| Introduction | | | | may not seem that impressive, it represents |
| As gas prices continue to rise throughout the | | | | nearly four times the amount of money the |
| nation, rumors of oil conspired wars loom in the | | | | California Electric Transportation Coalition has |
| Middle East, and the lingering threat of | | | | available each year. |
| human-induced harmful global warming becomes a | | | | In a recent study named the Pollution Politics, |
| reality; it is clear that an alternative form of | | | | done between the years 1991-1995, revealed that |
| energy must be implemented soon to replace the | | | | nearly $34 million dollars in public policy was spent |
| nation’s addiction to oil. While oil is used for | | | | by oil companies and automakers to influence |
| many different forms of energy, vehicles used | | | | public opinion against the electric car mandates. Of |
| for transportation are responsible for a large | | | | the $34 million spent, $29 million went towards |
| portion of the oil consumption in the United States. | | | | lobbying and $3.97 million went towards donations |
| Therefore, the need to convert our gas-guzzling | | | | to legislative candidates (Motavalli, 1997). The |
| autos to run off of alternative forms of energy is | | | | majority of the public relations campaigns done by |
| the first step to wining our nation off of oil usage. | | | | both the auto and oil companies were aimed at |
| Over the past decade, there have been several | | | | the increase of taxes that it would take to |
| attempts to produce alternative forms of energy | | | | promote the electric car. The public, however, |
| which can be converted to power by our every | | | | was not informed of the larger amount of money |
| day drivers. These attempts have encompassed | | | | they are currently spending to continue the use |
| everything from solar to alcohol powered vehicles; | | | | of gas-powered vehicles. As the numbers and |
| however, due to lack of technology most of | | | | facts are examined it is clear that the oil industry |
| these non-greenhouse emitting vehicles have | | | | has used its power and influence, both monetarily |
| remained as nothing more than a dream. | | | | and legally, to keep the electric car from being |
| However, electric vehicles proves to be the | | | | produced. |
| exception as it has already been mass produced | | | | The Want |
| in 1996 by one of the Nations leading auto | | | | As gas prices rise and rumors of oil conspired |
| manufactures. | | | | wars are consistently looming in the Middle East, it |
| The first initial push that drove automobile | | | | comes as no surprise that the general public |
| producers to create an electric car came from | | | | would prefer an electric powered vehicle over a |
| the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The | | | | gas powered vehicle. While a mass produced |
| CARB mandated that 2% of the cars sold in | | | | electric vehicle is not currently available on the |
| California by 1998 must be considered "Zero | | | | market, the electric and gas hybrid is. The hybrid |
| Emission Vehicles"(ZEVs). After the 1998 dead | | | | car takes electric technology and combines it with |
| line, new requirements were made by the CARB, | | | | the traditional gas powered engine. The result is a |
| mandating that by 2003, 10% of all automobiles | | | | low emissions vehicle that has a high mile per |
| sold in California must be ZEVs (Motavalli, 1997). | | | | gallon rating, as the car relies on both electric and |
| General Motors was one of the first companies to | | | | gas power. |
| meet the CARB’s new mandates for the | | | | In a resent study done by J.D. Power and |
| first zero emission vehicle. They did this with the | | | | Associates, 57% of the consumers in the U.S. |
| release of the first electric vehicle known as the | | | | who expected to purchase a new vehicle by |
| EV1 (Electric Vehicle 1). Conversely, soon after | | | | 2009 are considering a hybrid vehicle (King |
| General Motors started, they abandoned the | | | | Flounders, 2007). This attraction to hybrid vehicles |
| popular project joining the Federal Government in | | | | offers the most realistic glimpse into the future of |
| successfully suing the State of California to | | | | the motor vehicle industry. Hence, it seems only |
| remove the CARB zero emissions requirements. | | | | logical that if the hybrid vehicle is attracting |
