|
Who Killed The Electric Car
|
| 00:00:30 |
Ladies and gentlemen, |
| 00:00:35 |
to berieve the loss |
| 00:00:41 |
We are here today to say |
| 00:00:47 |
to say goodbye to an idea. |
| 00:00:51 |
Some might say that |
| 00:00:55 |
to mourn the loss of a car |
| 00:01:18 |
In 1996, electric cars began to appear |
| 00:01:25 |
They were quiet and fast, |
| 00:01:27 |
produced no exhaust |
| 00:01:32 |
Ten years later, these futuristic |
| 00:01:39 |
What happened? |
| 00:01:41 |
Why should we be haunted |
| 00:01:48 |
This wasn't the first time |
| 00:01:52 |
One hundred years ago, |
| 00:01:56 |
than there were gas cars. |
| 00:01:58 |
For many people electric |
| 00:02:02 |
They were quiet an smooth, |
| 00:02:08 |
Gas cars by comparison required |
| 00:02:14 |
I'm so old I remember electric cars, |
| 00:02:19 |
when they were around in the beginning. |
| 00:02:20 |
I would've been about six years old |
| 00:02:24 |
in that darling little electric car. |
| 00:02:27 |
They were very quiet, and it |
| 00:02:32 |
It was almost like |
| 00:02:38 |
What happened? |
| 00:02:39 |
Why did the gas car win |
| 00:02:44 |
As the 20th century gathered speed, |
| 00:02:47 |
the electric car lost momentum. |
| 00:02:49 |
Automatic starters, cheaper |
| 00:02:53 |
gave the edge to the gasoline car. |
| 00:02:57 |
By 1920, the internal combustion |
| 00:03:01 |
for control of the roads. |
| 00:03:03 |
And the modern automobile age was born. |
| 00:03:15 |
Of the hundreds of millions |
| 00:03:19 |
almost none were electric. |
| 00:03:22 |
They were sleek. |
| 00:03:25 |
And they gave Americans the open road. |
| 00:03:30 |
But as time went on, their |
| 00:03:37 |
Smog. |
| 00:03:49 |
California has the worst |
| 00:03:52 |
And it impacts some of our |
| 00:03:56 |
In my district, we have what is |
| 00:03:59 |
that hangs over the port areas |
| 00:04:03 |
We are seeing some |
| 00:04:08 |
asthma rates, cancer rates, |
| 00:04:14 |
children not being |
| 00:04:16 |
In 1989, a study found |
| 00:04:19 |
that one out of four 15 to 25 |
| 00:04:24 |
had severe lung lesions |
| 00:04:28 |
In 1990, there were 41 |
| 00:04:35 |
No matter what kind of car we drive, |
| 00:04:37 |
every gallon of gas we burn, |
| 00:04:39 |
adds 19 pounds of carbon dioxide to the air. |
| 00:04:44 |
The more gas we burn, |
| 00:04:48 |
If you don't do something with |
| 00:04:53 |
it's going up into the atmosphere |
| 00:04:54 |
and CO2 is a global warming gas. |
| 00:05:01 |
I believe the problems of |
| 00:05:05 |
than the problems of social security |
| 00:05:07 |
or even the problems of war on terrorism. |
| 00:05:10 |
We've got the equivalent of a nuclear time bomb |
| 00:05:13 |
on our hand, |
| 00:05:16 |
If lung disease from air |
| 00:05:20 |
if all those things don't count, |
| 00:05:24 |
And there's a public health crisis. |
| 00:05:25 |
But we have to have incentives |
| 00:05:29 |
Car companies experimented |
| 00:05:33 |
but none of them ever seem to |
| 00:05:37 |
I remember, I was the chairman of the |
| 00:05:42 |
and we were promoting the electric |
| 00:05:47 |
I had even planned a race |
| 00:05:50 |
from Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
| 00:05:53 |
between Paul Newman |
| 00:05:56 |
And I had it all lined up, and then |
| 00:06:01 |
but there were no cars in the showrooms. |
| 00:06:05 |
It would take a different kind of race to |
| 00:06:11 |
The Sunraycer was a solar-powered vehicle |
| 00:06:16 |
for the purpose of winning a race. |
| 00:06:19 |
In 1987, GM won the World Solar |
| 00:06:24 |
with a one-of-a-kind solar-powered |
| 00:06:28 |
Emboldened by their success, |
| 00:06:33 |
challenged the same design team to |
| 00:06:38 |
If we were to go full speed |
| 00:06:41 |
the electronics had to be good enough |
| 00:06:46 |
and that's where the work |
| 00:06:49 |
You've built the prototype |
| 00:06:53 |
Yes. Well, my garage |
| 00:06:55 |
it's a pretty good machine shop and electronics |
| 00:06:59 |
It's like a three-channel stereo amplifier. |
| 00:07:02 |
at right frequency to drive the motor |
| 00:07:07 |
So it's a 100 000 watt stereo amplifier. |
| 00:07:10 |
Alan's breakthrough power system |
| 00:07:14 |
unlike any that had |
| 00:07:21 |
They've kept this car also a secret, |
| 00:07:26 |
because it was all developed |
| 00:07:28 |
So it truly was a surprise |
| 00:07:30 |
to Los Angeles auto show. |
| 00:07:33 |
This is going to represent a great step |
| 00:07:36 |
commuting to work, |
| 00:07:39 |
if you don't have to go more |
| 00:07:42 |
Other than the jokes that we made |
| 00:07:44 |
about the wisdom of calling a vehicle the Impact |
| 00:07:48 |
it was very impressive, it was very high-tech |
| 00:07:53 |
that we've got this Corvette |
| 00:07:58 |
two-seater, slick styling, and that |
| 00:08:02 |
It was interesting. |
| 00:08:04 |
Program manager called me and said: |
| 00:08:07 |
"Would you like to be on the |
| 00:08:10 |
"That's fine. What do |
| 00:08:12 |
And he said: "Develop demand for |
| 00:08:16 |
I said: "Do you have any instructions?" |
| 00:08:18 |
He took a blank piece of paper, |
| 00:08:21 |
"No instructions. You go figure it out." At |
| 00:08:26 |
It got a lot of interest |
| 00:08:30 |
but it did something else. |
| 00:08:32 |
It caught the attention of the |
| 00:08:37 |
California's Air Resources Board, |
| 00:08:40 |
or CARB as it was known, |
| 00:08:42 |
saw the electric car as an |
| 00:08:46 |
Since GM had already announced |
| 00:08:49 |
that they were going to |
| 00:08:52 |
before we even adopted the mandate, |
| 00:08:56 |
the electric vehicle technology |
| 00:09:00 |
of greatest promise. |
| 00:09:02 |
Knowing a modern electric |
| 00:09:06 |
California regulators took a bold |
| 00:09:10 |
They passed the Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate. |
| 00:09:13 |
The mandate was simple. |
| 00:09:15 |
If automakers wanted to |
| 00:09:19 |
some of those cars would have |
| 00:09:23 |
They've decided to ramp it up. |
| 00:09:25 |
They said 2% in 1998, 5% in 2001 |
| 00:09:29 |
and 10% in 2003. |
| 00:09:31 |
For the car companies there |
| 00:09:34 |
Comply with the law or fight it. |
| 00:09:37 |
In the end, they would do both. |
| 00:09:57 |
The electric car is here. |
| 00:10:02 |
The EV1 from General Motors. |
| 00:10:04 |
The Impact prototype became the EV1, |
| 00:10:07 |
the first modern electric |
| 00:10:10 |
from a major US car company |
| 00:10:14 |
GM chose its Saturn division to market |
| 00:10:20 |
I'd bought my first Saturn at 17, |
| 00:10:23 |
"Do you want to come work here?" |
| 00:10:24 |
I thought it would be a good college job, |
| 00:10:27 |
I'll put myself through college this way. |
| 00:10:29 |
It turned out I loved the cars |
| 00:10:32 |
and three years later they announced |
| 00:10:37 |
There were the 13 of us, most of |
| 00:10:41 |
single, no kids - willing to do |
| 00:10:47 |
We all handled a particular |
| 00:10:50 |
Mine started as Los Angeles, |
| 00:10:51 |
and I've worked with everybody: |
| 00:10:56 |
I say, I say, I say Alexandra ! |
| 00:11:00 |
I have a picture of myself... |
| 00:11:02 |
just hearing the Saturn song... |
| 00:11:04 |
I had one of those early EV1's, |
| 00:11:09 |
I love the car. |
| 00:11:11 |
It's everything Americans want in a car. |
| 00:11:15 |
They're cool, fast, sexy. |
| 00:11:23 |
It was fairly reasonably priced. |
| 00:11:28 |
I haven't tried accelerating too much, |
| 00:11:31 |
I'm afraid I'll get a ticket, |
| 00:11:34 |
Believe it or not, that sucker goes. |
