 14 Mar 2007 @ 18:00, by Unknown
The suspects
Consumers
Apathy. Ambivalence to new technology. Lack of information. Unwillingness to compromise on decreased range, cost, and lack of cargo and passenger space.
Batteries
Somewhat limited range and reliability in the first EV-1s to ship, but moderately better later.
Oil companies
Fearful of losing profit to a competing technology, they supported efforts to kill the ZEV mandate. Oil companies have also bought all patents to the batteries that were being developed and have been accused of using patent protection to prevent further development and to keep modern battery technology from use in US electric cars.
Car companies
The three major US automobile manufacturers, General Motors, Chrysler Corporation and Ford Motor Company have been accused by a variety of consumer advocates, activists, commentators, journalists, and documentary makers of deliberately sabotaging their companies'battery electric vehicles (BEV) efforts through several methods: failing to market, failing to produce appropriate vehicles, failing to satisfy demand, and using lease-only programs with prohibitions against end of lease purchase. By these actions they have managed to terminate their BEV development and marketing programs despite operators' offers of purchase and assumption of maintenance liabilities. The Chrysler "golf cart" program has seemed to some as an insult to the marketplace and to government mandates; Chrysler has been accused of intentionally failing to produce a vehicle usable in mixed traffic conditions. Moreover, the three major American motor companies have almost exclusively promoted their electric cars in the American market, where gas has been comparatively cheap, and virtually ignored the European market, where gas is significantly more expensive.
Government
The federal government joined in the auto industry suit against California and has failed to act in the public interest to limit pollution and force increased fuel economy.
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
The CARB, headed by Alan Lloyd, caved to industry pressure and repealed the ZEV mandate. Lloyd was given the directorship of the new fuel cell institute, so had an inherent conflict of interest. Footage shot in the meetings showed how he shut down the ZEV proponents while giving the car makers all the speaking time they wanted to make their points.
Hydrogen fuel cell
The hydrogen fuel cell was raised as an alternative that distracted attention from what was presently possible to what might some day be possible.
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