| Hence, despite the large need, want and availability | | | | consumers because of the electric qualities, that a |
| of the mass production of electric | | | | completely electric vehicle would gain an even |
| vehicles—they are still not being produced | | | | greater demand. |
| due to the overwhelming influence of oil driven | | | | This demand for an electric car was recently |
| industries and the Federal Government’s | | | | experienced by General Motor Company with the |
| lack of intervention. | | | | release of the first production electric vehicle, the |
| The Need | | | | EV1. The first EV1 concept car was revealed in |
| Global warming has been the center of | | | | the Los Angles Auto Show, in 1990. General |
| environmental debate since 1896 when Swedish | | | | Motor executives were surprised by the large |
| chemist, Svante Arrhenius, hypnotized that the | | | | demand for the concept to become a reality. The |
| build up of carbon dioxide, produced by burning | | | | demands were not only from the public but also |
| fossil fuels, such as coal, would increase the | | | | from the California State Legislature as they |
| temperature on the planet (Clemmitt, 2006). Since | | | | continued to enforce the Zero-Emissions Law that |
| the establishment of Arrhenisus’ theory on | | | | required General Motors to produce the vehicle. |
| global warming over 100 years ago, scientific | | | | The EV1 was released by General Motors to the |
| advancements, and new technologies have | | | | general public in the fall of 1996. As the public |
| re-enforced his theory. However, the most | | | | discovered that the completely electric car was |
| convincing evidence of global warming is the actual | | | | about to hit the market, it became obvious that |
| changes that are occurring throughout the globe. | | | | the demand for the EV1 was still strong. |
| Since the beginning of the 20th century, the global | | | | Even with the limited availability, there was a large |
| temperature has increased by one degree | | | | waiting list to purchase the new electric cars. |
| Fahrenheit (Clemmitt, 2006). While one degree | | | | Perhaps the large demand for the EV1 spawned |
| may not seem worthy of alarm, a change in one | | | | from its ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in |
| degree can cause a devastating domino effect | | | | nine seconds, the standard air bags, anti-lock |
| that can lead to the demise of the entire planet. | | | | breaks, cruise control, traction control, electric |
| For example, the one-degree increase in the global | | | | locks, keyless entry and ignition, liquid free |
| temperature has caused many of the worlds | | | | batteries, aluminum frame, or the 90 mile highway |
| glaciers to begin to melt. Glacier melting is | | | | range of the batteries (Cook 1996). The car had |
| currently affecting Montana’s Glacier | | | | such a high demand that the Saturn dealerships, |
| National Park, where nearly 120 glaciers have | | | | where the car was offered for lease, had to |
| melted since 1910. As glaciers, such as those in | | | | screen the potential owners and then select only |
| Montana’s Glacier National Park, melt they | | | | the most qualified applicants from the list (Cook |
| cause the sea levels throughout the world to rise | | | | 1996). Those that qualified were only allowed to |
| in both temperature and depth. Although the | | | | lease the EV1 with no option of purchase. Of |
| negative effects of melting glaciers and rising sea | | | | course the EV1 had its share of critics; however, |
| levels may not seem detrimental, the increase | | | | due to the popular demand, it was apparent that |
| temperatures from global warming are responsible | | | | General Motors had taken a step in the right |
| for “… providing added fuel to growing | | | | direction. |
| storms and hurricanes, making them more | | | | At the end of the leasing option in 2003, many of |
| intense” (Lener, 2006). The overwhelming | | | | the satisfied owners offered to buy the EV1. |
| deadly aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has been | | | | Instead of taking the buyers offers General |
| directly attributed to global warming. Rising global | | | | Motors had all the EV1 returned, taken to a junk |
| temperatures are also being blamed for the | | | | yard in Arizona and crushed (More, 2006). This |