| 00:11:36 |
It will take you down the Pacific Coast |
| 00:11:44 |
I did kind of feel like Batman... |
| 00:11:48 |
And the way it takes |
| 00:11:51 |
You know, I have this gate that opens... |
| 00:11:55 |
You'd get inside, |
| 00:11:57 |
and the lighting is beautiful. |
| 00:12:01 |
It was quiet. |
| 00:12:08 |
The car was so fast it looked like it |
| 00:12:13 |
It's an awesome car to drive. |
| 00:12:17 |
It was the crust of a wave that |
| 00:12:21 |
It was going to change the |
| 00:12:25 |
Other car companies began to comply, |
| 00:12:30 |
but with many of the same |
| 00:12:39 |
I'm not mechanical at all but I love dealing |
| 00:12:43 |
I plug it in at night and when |
| 00:12:49 |
and drive it away. |
| 00:12:50 |
They're for people who |
| 00:12:52 |
I said they're for people who love cars. |
| 00:12:54 |
They're for people who have to go somewhere. |
| 00:12:56 |
This is amazing. |
| 00:12:57 |
What you do with this electric car is, |
| 00:13:00 |
- and you turn it. |
| 00:13:02 |
And there's this thing on |
| 00:13:05 |
The exciting thing about this is |
| 00:13:08 |
is the same as if you're |
| 00:13:12 |
But the gasoline only |
| 00:13:15 |
Going to the gas station is a hassle, |
| 00:13:19 |
The battery, that you charge at home, |
| 00:13:24 |
which for me is more than all the driving that I |
| 00:13:28 |
People started seeing |
| 00:13:31 |
and getting a better |
| 00:13:34 |
Friends and neighbors |
| 00:13:35 |
"Hey, that's a neat idea. |
| 00:13:38 |
And we started seeing the |
| 00:13:41 |
and the waiting lists |
| 00:13:46 |
- Cut two. |
| 00:13:47 |
I go online to look for other Toyota |
| 00:13:53 |
And wow! |
| 00:13:57 |
It's this electric vehicle. |
| 00:13:59 |
It goes 100 miles to a |
| 00:14:02 |
I was like |
| 00:14:06 |
"How come I don't know about this? |
| 00:14:10 |
When I first tried to buy the Honda EV Plus, |
| 00:14:12 |
I drove in it and said: |
| 00:14:17 |
The person who was trying to |
| 00:14:20 |
He didn't know what to do. |
| 00:14:23 |
Didn't know how to do it, |
| 00:14:26 |
before I was able to get |
| 00:14:29 |
There's nothing like driving a car |
| 00:14:33 |
there's no pollution |
| 00:14:35 |
It's just the battery sound. |
| 00:14:38 |
By driving an electric car, |
| 00:14:41 |
I'm saving America Dave, |
| 00:14:43 |
I am saving America |
| 00:14:48 |
Not everyone was sure that |
| 00:14:52 |
Even as GM rolled out its first |
| 00:14:57 |
Consumer acceptance and understanding |
| 00:15:02 |
And what we discovered is that people |
| 00:15:07 |
I would consider it, but I |
| 00:15:09 |
I don't know if they're going to |
| 00:15:14 |
I have to know where do |
| 00:15:16 |
what do I have to do for the battery... |
| 00:15:19 |
People don't want a mini, tiny car |
| 00:15:25 |
How's he gonna fix that up and |
| 00:15:28 |
While some consumers expressed |
| 00:15:33 |
California was pressured |
| 00:15:36 |
A group called "Californians |
| 00:15:40 |
fought a small utility |
| 00:15:43 |
They would go to local city |
| 00:15:46 |
"You don't want to put an electric |
| 00:15:49 |
"That's a waste of taxpayer money." |
| 00:15:51 |
They had this list of supporters. |
| 00:15:53 |
Companies like Trader Joe's, |
| 00:15:56 |
"Why would they |
| 00:15:58 |
So the EV drivers got together |
| 00:16:00 |
to some of these people that |
| 00:16:03 |
as being supporters, and said |
| 00:16:06 |
And they got all these names |
| 00:16:09 |
Further investigation |
| 00:16:12 |
were consumer |
| 00:16:15 |
funded almost |
| 00:16:22 |
Oil companies also paid for |
| 00:16:27 |
They even argued that the |
| 00:16:32 |
With electric vehicles we're going |
| 00:16:37 |
And if we shift it to coal, |
| 00:16:39 |
there are some environmental |
| 00:16:44 |
Right now, in the United States, |
| 00:16:47 |
If you run the numbers with |
| 00:16:50 |
you don't end up with a better |
| 00:16:52 |
but with a longer tailpipe. |
| 00:16:53 |
There have been numerous studies conducted |
| 00:16:55 |
by the California Energy Commission, |
| 00:16:58 |
that clearly show that electric |
| 00:17:02 |
and less polluting, even if you get |
| 00:17:08 |
But the arguments against |
| 00:17:12 |
They even made the |
| 00:17:14 |
that there was an environmental |
| 00:17:18 |
because they said only rich |
| 00:17:22 |
Well, the air doesn't know a boundary |
| 00:17:27 |
Car companies began to argue |
| 00:17:32 |
We had to help with the regulations. |
| 00:17:34 |
The regulatory people knew |
| 00:17:36 |
and we began to get the eerie feeling |
| 00:17:44 |
It wasn't going to be possible. |
| 00:17:46 |
California was faced with the |
| 00:17:50 |
"...if the car companies don't comply?" |
| 00:17:53 |
So rather than do brinksmanship |
| 00:17:57 |
about what would happen |
| 00:18:00 |
they started negotiating, |
| 00:18:03 |
a certain flexibility in the mandate. |
| 00:18:08 |
California compromised |
| 00:18:11 |
adopting a memorandum of agreement. |
| 00:18:14 |
One of the agreements with the state |
| 00:18:19 |
and market electric vehicles |
| 00:18:22 |
If they didn't want to build more of them, |
| 00:18:24 |
the car companies would have to make |
| 00:18:28 |
The person will go unnamed, |
| 00:18:30 |
but we were having a lunch in the executive |
| 00:18:35 |
Just the two of us, |
| 00:18:38 |
"Dabels, you know something? |
| 00:18:42 |
I asked why, and he said: |
| 00:18:44 |
"I'm out there lobbying to show that |
| 00:18:49 |
"and you're out there proving me wrong." |
| 00:18:51 |
We would sit down with Hal Riney |
| 00:18:55 |
how fast, how far, how much. |
| 00:18:58 |
"Please put it in the advertising. |
| 00:19:01 |
And they would go back |
| 00:19:03 |
We never saw a tv ad |
| 00:19:06 |
with an electric car scampering |
| 00:19:09 |
with a good looking man or |
| 00:19:12 |
That's the way they sell cars. |
| 00:19:22 |
How does it go without gas and air? |
| 00:19:26 |
How does it go without |
| 00:19:31 |
How does it go without |
| 00:19:35 |
How does it go, you ask yourself? |
| 00:19:40 |
And then, you will ask; |
| 00:19:44 |
How did we go so long without it? |
| 00:19:47 |
The electric car. |
| 00:19:49 |
It isn't coming, |
| 00:19:52 |
it's here. |
| 00:19:59 |
What was the objective |
| 00:20:03 |
Was it to entice consumers |
| 00:20:07 |
Our goal at GM was to make the full |
| 00:20:10 |
a commercially viable business |
| 00:20:14 |
GM spokesman, Dave Barthmuss, |
| 00:20:19 |
We spent in excess of one billion |
| 00:20:23 |
That means award-winning |
| 00:20:27 |
developing the recharging infrastructure. |
| 00:20:30 |
In a four-year timeframe, |
| 00:20:34 |
we were able to lease 800 EV1's. |
| 00:20:36 |
We started this waiting list |
| 00:20:39 |
but no matter how many |
| 00:20:42 |
that was never considered enough demand. |
| 00:20:46 |
We have heard about |
| 00:20:48 |
and frankly, we did have a |
| 00:20:51 |
that raised their hands and said: |
| 00:20:54 |
"and being an EV1 lessee." |
| 00:20:56 |
We contacted each of those folks |
| 00:20:59 |
And when we got down to |
| 00:21:02 |
somebody sign on the dotted line, |
| 00:21:04 |
that list from 4000 people |
| 00:21:08 |
Only recently did they finally |
| 00:21:13 |
and tried to explain |
| 00:21:14 |
"By the time we explained all the limitations |
| 00:21:19 |
If you sincerely want to |
| 00:21:21 |
you don't start out by describing |
| 00:21:25 |
Tom Everhart is president |
| 00:21:28 |
He served on GM's board |
| 00:21:32 |
I do not think General Motors tried hard |
| 00:21:36 |
