Campaign for Plug-Ins Continues

Plug-In America was initially called DontCrush.com: The Campaign to Save Electric Cars. It was founded two years ago by electric car drivers unhappy that automakers would no longer lease or sell the electric vehicles they had test marketed under Memoranda of Understanding with the State of California. The organization's original name, like the film "Who Killed the Electric Car," reflected anger about GM's decision to end its EV1 electric car program. Most of the 1,115 EV1s built by GM were scrapped with a small number permanently disabled and donated to museums. Scrapping perfectly serviceable cars, while distasteful to often-passionate electric car enthusiasts, is a fairly normal course of action for auto manufacturers upon completion of demonstration programs.

The problem with this latest element in Plug-In America's campaign? Distribution of the "Who Killed the Electric Car?" DVD to legislators perpetuates skewed conclusions made by a film that purports to document the life and death of the modern electric car. In fact, this film forwards the perspective and agenda of electric vehicle activists without mention of the real killer of these vehicles - battery costs in the tens of thousands of dollars. Significant battery research continues and electric cars will surely return once, and if, battery costs come down. Although multiple automakers are now pursuing active plug-in hybrid development programs, battery technology and costs remain a serious challenge for these vehicles as well. More on this at the Green Car Online Blog.