| European heat wave of 2003 that was | | | | bizarre decision to suddenly crush the vehicles |
| responsible for killing 25,000 people (Clemmitt | | | | raised the eyebrows of many EV1 enthusiasts. |
| 2006). The list of increasing powerful and frequent | | | | The decision to crush the EV1 came the same |
| natural disasters continues to grow as the globe | | | | month the State of California lifted the |
| continues to heat up. | | | | Zero-Emissions mandate to accept lower forms |
| The director of Climate and Global Dynamics | | | | of carbon producing vehicles (Silberg, 2006). |
| Division at the National Center for Atmospheric | | | | The Means |
| Research, James Hurrell, told the Senate’s | | | | After the recall of the EV1, General Motors |
| Energy and Natural Resources Committee | | | | stated that the production costs for the all electric |
| recently that, “The climate is changing, and | | | | vehicles were too high and the technology did not |
| the rate of change as projected exceeds | | | | allow for their production. While this excuse may |
| anything seen in nature in the past 10,000 | | | | have been effective over ten years ago, it has |
| years” (Clemmitt, 2006). With the deadly | | | | become more apparent that the technology is |
| effects of global warming already unfolding | | | | currently available and affordable. The technology |
| throughout the world, the solution must be | | | | to build an electric car has become so affordable |
| implemented immediately. | | | | that as Bill More, an author of the Mother Earth |
| Currently, green house gasses are the highest | | | | News, points out, “Anyone who has the |
| they have been in 75,000 years. In addition, | | | | time, talent and the resources can convert a |
| human emitted carbon dioxide is at the highest | | | | conventional automobile to electric drive” |
| levels it has ever been in the history of man | | | | (More, 2006). Of course most Americans do not |
| (Clemmitt, 2006). Hence, it is hard to ignore the | | | | have the ability to convert their daily driver into |
| theory, of human induced-global warming, when | | | | an electric vehicle, but it does show that the |
| green house gas concentrations are parallel to the | | | | technology is currently available. |
| large amount of human produced carbon dioxide. | | | | Often times many critics of the electric car |
| It is also hard to ignore a panel of nearly 25,000 | | | | debate that the car would need re-charging too |
| scientists gathered together in 2001 to form the | | | | often in order to allow the user to travel the |
| United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate | | | | distances needed throughout the day. Amazingly |
| Change (IPCC). The team of scientist reported | | | | enough, one of the breakthroughs technologies of |
| “That most of the observed warming of | | | | the EV1 was the ability to reuse kinetic energy |
| the last 50 years is attributable to human | | | | displaced when breaking. This recycled energy |
| activities” (Cooper 2001). They furthered | | | | could charge the battery up to 30%. Of course |
| their argument by predicting that the | | | | advanced breaking methods do not replace the |
| Earth’s overall temperature could climb up | | | | need for recharging the batteries, but there are |
| to eleven degrees Fahrenheit, under the | | | | ways of incorporating charging batteries into our |
| worst-case conditions, if the amount of green | | | | everyday life as seen in Europe. |
| house gases continue to rise (Cooper 2001). If this | | | | Electric cars are one of the fastest growing |
| takes place scientists have projected that | | | | forms of transportation in London; the number of |
| “such a rise could inundate many low-lying | | | | electric cars jumping from 49 to 1,278 in two |
| islands and eventually threaten such areas as the | | | | years. To make up for this increased form of |
| New York City borough of Manhattan and Miami | | | | electric transportation London has provided |
| Beach” (Griffin, 1992). The green house | | | | re-charge bays next to most parking meters |
| gases responsible for current and future disasters | | | | (Britain: Charging around the city; Electric cars, |
| are made-up of water vapor, carbon dioxide, | | | | 2007). It is only a matter of time before all of |
| methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. The increased | | | | England is equipped to handle the electric car. |
| levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are | | | | While the mass produced electric car is not |
| the direct result of the burning of fossil fuels and | | | | currently on the market, smaller simpler electric |
| the source of most of the danger. | | | | vehicles are. The electricscooter [ and electric bike |
| As show in Figure 1, nearly 1/3 of the increased | | | | are two forms of electric vehicles that are mass |
| levels of carbon dioxide can be contributed to | | | | produced and can be bought at the local toy shop |
| transportation ( Cooper 2001). | | | | or even over the Internet. The electric scooter |
| Figure 1 | | | | can be bought in two forms; the classic Vespa |
| Carbon dioxide is one of the byproducts that are | | | | style, which appears resemble a motorcycle; or |
| produced by the burning of gasoline within the | | | | the children style electric scooter that represents |
| combustible engine found in all cars and trucks on | | | | a push style scooter. Both types of electric |
| the road today. | | | | scooters are extremely popular amongst college |
| In other words, one of the solutions to preventing | | | | students and inner-city commuters alike. The |
| further global warming is to either stop | | | | electric scooter is powered by batteries that can |
| transportation all together or implement an | | | | be re-charged using a conventional AC adaptor. |
| alternative form of energy, which does not | | | | Jerome Byrd, a web publisher, who lives in |
| produce carbon dioxide, to power our vehicles. | | | | Philadelphia, has driven to work and throughout |
| Obviously, the economy and the human way of | | | | Philadelphia on his electric scooter and has gone |
| life would cease to exist if we stopped | | | | nearly a total of 30,000 miles (Moore, 2007). |
| transportation altogether. However, the obvious | | | | Even more popular is the electricbike [ Just like |
| decision to use an alternative form of fuel to | | | | the electric scooter, the electric bike is powered |
| save the earth is rejected by major oil companies | | | | by batteries and can come in two forms: the |
| and other related industries to keep Americans | | | | human assisted (comes with pedals) or the |
| addicted to oil in order not to loose their $300 | | | | completely electric bike (does not need pedals). |
| billion dollar a year industry (Motavalli, 1997). | | | | While there are many different forms of e-bikes |
| The Kyoto Protocol | | | | they are all measured in watts and amps. The |
| Recently, measures have been taken to curb the | | | | more watts and amps that you purchase the |
| production of carbon dioxide, not only on a state | | | | more powerful the electric bike (and scooter) are. |
| level with the “Zero-Emissions Law” | | | | These bikes can reach up to 24 mph and travel |
| passed by the California State Legislature, but | | | | up to 15 miles on a single charge. Although, the |
| these efforts are also seen on a global level as | | | | electric scooter and electric bike are by no means |
| well. In 1997, more than 150 countries met in | | | | an alternative to a car, their ability to be mass |
| Kyoto Japan to sign the Kyoto Protocol. The | | | | produced commercially is paving the way. |
| Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that | | | | Conclusion |
| required signing countries to reduce green house | | | | Each year, as the temperature rises and more |
| gasses to 5% below 1990 levels by 2005 through | | | | human lives are lost to the intensified natural |
| the implementation of taxes and laws. The United | | | | disasters due to global warming, we are reminded |
| States, responsible for emitting the largest | | | | of the need for a solution to combat global |
| amount of green house gases, vowed to cut their | | | | warming. The solution comes in the form of a |
| share by 7% under the Clinton administration. As | | | | pollution free electric vehicle. While the mighty oil |
| the deadline for the Protocol was set for | | | | companies and their minions, the U.S. government |
| February of 2005, the United States, under the | | | | and auto manufacturers, have done all they can |
| Bush Administration, has since changed their | | | | to stop alternative forms of energy from |
| stance stating that there is a lack of scientific | | | | emerging, the overwhelming need, the undeniable |