to get the electric cars out rapidly. |
| 00:21:40 |
Whether the C.E.O. of General Motors |
| 00:21:43 |
We had to ask permission of |
| 00:21:47 |
and by the end we were low on cars, |
| 00:21:51 |
We tried to put the cars |
| 00:21:54 |
because they were the only ones |
| 00:21:58 |
The 3rd grade science teacher |
| 00:22:01 |
I had to write a resume for Mel Gibson, |
| 00:22:04 |
because the people I was talking to |
| 00:22:08 |
I was wondering: "Why do I |
| 00:22:10 |
You had to tell them where |
| 00:22:12 |
I mean it was everything. |
| 00:22:15 |
"Have you recently had |
| 00:22:18 |
"Well, no." |
| 00:22:21 |
You had to get really specific |
| 00:22:25 |
Consumers wanted it, but they |
| 00:22:29 |
and they expected to |
| 00:22:32 |
And there's nothing irrational about |
| 00:22:36 |
That's a perfectly |
| 00:22:38 |
"You're giving me a vehicle that |
| 00:22:43 |
Okay. |
| 00:22:45 |
But unfortunately, I |
| 00:22:47 |
They argue things like money and that |
| 00:22:50 |
yet they're building four a day. |
| 00:22:54 |
with specialized components. |
| 00:22:56 |
And had they mass-marketed them, |
| 00:23:00 |
As car companies made the |
| 00:23:04 |
electric vehicle advocates thought |
| 00:23:07 |
with the appointment of environmental |
| 00:23:11 |
as chairman of the California Air Resources Board. |
| 00:23:15 |
First time I presided over that, |
| 00:23:18 |
I felt that the car companies |
| 00:23:22 |
so i felt: "Flog them harder. |
| 00:23:27 |
For the regulation - we felt it needed |
| 00:23:33 |
And there was some movement that way, |
| 00:23:36 |
While the car companies |
| 00:23:39 |
GM quietly closed its EV1 assembly line |
| 00:23:43 |
and began laying off its sales force. |
| 00:23:46 |
All of a sudden, we were not only taken |
| 00:23:50 |
They started with the |
| 00:23:52 |
the biggest waiting lists, |
| 00:23:55 |
The primary areas were |
| 00:23:58 |
And so, at the end of 2001, |
| 00:24:00 |
that was it in terms of my |
| 00:24:02 |
Studying general Motors |
| 00:24:06 |
and I don't speak for |
| 00:24:08 |
who would really have liked to have done |
| 00:24:12 |
but the executives at the top, |
| 00:24:15 |
"Going backwards into the future." |
| 00:24:17 |
And that's what they've |
| 00:24:20 |
As a veteran consumer advocate, |
| 00:24:25 |
to make cars safer |
| 00:24:28 |
He's familiar with the tactics used |
| 00:24:33 |
There are all kinds of ways to take |
| 00:24:37 |
Once the car companies |
| 00:24:39 |
then they go to work, |
| 00:24:42 |
And than when the deadline is |
| 00:24:45 |
and there are going to |
| 00:24:48 |
Automakers took |
| 00:24:51 |
They sued |
| 00:24:55 |
GM led the lawsuit, soon joined |
| 00:25:02 |
As California withered |
| 00:25:04 |
the carmakers |
| 00:25:09 |
the federal government. |
| 00:25:11 |
Shortly after joining the suit, |
| 00:25:13 |
the Bush administration |
| 00:25:16 |
Tonight, I'm proposing 1.2 billion |
| 00:25:20 |
so that America can |
| 00:25:22 |
lead the world in developing clean, |
| 00:25:29 |
The federal government joined |
| 00:25:33 |
to embrace a new |
| 00:25:36 |
With more than a billion |
| 00:25:40 |
over the next few years, |
| 00:25:44 |
began to sway California. |
| 00:25:47 |
Hello there and welcome |
| 00:25:50 |
where we're fuelling the future in |
| 00:25:55 |
Automakers, energy |
| 00:25:57 |
along with government agencies |
| 00:26:02 |
to commercialize the |
| 00:26:05 |
Soon you may see some of these cars |
| 00:26:07 |
cruising through your |
| 00:26:09 |
We will not just dream about |
| 00:26:13 |
We will not just dream about the |
| 00:26:16 |
The hydrogen Hummer is not a production |
| 00:26:21 |
It's a way for governor |
| 00:26:24 |
at various events that ge |
| 00:26:26 |
a new hydrogen refuelling station. |
| 00:26:31 |
I am going to encourage the |
| 00:26:34 |
to take us to the |
| 00:26:37 |
While hydrogen fuel cells offered an exciting |
| 00:26:43 |
what would happen to |
| 00:26:45 |
What would happen to the electric car? |
| 00:26:48 |
It all came down to a decisive meeting |
| 00:26:54 |
Citizens and industry alike |
| 00:26:56 |
testified as CARB prepared to |
| 00:27:00 |
I'd also like to thank |
| 00:27:03 |
particularly also, |
| 00:27:07 |
who is going to have a major impact here. |
| 00:27:10 |
I like the fact that |
| 00:27:13 |
to displace the petroleum products. |
| 00:27:18 |
I share your optimism on fuel cells, |
| 00:27:21 |
I think it's a bait and switch |
| 00:27:26 |
I'm concerned that we've picked numbers |
| 00:27:32 |
What if fuel cells don't work? |
| 00:27:37 |
It seems that most of the |
| 00:27:40 |
have been designed to ease |
| 00:27:42 |
You're part of the |
| 00:27:45 |
not the corporate profit protection agency. |
| 00:27:48 |
I think that we've been a |
| 00:27:51 |
I agree. But remember |
| 00:27:54 |
We're not giving more time |
| 00:27:58 |
Lou Browning had the job |
| 00:28:02 |
and he'd been promised ten minutes. |
| 00:28:05 |
- One of the things we've found is... |
| 00:28:06 |
I would appreciate if you could |
| 00:28:09 |
Okay, I thought I had ten, but... |
| 00:28:11 |
Alan Lloyd cut him off, |
| 00:28:15 |
unlimited time earlier in the day. |
| 00:28:19 |
The improvements we need in |
| 00:28:24 |
In addition, we have recently certified and |
| 00:28:29 |
Largely this work has been pushed forward |
| 00:28:32 |
which has been very valuable in |
| 00:28:35 |
Any new information on |
| 00:28:40 |
with overall conclusions was just |
| 00:28:45 |
Let's get it clear. I'm not trying |
| 00:28:49 |
There were 80 people who came |
| 00:28:52 |
and only two industry representatives |
| 00:28:57 |
We have four people out of 78 |
| 00:29:01 |
who are supporting this proposal. |
| 00:29:04 |
How did we end up with this? |
| 00:29:06 |
This is a tough, tough program. |
| 00:29:10 |
It pushes the automakers hard. |
| 00:29:13 |
And they don't like it, |
| 00:29:15 |
As you deliberate today |
| 00:29:18 |
I urge you to summon |
| 00:29:23 |
to make the hard choices that you |
| 00:29:27 |
Because when it comes to protecting |
| 00:29:31 |
there are simply no more |
| 00:29:55 |
I saw this as losing |
| 00:29:57 |
that we have really invested a great |
| 00:30:03 |
It was like the rug was pulled out. |
| 00:30:04 |
They gave it away. |
| 00:30:09 |
It's a sad commentary on |
| 00:30:13 |
and our system in the United States works. |
| 00:30:16 |
When GM introduced the EV1, |
| 00:30:18 |
California was setting the toughest auto |
| 00:30:22 |
10% of all cars sold here this year |
| 00:30:27 |
But California dropped those standards |
| 00:30:31 |
A lot of the vehicles, the Honda vehicles, |
| 00:30:35 |
were all leased, and |
| 00:30:38 |
So the automakers took advantage of |
| 00:30:43 |
They weren't willing to |
| 00:30:46 |
and actually drive them and |
| 00:30:49 |
When I noticed that GM was losing interest |
| 00:30:52 |
was when I wanted to re-lease |
| 00:30:57 |
I've never had a product |
| 00:31:01 |
and cajole and persist so much to get. |
| 00:31:07 |
And then I had to try and beg and fight |
| 00:31:10 |
and find any way |
| 00:31:13 |
- They didn't give you the option... |
| 00:31:16 |
They said: "Thank you for leasing the car. |
| 00:31:20 |
"Turn it in by such and such a date, |
| 00:31:23 |
GM had very quietly gone about taking |
| 00:31:29 |
other than some of the drivers |
| 00:31:30 |
that complained |
| 00:31:32 |
but never in a big, organized fashion. |
| 00:31:34 |
They had no choice but to turn them in |
| 00:31:36 |
