fight about electric cars is a fight about the future.
Lack of leadership in Governments cannot be used as an
excuse for much longer.

Stan Oshinsky said that if you want to start a revolution,
don't grab a gun.Start using science and technology,and
see where that gets you.

Where does Cougar fit into all this, well......
picture an electric car parked alongside an electric
sub station..and you guys are probably looking at the
future.

HM.