| evidence to support global warming (Cooper, | | | | want and the available technologies cannot stop |
| 2001). Bush was also quoted by saying it [the | | | | the electric car from once again quietly gliding |
| Kyoto Protocol] shackled the U.S. | | | | down a street near you some day soon. |
| economy(Cooper, 2005). In addition to the Bush | | | | References |
| administrations lack of support to the Kyoto | | | | Britain: Charging around the city; Electric cars. |
| Protocol, the U.S. Senate and the House of | | | | (2007, June). The Economist, 383(8531), 38. |
| representatives are also opposed to the treaty | | | | Retrieved August 3, 2007, from Research Library |
| (Clemmitt, 2006). One can only speculate that the | | | | database. (Document ID: 1280674301). |
| rejection of the Kyoto Protocol and | | | | Clemmitt, M. (2006, January 27). Climate change. |
| California’s zero emissions laws are just | | | | CQ Researcher, 16, 73-96. Retrieved August 3, |
| two examples of a larger picture: the oil and auto | | | | 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, |
| industries massive influence on the United States | | | | Cook, W. (1996, September 30). Look, mom, no |
| Government. | | | | gas. U.S. News & World Report, 121(13), 52. |
| The Oil Industries Influence in the Government | | | | Retrieved July 31, 2007, from Academic Search |
| The WSPA (Western States Petroleum | | | | Premier database. |
| Association) is made up a coalition of oil | | | | Cooper, M. (2001, January 26). Global warming |
| companies that are located in the western United | | | | treaty. CQ Researcher, 41-64. Retrieved July 31, |
| States including: Mobile, Shell, Chevron and Arco. | | | | 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, Graphic |
| The WSPA is also one of the top five lobbyist | | | | Cooper, M. (2005, February 25). Alternative fuels. |
| employers in California. Therefore, much of the | | | | CQ Researcher, 15, 173-196. Retrieved August 7, |
| lobbying done in California is influenced from the | | | | 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, |
| major oil companies. Two of the major activist | | | | Griffin, R. D. (1992, February 7). Threatened |
| seen in California State’s legislature is know | | | | coastlines. CQ Researcher, 2, 97-120. Retrieved |
| as CAUCA (Californians Against Utility Company | | | | August 7, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, |
| Abuse) and CHAT (Californians Against Hidden | | | | "Global Warming: The Culprit? Evidence mounts |
| Taxes). Both of these lobbyists are funded in part | | | | that human activity is helping fuel these monster |
| by the WSPA (Motavalli, 1997). The executive | | | | hurricanes". (2006). In Brenda Lerner & K. |
| director of the “Grass Roots” lobby | | | | Lerner (Eds.), Environmental Issues: Essential |
| CHAT, Linda Mangels, even said, “I believe | | | | Primary Sources, (139-142). Detroit: Gale. |
| most, if not all of our funding comes from WSPA | | | | Retrieved August 07, 2007, from Gale Virtual |
| --that's no secret,” (Motavalli, 1997). With | | | | Reference Library via Thomson Gale: |
| such a powerful influence in the state legislature | | | | Moore, B. (2007, April). Ride Green with Electric |
| the WSPA has declined how much money it has | | | | Bikes and Scooters. Mother Earth News, |
| invested in the campaign against the electric car | | | | Retrieved August 7, 2007, from Academic Search |
| mandates such as the Zero Emissions Mandate by | | | | Premier database. |
| the CARB and the CETC. (California Electric | | | | Motavalli, J. (1997, March). The ties that blind. E |
| Transportation Coalition). | | | | Magazine: The Environmental Magazine, 8(2), 36. |
| In addition to the massive influence of the WSPA, | | | | Retrieved August 4, 2007, from Academic |
| the coming fourth electric vehicle has also been hit | | | | Search Premier database. |
| hard by the AAMA (American Automobile | | | | Silberg, J. (2006, July). Who Killed the Electric Car?: |
| Manufactures Association). The AAMA has done | | | | Plinyminor's New Model for Production and Post. |
| its own lobbying campaign against the electric | | | | Videography, 31(07), 16. Retrieved August 7, |
| vehicle. In six months, the auto industry spent | | | | 2007, from Research Library database. |
| around $500,000 to campaign against the electric | | | | (Document ID: 1094860951). |
| car mandates (Motavalli, 1997). While that number | | | | |