or face legal consequences of stealing a car. |
| 00:31:41 |
To my knowledge all the cars were |
| 00:31:45 |
To this day, the automakers |
| 00:31:49 |
how much demand there was, |
| 00:31:52 |
So we decided we were going to fight them |
| 00:31:55 |
in whatever way we could, |
| 00:31:58 |
Across California drivers held |
| 00:32:03 |
"...it turned my head around |
| 00:32:06 |
"And it broke me of my addiction to oil. " |
| 00:32:35 |
Unable to change policy, |
| 00:32:37 |
activists staged a funeral |
| 00:32:41 |
It was the same month as |
| 00:32:45 |
in southern California in five years. |
| 00:32:49 |
I was an EV1 driver, still am, from |
| 00:32:55 |
when GM will have to pry it |
| 00:33:00 |
What the detractors and the critics of |
| 00:33:04 |
is true. The electric vehicle |
| 00:33:08 |
Given the limited range, it can only meet |
| 00:33:18 |
People used to ask me: |
| 00:33:20 |
And I say, especially |
| 00:33:23 |
"I figure if I do my job well enough, |
| 00:33:25 |
"my son will never know a time before |
| 00:33:29 |
And he rode in an EV1 on the |
| 00:33:33 |
"I wish we could keep the EV1 for a long time." |
| 00:33:37 |
And all I could say was: "Me too." |
| 00:33:48 |
By the summer of 2004, |
| 00:33:50 |
there was only a single EV1 left in |
| 00:33:55 |
Today is D-day. Today is the end. |
| 00:33:59 |
GM did do it right. |
| 00:34:02 |
It's well engineered, it's well designed, |
| 00:34:07 |
I've never seen a company be so |
| 00:34:13 |
It's such an odd experience. |
| 00:34:32 |
What makes that car go? |
| 00:34:34 |
- We press this button. |
| 00:34:38 |
It's an electric car like daddy's. |
| 00:34:43 |
Hey, you got here just in time. |
| 00:34:45 |
I know. I see that. |
| 00:34:48 |
It's so sad. |
| 00:34:51 |
This is the EV specialist I was talking |
| 00:34:55 |
It's really sad, heartbroken. |
| 00:34:58 |
They are my babies, every one of them. |
| 00:35:08 |
A lot of human potential just drove off. |
| 00:35:13 |
- The fight continues. |
| 00:35:26 |
With no more electric cars on the road, |
| 00:35:29 |
General Motors now had |
| 00:35:34 |
Pourquoi vouloir toutes les récupérer ? |
| 00:35:36 |
Why did they want them back? |
| 00:35:38 |
We have discovered 78 EV1's |
| 00:35:43 |
of a facility that GM owns in Burbank. |
| 00:35:46 |
Taking off the cars that were |
| 00:35:50 |
Just let those people drive those |
| 00:36:00 |
- Where are you guys from? |
| 00:36:03 |
and we want to come |
| 00:36:06 |
I know they are being mothballed here. |
| 00:36:08 |
I have no authorization for you guys to |
| 00:36:12 |
- Can we just go and... |
| 00:36:14 |
There were no clues as to |
| 00:36:17 |
until a rumor surfaced on the Internet. |
| 00:36:21 |
We had the understanding, |
| 00:36:25 |
that these vehicles were about to be |
| 00:36:29 |
Many EV1's had apparently |
| 00:36:33 |
to GM's vast proving |
| 00:36:37 |
...so large, it has the track denoted on it... |
| 00:36:40 |
The location was off-limits to the public, |
| 00:36:43 |
and there was no way of knowing |
| 00:36:54 |
We're flying over GM. |
| 00:37:03 |
There they are. |
| 00:37:06 |
Wow. |
| 00:37:12 |
We flew over General Motors, |
| 00:37:13 |
and looking down, we could see, |
| 00:37:17 |
where the EV1 was |
| 00:37:21 |
I don't know, maybe 50 EV1's crushed |
| 00:37:23 |
and put on top of semi-flatbeds, |
| 00:37:29 |
General Motors is |
| 00:37:32 |
I imagine there isn't many EV1's |
| 00:37:36 |
It's pretty sad. |
| 00:37:44 |
There are one of four |
| 00:37:47 |
They'll go to colleges and |
| 00:37:50 |
They'll go to museums and |
| 00:37:53 |
Other EV1 vehicles are |
| 00:37:57 |
And the other option for the EV1's |
| 00:38:00 |
But know that ever part of |
| 00:38:04 |
dismantled through a third party and then |
| 00:38:07 |
We're not just going to go crush |
| 00:38:17 |
When I saw the picture |
| 00:38:20 |
it hurt. I thought it |
| 00:38:25 |
To see on the computer, |
| 00:38:30 |
the crushed EV1's that GM did... |
| 00:38:34 |
- It was wrong. |
| 00:38:37 |
But more wrong is the reasons for it. |
| 00:38:42 |
"What do we do now?" |
| 00:38:45 |
At the time that most of this |
| 00:38:48 |
that every automaker |
| 00:38:52 |
More internet tips |
| 00:38:55 |
were not the only |
| 00:38:58 |
A number of Ford Th!nks |
| 00:39:01 |
were discovered in Palm Springs, |
| 00:39:07 |
In Los Angeles, activists spotted |
| 00:39:12 |
Fearing the destination was |
| 00:39:16 |
The next morning the truck turned back. |
| 00:39:19 |
That guy was going as fast as he |
| 00:39:24 |
trying to lose us, it was clear. |
| 00:39:26 |
but wasn't able to do it and, of |
| 00:39:30 |
It was so inconsistent, |
| 00:39:36 |
Then he goes to the end of the pier, |
| 00:39:40 |
they open this locked gate, |
| 00:39:42 |
the truck goes inside, and then the |
| 00:39:47 |
Somehow we ended up |
| 00:39:50 |
She has everything. |
| 00:39:51 |
It has spewing smoke into the |
| 00:39:55 |
It has an oil well, and it has |
| 00:39:59 |
to be the greenest car company, |
| 00:40:03 |
and hiding the fact that they're |
| 00:40:07 |
instead of selling |
| 00:40:10 |
No one had seen Honda's electric car |
| 00:40:15 |
Then, an episode of |
| 00:40:20 |
So we're going to be able |
| 00:40:24 |
Absolutely. |
| 00:40:25 |
Which is not something |
| 00:40:28 |
We shred the car, about a car a minute, |
| 00:40:32 |
And what's interesting, the first thing |
| 00:40:37 |
you're going to be shredding |
| 00:40:39 |
These look like perfectly good cars. |
| 00:40:43 |
A little bit of a mystery really, |
| 00:40:47 |
They bring us these cars |
| 00:40:49 |
and they say that they're test cars. |
| 00:40:51 |
And they've been brought |
| 00:40:54 |
and the insurance |
| 00:40:56 |
so they have to watch |
| 00:40:58 |
Boy, that seems like a shame. I'd like |
| 00:41:04 |
Ladies and gentlemen, that's the |
| 00:41:09 |
being shredded into a million pieces. |
| 00:41:26 |
There's no precedent for a |
| 00:41:29 |
every one of a particular kind of car |
| 00:41:31 |
and crushing them, as if they're |
| 00:41:35 |
I think they wanted to be sure |
| 00:41:37 |
that none of them were driving |
| 00:41:39 |
to remind people that there |
| 00:41:44 |
People keep making |
| 00:41:46 |
"Crushing the EV is a |
| 00:41:50 |
But it's not a dream. |
| 00:41:52 |
It may be a betrayal of my dream, |
| 00:41:57 |
After the discovery of the |
| 00:42:01 |
electric car drivers took action. |
| 00:42:03 |
They vowed to keep watch |
| 00:42:06 |
being stored at the GM |
| 00:42:10 |
There are about 70 cars left in California. |
| 00:42:13 |
They're in the parking lot behind me, |
| 00:42:18 |
And we need to make a call to action |
| 00:42:24 |
We ended up rallying enough troops |
| 00:42:27 |
in terms of interest and |
| 00:42:30 |
and then we simply didn't leave, |
| 00:42:34 |
It's 6 A.M., and I've been here |
| 00:42:40 |
We're making sure that GM doesn't |
| 00:42:45 |
The first two weeks we |
| 00:42:48 |
It was like monsoon rains, |
| 00:42:49 |
it was kind of depressing |
| 00:42:52 |
but at the same time there |
| 00:42:54 |
I was here this morning |
| 00:42:58 |
and it's pretty quiet. |
| 00:43:02 |
Finally, on day 15, we did this |
| 00:43:06 |
As the EV activists recorded the |
| 00:43:10 |
Chelsea led a last ditch |
| 00:43:15 |
"Okay, General Motors contends |
| 00:43:18 |
"Would anybody be willing to buy them |
| 00:43:22 |
And within 48 hours, |
| 00:43:25 |
There were only 78 cars in that lot, |
| 00:43:27 |
and already we had a waiting list |
| 00:43:31 |
It was a tremendous déjà vu moment. |
| 00:43:33 |
At this point we thought |
| 00:43:37 |
to some full circle. |
| 00:43:41 |
offering 1.9 million |
| 00:43:45 |
to put these cars back on the road. |
| 00:43:51 |
Despite the offer, |
| 00:43:55 |
The fate of the last |
| 00:44:00 |
A small group of activists |
| 00:44:03 |
to keep the dream |
| 00:44:08 |
Who controls the future? |
| 00:44:13 |
Whoever has the biggest club. |
| 00:44:18 |
One they can bash you with, |
| 00:44:22 |
Gentlemen! Gentlemen! |
| 00:44:25 |
I know you're all worried, |
| 00:44:29 |
There's plenty to be worried about. |
| 00:44:35 |
already operational |
| 00:44:38 |
Photovoltaic cells, |
| 00:44:40 |
they converts sunlight |
| 00:44:44 |
Fluorescent, lasts ten times as |
| 00:44:48 |
uses only a quarter of the power. |
| 00:44:51 |
Superwindows, insulate as |
| 00:44:56 |
An electric car, partially |
| 00:45:01 |
But the truth is, gentlemen, |
| 00:45:04 |
I'm not worried about |
| 00:45:08 |
Because no one is ever |
| 00:45:13 |
There's all these conspiracy theories |
| 00:45:18 |
So really, who killed the electric car? |
| 00:45:20 |
Unfortunately, I can't |
| 00:45:23 |
What killed the electric vehicle, |
| 00:45:25 |
very simply, I think, |
| 00:45:27 |
In my opinion it's big oil |
| 00:45:30 |
Alan Lloyd killed the electric car project. |
| 00:45:33 |
The California Air Resources Board |
| 00:45:37 |
under huge pressure |
| 00:45:40 |
They were an accessory |
| 00:45:42 |
but the murder was commited |
| 00:45:45 |
I don't believe that for a minute. |
| 00:45:48 |
GM would sell you a |
| 00:46:00 |
Carmakers argue that there was not |
| 00:46:04 |
Claiming to have spent millions |
| 00:46:08 |
they said buyers weren't interested. |
| 00:46:10 |
But did consumers even know |
| 00:46:13 |
Did you ever see this |
| 00:46:16 |
Never. That's what I'm trying to say. |
| 00:46:20 |
I don't know who drives |
| 00:46:23 |
- You don't know anybody? |
| 00:46:25 |
Maybe Fernando. I know Fernando... |
| 00:46:29 |
- I've heard of them. |
| 00:46:31 |
They're not making these |
| 00:46:34 |
No. They're not |
| 00:46:35 |
That's really too bad. |
| 00:46:38 |
Why are they getting rid of it? |
| 00:46:42 |
They said that there was |
| 00:46:45 |
Are they insane? |
| 00:46:46 |
That's a no-brainer. |
| 00:46:48 |
Save gas, save people, save air, |
| 00:46:51 |
All sounds good to me. |
| 00:46:56 |
We've been selling |
| 00:46:58 |
and as you might imagine, |
| 00:47:02 |
If you ask them, they say: |
| 00:47:05 |
"I want to be able |
| 00:47:08 |
"I want to carry four passengers |
| 00:47:12 |
Which is basically |
| 00:47:15 |
I've said this |
| 00:47:17 |
People will buy anthing |
| 00:47:20 |
Feed people enough, and |
| 00:47:25 |
Consumers, they |
| 00:47:28 |
between electric car and |
| 00:47:30 |
because they don't |
| 00:47:33 |
They don't read political instability |
| 00:47:36 |
in the Middle East. |
| 00:47:37 |
All they read is does this car |
| 00:47:42 |
What really killed EV's, |
| 00:47:45 |
because they did not accept this |
| 00:47:49 |
that vehicles could have |
| 00:47:53 |
and still be functional, |
| 00:48:01 |
Did the electric car die |
| 00:48:05 |
Did EV's really not |
| 00:48:08 |
Did car companies use |
| 00:48:11 |
Battery technology at that |
| 00:48:15 |
and allowed the car to go 60 miles. |
| 00:48:18 |
If you started out on a trip knowing |
| 00:48:23 |
you'd be nervous about |
| 00:48:26 |
People think that they need |
| 00:48:29 |
and be able to charge it up |
| 00:48:33 |
For virtually 90-95% of your driving, |
| 00:48:38 |
You need a vehicle that will go |
| 00:48:41 |
and that way your daily |
| 00:48:44 |
For those who wanted greater |
| 00:48:48 |
a better battery already existed. |
| 00:48:51 |
Developed by a well known |
| 00:48:54 |
about 30 miles from |
| 00:48:57 |
- I'm Stan and... |
| 00:49:01 |
I think you shouldn't do that. |
| 00:49:03 |
You should say you're Stan Ovshinsky, |
| 00:49:06 |
Don't do that. It's funny. |
| 00:49:07 |
With over 200 patents to his name, |
| 00:49:13 |
and GM purchased |
| 00:49:16 |
We were chosen over |
| 00:49:20 |
like Westinghouse and others, |
| 00:49:22 |
who wanted to win the |
| 00:49:27 |
that would be used in pure electric cars. |
| 00:49:31 |
And we were chosen |
| 00:49:34 |
And to us, |
| 00:49:39 |
was not the most |
| 00:49:42 |
What were we supposed to do? |
| 00:49:44 |
But you did expect |
| 00:49:46 |
I expected |
| 00:49:48 |
When I said that we were going to |
| 00:49:53 |
that said we had achieved this, |
| 00:49:54 |
I really expected |
| 00:49:58 |
And then I knew that something was |
| 00:50:02 |
Ovshinsky was censored for publicizing |
| 00:50:08 |
and asked not to run |
| 00:50:12 |
The EV1 debuted |
| 00:50:16 |
It would be another 2 years |
| 00:50:18 |
were installed in the EV1. |
| 00:50:22 |
The first version of the EV1 |
| 00:50:25 |
and they kept failing. |
| 00:50:27 |
That was GM's failure, |
| 00:50:29 |
Once they put good batteries in, |
| 00:50:32 |
Ultimately, GM sold its |
| 00:50:36 |
to an unlikely buyer. |
| 00:50:38 |
Then, when the Ni-MH |
| 00:50:40 |
so that they're now lasting longer than |
| 00:50:46 |
Chevron Texaco stepped in and |
| 00:50:51 |
of Ovshinsky technology. |
| 00:50:54 |
The oil companies do not feel |
| 00:50:58 |
because they |
| 00:50:59 |
The electric car is an |
| 00:51:02 |
It was such an abysmal failure, |
| 00:51:05 |
that there are a lot of people |
| 00:51:08 |
that are pointing fingers |
| 00:51:21 |
To Basrah and all of Iraq comes good |
| 00:51:26 |
The pipeline runs across the |
| 00:51:31 |
There, tankers load up with the |
| 00:51:36 |
Yes, it's a big day for Iraq, |
| 00:51:40 |
Sheep stuffed with rice |
| 00:51:44 |
But that's only the first of the good |
| 00:51:51 |
Oil companies have rarely |
| 00:51:54 |
But why did they lobby so |
| 00:51:58 |
to the electric car in California? |
| 00:52:00 |
I find it difficult to rationalize |
| 00:52:04 |
why the oil industry got so |
| 00:52:07 |
Other than maybe |
| 00:52:10 |
to the monopoly they had on |
| 00:52:15 |
There's no question that the oil companies |
| 00:52:20 |
have a strong incentive |
| 00:52:24 |
except the alternatives |
| 00:52:27 |
Just as General Motors, |
| 00:52:32 |
40 or 50 years ago, bought up |
| 00:52:35 |
the oil companies have opposed |
| 00:52:43 |
I differ strongly with that. |
| 00:52:46 |
The petroleum industry |
| 00:52:48 |
What killed the electric car |
| 00:52:52 |
It's a good example of |
| 00:52:55 |
an example we need to avoid. |
| 00:53:00 |
There's still roughly a trillion barrels |
| 00:53:05 |
And if you figure that the average price |
| 00:53:10 |
that's a 100 trillion dollars |
| 00:53:16 |
However, at some point when |
| 00:53:20 |
people will snap over, and that's |
| 00:53:25 |
We use 180 million gallons |
| 00:53:29 |
Right now, the price is 2,20 $. |
| 00:53:34 |
There's a dollar more a gallon. |
| 00:53:35 |
Somebody's making 180 |
| 00:53:40 |
It's the same gas, the same |
| 00:53:43 |
The profits are outstanding. |
| 00:53:53 |
What the oil companies feared, |
| 00:53:56 |
is that electric vehicles would |
| 00:54:01 |
What the automobile |
| 00:54:03 |
was that they'd be losing money |
| 00:54:13 |
Even as car companies made electric |
| 00:54:17 |
What was their motive? |
| 00:54:19 |
Why were they so determined |
| 00:54:22 |
I think in the beginning, |
| 00:54:24 |
General Motors didn't believe |
| 00:54:27 |
I don't think they'd thought |
| 00:54:30 |
something like a conspiracy to keep it |
| 00:54:33 |
They hated it so much that they |
| 00:54:36 |
to be in the business of EV's. |
| 00:54:38 |
What I detected was a huge |
| 00:54:43 |
what type of motor |
| 00:54:45 |
And it became a fight of |
| 00:54:50 |
to technologically |
| 00:54:53 |
I do know that I was surprised |
| 00:54:57 |
in Sacramento in arguing. |
| 00:55:03 |
End of comment. |
| 00:55:06 |
In a confidential 1995 memo |
| 00:55:09 |
the American Automobile |
| 00:55:13 |
sought to hire a PR firm |
| 00:55:17 |
"grassroots and educational campaign" |
| 00:55:20 |
to create a climate |
| 00:55:23 |
The challenge, |
| 00:55:25 |
was "greater consumer |
| 00:55:29 |
Why would the car companies campaign |
| 00:55:34 |
I made the case at the |
| 00:55:39 |
that the reason for the EV1 |
| 00:55:43 |
a very big head start |
| 00:55:48 |
into the drive power of a car. |
| 00:55:50 |
And we give them two or three years lead, |
| 00:55:54 |
and in my judgement it did. |
| 00:55:56 |
But my frustration was |
| 00:56:00 |
And the reason, which |
| 00:56:03 |
was that there was not a |
| 00:56:08 |
of either electric cars or hybrids. |
| 00:56:11 |
They could not understand how |
| 00:56:15 |
out of the Prius, for example. |
| 00:56:20 |
And as evidence have shown, |
| 00:56:25 |
If loss of revenue |
| 00:56:28 |
than the electric car posed |
| 00:56:32 |
it had no internal combustion engine, |
| 00:56:38 |
These parts represent a large |
| 00:56:41 |
through the replacement |
| 00:56:44 |
Esentially, this group of parts |
| 00:56:48 |
of the profits the auto industry |
| 00:56:52 |
or an EV in general. |
| 00:56:53 |
I can actually identify a lot of these |
| 00:56:58 |
Oil filters you need |
| 00:57:00 |
It was the most prominent thing, |
| 00:57:01 |
along with several |
| 00:57:04 |
I didn't enjoy working on the |
| 00:57:07 |
just due to the fact |
| 00:57:09 |
And working on the EV1, I |
| 00:57:13 |
Servicing the EV1 was pretty simple. |
| 00:57:17 |
It came in about every 5000 miles. |
| 00:57:20 |
We'd rotate the tires, add washer fluid |
| 00:57:27 |
It's amazing. Look how dirty |
| 00:57:31 |
It's kind of sad. |
| 00:57:33 |
In order to sincerely |
| 00:57:35 |
you have to suggest |
| 00:57:38 |
that it uses oil, that it uses gas, |
| 00:57:40 |
and that increases our |
| 00:57:43 |
And here's this |
| 00:57:45 |
It looks very schizophrenic, |
| 00:57:48 |
"We can show the people in California |
| 00:57:50 |
we can meet the zero |
| 00:57:54 |
And later on: "Do we |
| 00:57:58 |
"That means, all of |
| 00:57:59 |
But the more it caught on, the more |
| 00:58:02 |
between clean and efficient and |
| 00:58:09 |
Car companies |
| 00:58:11 |
that they couldn't make money |
| 00:58:15 |
In order to do that, they would |
| 00:58:19 |
General Motors made a |
| 00:58:23 |
because they could see that |
| 00:58:29 |
When SUV's first came out, |
| 00:58:32 |
- "That big old truck?" |
| 00:58:34 |
- "I can't see out of there." |
| 00:58:36 |
- "That's too big." |
| 00:58:39 |
- But they convinced people. "This is safer." |
| 00:58:42 |
- "You need a big car." |
| 00:58:44 |
- "You need this for your family." |
| 00:58:46 |
The idea of a penny-pinching EV1 |
| 00:58:52 |
that didn't get a lot attraction. |
| 00:58:54 |
Whereas the idea of a gigantic SUV |
| 00:58:57 |
that would crush your neighbor, |
| 00:59:01 |
Basically, that tells us |
| 00:59:05 |
What began as a 25 000 $ tax |
| 00:59:11 |
when Congress passed the President's |
| 00:59:15 |
We think small businesses need |
| 00:59:18 |
to keep them afloat, to |
| 00:59:21 |
But there's an encouragement |
| 00:59:23 |
not just to stay afloat, but to go |
| 00:59:27 |
The 6,000-pound car, the biggest. |
| 00:59:31 |
I don't think we can dictate |
| 00:59:35 |
- The goal here is... |
| 00:59:37 |
You can almost buy the |
| 00:59:40 |
I'm not going to concede |
| 00:59:43 |
that that would be the |
| 00:59:45 |
There is some evidence that |
| 00:59:47 |
I don't know. We'll have |
| 01:00:29 |
I don't want to see Hummers driven |
| 01:00:33 |
I want to see everything given |
| 01:00:37 |
The thing that bothers me is that |
| 01:00:41 |
We're using our military |
| 01:00:44 |
We're using tax dollars to support |
| 01:00:48 |
and we're not using our tax money to do |
| 01:00:53 |
to prepare for the future. |
| 01:01:01 |
Federal policy has always had |
| 01:01:06 |
As it gave enormous |
| 01:01:09 |
the federal government also sued |
| 01:01:15 |
Some pointed to the influence |
| 01:01:20 |
They control things in Washington, |
| 01:01:25 |
Now they've got Andy Card there, |
| 01:01:27 |
former lobbyist, as chief |
| 01:01:31 |
I guess they don't have to |
| 01:01:34 |
So they're saving a little money there. |
| 01:01:36 |
Andrew Card was chief of staff |
| 01:01:38 |
when the Bush administration |
| 01:01:42 |
Card had also been |
| 01:01:45 |
of the American Automobile |
| 01:01:48 |
during its campaign to kill |
| 01:01:53 |
Industries began to see if we |
| 01:01:58 |
it's going to spread to |
| 01:02:00 |
I think it became a strategy |
| 01:02:04 |
to make it a national issue. |
| 01:02:06 |
I was even told once by a very |
| 01:02:09 |
who I shall not mention |
| 01:02:11 |
"I could understand and tolerate |
| 01:02:16 |
"but if you ever try to spread |
| 01:02:20 |
"to the rest of my country, |
| 01:02:24 |
Sometimes, I listen |
| 01:02:28 |
and I think I'm watching an old |
| 01:02:33 |
Because the discussion is exactly |
| 01:02:40 |
Our average vehicle, |
| 01:02:43 |
is less efficient than |
| 01:02:46 |
And this is just a complete |
| 01:02:48 |
Political leadership, really. |
| 01:02:50 |
Because it's impossible to get fuel economy |
| 01:02:58 |
After the OPEC |
| 01:03:01 |
the U.S. government created |
| 01:03:05 |
or CAFE standards, to improve |
| 01:03:10 |
As a result, in less than 10 years, fuel |
| 01:03:17 |
Unfortunately, two decades later, |
| 01:03:21 |
Jimmy Carter was the last president |
| 01:03:23 |
that really made |
| 01:03:28 |
He devoted his first 90 days in office |
| 01:03:33 |
I was there as part of it. |
| 01:03:35 |
No president since then |
| 01:03:39 |
I am tonight setting a clear goal for |
| 01:03:45 |
Beginning this moment, this |
| 01:03:49 |
more foreign oil than |
| 01:04:04 |
There was a radical change |
| 01:04:08 |
and took down the solar panels off the |
| 01:04:13 |
and esentially, declared |
| 01:04:16 |
I've put a freeze on pending |
| 01:04:20 |
under vice president Bush |
| 01:04:23 |
with an eye toward getting |
| 01:04:26 |
I have de-controlled oil, which should |
| 01:04:30 |
and less dependance |
| 01:04:32 |
When Reagan came in, he was not |
| 01:04:36 |
of conservation, |
| 01:04:38 |
In the mid 1980's, he basically |
| 01:04:42 |
in fuel economy |
| 01:04:45 |
And then, in 1985, |
| 01:04:48 |
I would not lay all of the blame |
| 01:04:53 |
I think he had his share of |
| 01:04:57 |
who made a very |
| 01:05:01 |
to drop the price |
| 01:05:04 |
principally to ensure that |
| 01:05:10 |
and energy saving measures |
| 01:05:16 |
So they kept the junkie |
| 01:05:21 |
And as a result, we are |
| 01:05:28 |
When Clinton came in, |
| 01:05:31 |
we were definitely quite interested |
| 01:05:35 |
and improve the fuel |
| 01:05:38 |
Politically, it was still very unattractive. |
| 01:05:41 |
The automobile lobby |
| 01:05:43 |
so the administration kind of made |
| 01:05:47 |
this partnership for |
| 01:05:50 |
where we would develop |
| 01:05:52 |
a combination of a gasoline |
| 01:05:55 |
In return, we wouldn't really |
| 01:05:59 |
I've never met a five year |
| 01:06:02 |
He said: "I'm glad |
| 01:06:05 |
"I want you to make a car that runs |
| 01:06:10 |
I was so impressed, |
| 01:06:12 |
and I introduced him |
| 01:06:14 |
and he said: "Hello, Mr. vice président. |
| 01:06:19 |
"I am going to help you |
| 01:06:22 |
"that has no pollution." |
| 01:06:24 |
Al Gore says: "That means |
| 01:06:27 |
He said: "Yes, I guess so." |
| 01:06:29 |
"But you don't understand. I'm |
| 01:06:36 |
For 8-9 years, we've spent about |
| 01:06:40 |
to develop hybrid vehicles. |
| 01:06:43 |
Ironically, the U.S. car companies |
| 01:06:48 |
In fact, the minute George Bush |
| 01:06:50 |
the U.S. car companies |
| 01:06:53 |
But, and this is the irony, |
| 01:06:56 |
the U.S. program got the |
| 01:06:59 |
So Toyota and Honda, in |
| 01:07:04 |
because they didn't |
| 01:07:12 |
Now, they lure people into |
| 01:07:16 |
but they sweet-talk. |
| 01:07:18 |
I remember way back we |
| 01:07:22 |
but it's not a joke anymore. |
| 01:07:24 |
We're giving the environmentalists |
| 01:07:27 |
The second step toward making |
| 01:07:30 |
is to produce and refine |
| 01:07:33 |
in environmentally |
| 01:07:37 |
By far the most promising |
| 01:07:40 |
is the Arctic National |
| 01:07:49 |
While it is predicted that |
| 01:07:53 |
could supply America with slightly |
| 01:07:58 |
simply raising fuel economy |
| 01:08:03 |
could save the same |
| 01:08:15 |
The oil industry and |
| 01:08:19 |
are resistant to change. |
| 01:08:21 |
The American people need to be reminded |
| 01:08:26 |
It took a law to get airbags in the cars. |
| 01:08:28 |
It took a law to get the mileage up |
| 01:08:32 |
It took a law to get catalytic |
| 01:08:37 |
I think clean cars are too important |
| 01:08:48 |
The California mandate forced |
| 01:08:53 |
When California changed it, |
| 01:08:57 |
Why did California retreat |
| 01:09:02 |
Having visited all the car |
| 01:09:05 |
"Look, we can't produce |
| 01:09:09 |
battery electric vehicles." |
| 01:09:11 |
And I became convinced that... |
| 01:09:14 |
What are we supposed to do here? |
| 01:09:17 |
Or is it to force a certain number of a |
| 01:09:23 |
Alan Lloyd failed in his |
| 01:09:27 |
the zero emission vehicle mandate |
| 01:09:31 |
Oh, I know Alec very well. |
| 01:09:33 |
I know Alec very well. And we had some... |
| 01:09:35 |
heartfelt memos come back. |
| 01:09:39 |
And it pained me, because I |
| 01:09:43 |
And it pained me to be accused |
| 01:09:47 |
of basically abanding |
| 01:09:51 |
In addition to his role as |
| 01:09:55 |
Alan Lloyd had another position. |
| 01:09:57 |
Just four months before the |
| 01:10:01 |
Lloyd accepted the chairmanship |
| 01:10:07 |
I've been involved with |
| 01:10:09 |
When I became chair of ARB ten years |
| 01:10:14 |
So for me, I'm very much |
| 01:10:18 |
Maybe you can say that's an asset |
| 01:10:22 |
because I knew what could be done. |
| 01:10:34 |
Excuse me while I watch |
| 01:10:36 |
Carmakers convinced California |
| 01:10:39 |
that the facts supported the |
| 01:10:44 |
Were they a better |
| 01:10:47 |
Toyota's national manager of |
| 01:10:51 |
took their prototype hydrogen |
| 01:10:56 |
One of our customers didn't really like this |
| 01:11:02 |
And the reason was not because it |
| 01:11:06 |
the reason was because his EV1, |
| 01:11:08 |
he could charge it at home, |
| 01:11:10 |
and even though it provided limited range, |
| 01:11:13 |
he didn't have to worry about |
| 01:11:17 |
With this car, with a limited access |
| 01:11:20 |
he said he'd spend his whole day |
| 01:11:23 |
in the car and how to get back. |
| 01:11:25 |
It's growing humbly. |
| 01:11:26 |
The more you know, the more you realize |
| 01:11:29 |
you really don't know what |
| 01:11:33 |
The number one worst question is: |
| 01:11:34 |
"When can... |
| 01:11:38 |
When will that be on the market? |
| 01:11:41 |
Consumers are probably |
| 01:11:44 |
how long it would be for |
| 01:11:46 |
That's quite a ways off. |
| 01:11:48 |
We've got some real technical issues |
| 01:11:51 |
with durability, |
| 01:11:53 |
Is it a practical solution at this point? |
| 01:11:56 |
The cars have a limited range, |
| 01:11:57 |
the durability of the car isn't very good... |
| 01:12:02 |
They don't do well in cold weather. |
| 01:12:04 |
Other than that, they're great. |
| 01:12:06 |
Have you ever been to a dog race? |
| 01:12:08 |
There's the mechanical |
| 01:12:11 |
and the dogs never quite reach it. |
| 01:12:13 |
Well, the fuel cell is the equivalent |
| 01:12:18 |
We're going for it. |
| 01:12:19 |
For the last 15 years they've been telling |
| 01:12:25 |
You're an oil company. |
| 01:12:26 |
Your business is to be selling a fuel. |
| 01:12:29 |
They think that it's a long time off, 30 years, |
| 01:12:32 |
and they want to have a product that sells. |
| 01:12:34 |
From that point, |
| 01:12:36 |
but the other side is that |
| 00:12:39 |
We see in Scientific American |
| 01:12:42 |
a double page ad by |
| 01:12:46 |
touting both the fuel cell |
| 01:12:48 |
and also Shell as a potential |
| 01:12:55 |
If hydrogen can do a better job |
| 01:13:00 |
then by gosh, it should |
| 01:13:04 |
The problem is, it's not even close. |
| 01:13:06 |
How far would this car ride |
| 01:13:09 |
It's approximately about a 100-125 miles. |
| 01:13:14 |
Good. Interesting. |
| 01:13:17 |
A fuel cell car powered by |
| 01:13:21 |
uses three to four times more |
| 01:13:27 |
This is the beginning of a fantastic technology, |
| 01:13:30 |
and thanks for having us out here. |
| 01:13:32 |
We're going to look at |
| 01:13:35 |
but, hydrogen is the way of the future. |
| 01:13:39 |
Today, there's a lot of |
| 01:13:43 |
but, I wrote the whole book |
| 01:13:46 |
I think it's pretty clear that hydrogen |
| 01:13:51 |
than any other alternative |
| 01:13:54 |
These are the five miracles that you need |
| 01:13:56 |
for a successful hydrogen |
| 01:13:58 |
First, your average hydrogen |
| 01:14:02 |
That's got to drop. |
| 01:14:04 |
Second, no known material to humankind |
| 01:14:09 |
to give you the range people want. |
| 01:14:11 |
Miracle number three. |
| 01:14:15 |
Even hydrogen from dirty fossil fuels |
| 01:14:20 |
Fourth, you have to have |
| 01:14:24 |
We have a 180 000 gas stations. |
| 01:14:26 |
Someone's going to have to build at least |
| 01:14:30 |
before anybody is going to be very interested. |
| 01:14:33 |
Miracle five is - you have to hope and pray |
| 01:14:35 |
that the competitors in the |
| 01:14:39 |
Because right now, the best car in |
| 01:14:44 |
the hybrid vehicle. |
| 01:14:45 |
Still runs on gasoline, |
| 01:14:47 |
it has twice the range of a regular car. |
| 01:14:49 |
Current hybrid vehicles |
| 01:14:53 |
but use an electric motor |
| 01:14:57 |
And if battery technology |
| 01:15:02 |
than the best hybrid, and then |
| 01:15:06 |
will be vastly superior |
| 01:15:11 |
You guys have filmed me long enought to know |
| 01:15:15 |
that I'm not going to |
| 01:15:18 |
And these could be a |
| 01:15:24 |
Toyota says: "Fuel cell |
| 01:15:27 |
Then I get the calls from the Department |
| 01:15:30 |
"What the hell are you doing?" |
| 01:15:31 |
And all the other fuel cell manufacturers: |
| 01:15:34 |
"We're trying to make a living here..." |
| 01:15:37 |
It's awful. |
| 01:15:40 |
Just because a lot of people |
| 01:15:43 |
That's Disneyland, you know - |
| 01:15:46 |
I don't work in Disneyland. |
| 01:15:48 |
I work in the real world, where |
| 01:15:51 |
and you really have to work hard |
| 01:16:02 |
On the 27th day of their vigil, |
| 01:16:17 |
Paul Scott called: "Are you guys busy? |
| 01:16:21 |
"GM is loading the cars |
| 01:16:23 |
"What, what?" |
| 01:16:25 |
"Yeah, we'll drop everything |
| 01:16:35 |
They've loaded them up, |
| 01:16:37 |
tires screeching, and panels |
| 01:16:40 |
as they shoved them onto the tracks. |
| 01:16:47 |
We're up against most |
| 01:16:49 |
We're up against the oil industry, |
| 01:16:53 |
It's David versus Goliath |
| 01:16:58 |
but if there are enough |
| 01:17:09 |
GM, shame on you! |
| 01:17:15 |
General Motors is taking the EV1's out of here, |
| 01:17:19 |
destroying them, |
| 01:17:20 |
doing the work of the oil companies. |
| 01:17:24 |
We're going to ask you guys just |
| 01:17:27 |
If you could just get out |
| 01:17:29 |
so we don't have to put |
| 01:17:57 |
Don't crush the EV1. |
| 01:18:14 |
On March 15th, 2005, |
| 01:18:20 |
were taken away and destroyed. |
| 01:19:29 |
- Alright, come on in. |
| 01:19:32 |
We'll go down to the vault |
| 01:19:36 |
I miss this little car. |
| 01:19:37 |
Yeah. We love having it. |
| 01:19:40 |
We have a number of electric |
| 01:19:43 |
but we're especially happy about this. |
| 01:19:47 |
This is a special one. |
| 01:19:49 |
- There she is. |
| 01:19:58 |
Number 99. |
| 01:20:00 |
- You might recognize this car. |
| 01:20:03 |
Sure was. |
| 01:20:07 |
Please, have a seat. |
| 01:20:08 |
There's only one challenge, |
| 01:20:12 |
You know that General Motors disabled them. |
| 01:20:15 |
- I know. |
| 01:20:18 |
So we understand that. |
| 01:20:20 |
Yeah. |
| 01:20:21 |
That is such an important |
| 01:20:24 |
- It is... |
| 01:20:25 |
General Motors participate |
| 01:20:28 |
The thing is, it shouldn't be |
| 01:20:48 |
Ever since 1939, they |
| 01:20:52 |
They'd have a few models out there. |
| 01:20:54 |
They'd say that's something |
| 01:20:56 |
And it never came. Because |
| 01:20:59 |
They make too much money |
| 01:21:02 |
in the internal combustion engine. |
| 01:21:08 |
If somethin becomes scarce, then there's |
| 01:21:12 |
And as long as no alternatives exist, |
| 01:21:15 |
the scarce item can become |
| 01:21:23 |
These are the same batteries that |
| 01:21:25 |
We have 6800 cells. |
| 01:21:28 |
And it can go 300 miles on one charge, |
| 01:21:31 |
running along at 70 mph. |
| 01:21:33 |
It's now 0-60 in 3.6 seconds. |
| 01:21:36 |
It's an amazing performance for |
| 01:21:40 |
Those same batteries could be put in EV1 |
| 01:21:41 |
and make it a 300-mile-range car very easily. |
| 01:21:45 |
It's a shame seeing these cars destroyed |
| 01:21:51 |
I know what I did and why I did it. |
| 01:21:53 |
And if I had to do the same |
| 01:21:57 |
and I've seen what has happened to date, |
| 01:21:58 |
I would do exactly the same thing. |
| 01:22:03 |
When we talk about sensible energy policy |
| 01:22:06 |
most people hear is: "You're going |
| 01:22:09 |
"you're going to make |
| 01:22:11 |
"and essentially, you're going |
| 01:22:18 |
It's a lack of leadership. |
| 01:22:20 |
It's a lack of being able |
| 01:22:24 |
and the automobile industry, |
| 01:22:26 |
and recognize that they are not Uncle Sam. |
| 01:22:28 |
Uncle Sam has to be Uncle Sam, |
| 01:22:30 |
and Uncle Sam is acting |
| 01:22:37 |
They're squandering |
| 01:22:40 |
on hydrogen cars, which, |
| 01:22:43 |
are not going to be |
| 01:22:46 |
for two decades at the earliest. |
| 01:22:48 |
I think it will go down as |
| 01:22:51 |
in the history of the automotive industry. |
| 01:22:58 |
Have you never heard that expression: |
| 01:23:01 |
Little tiny cuts, eventually |
| 01:23:08 |
The fight over electric cars was |
| 01:23:14 |
Goliath won this round, but |
| 01:23:19 |
Oil prices have soared. |
| 01:23:22 |
America is further |
| 01:23:26 |
and global warming is an |
| 01:23:30 |
What can we do to reshape the future? |
| 01:23:33 |
This city is replete with famous |
| 01:23:38 |
Why? Because they |
| 01:23:42 |
We all have to adapt to change. |
| 01:23:44 |
Don't debate about |
| 01:23:48 |
Let's build new industries. |
| 01:23:49 |
Let's make America strong again. |
| 01:23:52 |
Chelsea continues her work with |
| 01:23:56 |
working with citizens |
| 01:23:59 |
to promote an independant energy future. |
| 01:24:02 |
I met Jim Woolsey at an |
| 01:24:05 |
he was already a bit of a fan |
| 01:24:08 |
and he's come to work |
| 01:24:10 |
That's one example of the types |
| 01:24:14 |
in order to further what we all want. |
| 01:24:16 |
I've served in four administrations, |
| 01:24:21 |
all in different aspects |
| 01:24:25 |
And the fact that two thirds of |
| 01:24:28 |
are in the Middle East, and that we're |
| 01:24:31 |
is a very big national security question. |
| 01:24:34 |
Behind me there are two things. |
| 01:24:36 |
One is a Prius, hybrid |
| 01:24:40 |
and an electrical substation. |
| 01:24:42 |
Today, they don't have |
| 01:24:44 |
but there's a chance that they might be able |
| 01:24:48 |
in a positive way. |
| 01:24:49 |
And that's where I think that the |
| 01:24:54 |
and that it is avilable to us today. |
| 01:24:57 |
This is a plug-in hybrid Prius, |
| 01:25:00 |
which is a modification |
| 01:25:04 |
that allows you to travel... |
| 01:25:06 |
Which gives you up to |
| 01:25:10 |
for the first 50 to 60 miles of the day. |
| 01:25:13 |
We don't need an expensive |
| 01:25:16 |
You can just plug it in |
| 01:25:19 |
So we make the environmentalists |
| 01:25:22 |
We make the neo-conservatives |
| 01:25:27 |
Well, everyone's happy |
| 01:25:30 |
Plugging in could go a long way to |
| 01:25:35 |
And generating that electricity |
| 01:25:39 |
would create even less pollution. |
| 01:25:42 |
With his battery technology in most |
| 01:25:47 |
one of the largest thin-film |
| 01:25:51 |
This is just an ordinary steel roof. |
| 01:25:55 |
And this is with the adhesive. |
| 01:25:57 |
You just put the shingles down. |
| 01:26:00 |
You're in there. You've |
| 01:26:03 |
Everything is plug-and-play. |
| 01:26:06 |
Anybody that wants to make a |
| 01:26:10 |
Just go and start |
| 01:26:13 |
to change the world by |
| 01:26:19 |
I am so optimistic about the future. |
| 01:26:20 |
Even given everything that we've |
| 01:26:24 |
I remain an optimist. |
| 01:26:27 |
One of the things that makes America work |
| 01:26:29 |
is this rampant grassroots |
| 01:26:37 |
When you get a coalition of that size, |
| 01:26:40 |
you get politicians' attention. |
| 01:26:42 |
And here we have a serious problem: |
| 01:26:44 |
America is addicted to oil. |
| 01:26:46 |
I call all this a potential coalition |
| 01:26:50 |
the do-gooders, the sod-busters, |
| 01:26:54 |
That's a pretty good-sized coalition. |
| 01:26:57 |
We are about to enter into a world that |
| 01:27:04 |
if we just had the willpower to implement it. |
| 01:27:07 |
You don't have to wait for major |
| 01:27:09 |
like I'm doing here. |
| 01:27:11 |
Old cars, new cars - |
| 01:27:12 |
I can convert anything. |
| 01:27:14 |
You haven't seen anything yet. |
| 01:27:16 |
The future is going to be |
| 01:27:18 |
and the forces are all |
| 01:27:20 |
both the economic |
| 01:27:23 |
Once people see these things, |
| 01:27:25 |
they say: "Wow, I want to do this!" |
| 01:27:28 |
And so the word is getting out. |
| 01:27:30 |
That gives us hope. |
| 01:27:33 |
Hope that we can end up our lives |
| 01:27:39 |
And we have. |
| 01:27:40 |
And you still have so many |
| 01:27:43 |
I wouldn't have enought time.. |
| 01:27:52 |
Subtitles by timbouctou |
