'Who killed the electric car?'

Rob Lechner looks under the hood of one of the Lodi Electric Utility's 2001 Toyota Rav 4's on Thursday afternoon. The electric cars are completely powered from solar panels placed on the roof of a docking station. Once the cars get their full-powered one-hour charge, to drive 100 miles until empty, the excess solar energy goes back into the grid. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

'Who killed the electric car?'

Lodi utility to host talk on electric cars at Hutchins Street Square

By Matt Brown
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Friday, January 19, 2007 6:56 AM PST

Comments (12 comment(s))

It was among the most efficient cars ever built, running on electricity and producing no emissions. Yet General Motors crushed its fleet of EV1 electric vehicles in the Arizona desert in 2004.

The Lodi Electric Utility is highlighting the tragic fate of the first electric cars by showing the film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" on Monday at 6 p.m. at Hutchins Street Square.

"This is a nice opportunity to talk about alternative fuel vehicles," said Rob Lechner, manager of customer service and programs for the utility. "This keeps the issue in the forefront for the community."

For the last five years, the utility has leased three electric cars from Toyota. The RAV4-EVs are used to drive to meetings and for meter reader routes.

Lechner added the vehicles have had virtually no maintenance problems. And the utility's cars run on solar energy, not fossil fuel-generated electricity.

"We have a charging station using the sun," Lechner said. "There is truly nothing wasted."

He said the cars take about an hour to charge and run for up to 100 miles before needing to be recharged. When the solar panels are not charging cars, the power they generate is put back into the utility's supply.

Chelsea Sexton, executive director of the nonprofit group Plug In America, will speak before the free showing of the film and answer questions afterward. Sexton, who sold many EV1s as a saleswoman at General Motors, now promotes electric-powered cars through her organization.

The film, which is narrated by Martin Sheen, explores the automobile industry's response to California's zero-emissions mandate. Automakers developed electric cars, then fought to have the rules relaxed before destroying their fleet of electric vehicles.

Utility Director George Morrow said the city has tried to purchase the RAV4-EVs from Toyota, but the auto maker prefers to lease them. Electric car makers have confiscated and crushed vehicles after their leases have expired.

Electric utilities have partnered with the electric car industry, Morrow said, adding that surplus electricity could power all the electric cars in the world.

"There's a nexus between the electric industry and electric vehicles," he said. "It's good for the environment, good for air quality and good for business."

Each family or individual attending the event will receive a compact florescent lamp, a bag of popcorn and will be entered into a drawing for one of five DVDs of the film.

Contact reporter Matt Brown at mattb@lodinews.com.

If you go:

• "Who Killed the Electric Car?" on Monday, 6 p.m., Hutchins Street Square.
• Chelsea Sexton, executive director of Plug In America, will speak before the movie and answer questions afterward.
• Each family or individual attending will receive a compact florescent lamp and will be entered into a drawing to win one of five DVDs of the film.
• Admission is free.
Source: Lodi Electric Utility.

First published: Friday, January 19, 2007

Reader Feedback

Leonard wrote on Jan 23, 2007 7:18 AM:

" In my mind, hybrid vehicles are preferable to straight electric in that they generate their own power out of inertia that would have otherwise been wasted. "

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Discrepancy in Article wrote on Jan 20, 2007 1:58 PM:

" The article says a free bag of popcorn will be given to each individual that attends. However, in the pinkish red shaded area the popcorn is eliminated. So, if popcorn isn't being given, people will be upset. "

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Doug Korthof wrote on Jan 20, 2007 1:13 PM:

" Electric vehicles shift energy production to cleaner sources. EVs are so efficient, you can produce more power than they need from even a modest solar PV electric system. It takes a lot of electric to make gasoline: how can electric be "drty" when used for a clean EV, but "clean" when used to make dirty gas? The EV1 went up to 200 miles on the energy equivalent of a gallon of gas, the RAV4-EV goes up to 150 miles on the same 35 kWh. "

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Doug Korthof wrote on Jan 20, 2007 11:50 AM:

" We are among 328 drivers allowed to buy the Toyota RAV4-EV after GM killed the EV1. We power two RAV4-EV for 20,000 miles of driving each per year, plus our own domestic electric, from our modest 4.2 kW solar electric system. The EV allows us to live essentially "oil-free" except for train-travel or airplanes. The EV has powerful enemies, primarily Chevron and GM, who will do anything to continue your addiction to oil, oil debris, oil spills, oil wars. GM is the pusher, Chevron the drug-lord. "

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to WTF.... wrote on Jan 19, 2007 8:38 PM:

" You need to adjust your tin foil hat. "

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Red E. Killowat wrote on Jan 19, 2007 8:37 PM:

" You are all lock stepped in your uselessness. Respond to me with the amount of electricity it takes to recharge one of these useless cars compared to the equal amound of gasoline. I guarantee they are worthless. Drill in the artic, texas, gulf of mexico and stop these primitive "feel good" excursions into silliness. again...send me the numbers....you cant. "

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MO wrote on Jan 19, 2007 6:42 PM:

" EVangel. My point is that electric cars DO cause pollution in today's environment since most of the electricity they use is generated by fossil fuel somewhere else. You just relocate the pollution to the power plant. Transmission loss means more electricity must be produced by the power plant than what is consumed at the plug. I like the concept but we must be realistic about the net benefit. If there is no net benefit it is a waste of resources. "

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wtf wrote on Jan 19, 2007 4:07 PM:

" This is a great movie! This shows Lodi is on the cutting edge which is particularly good given Arnold's latest legacy regarding clean air - on last night's news, in fact. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2007/2007-01-18-02.asp There are also sporty models in the electric car arena. Actually, quite a few to choose from - they just need more prominent PR. http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1 Good job, Lodi Electric! Now bring those rates down and we'll all be happy. "

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EVangel wrote on Jan 19, 2007 3:49 PM:

" MO: Electric vehicles (EVs) produce zero emissions themselves. If you want to complain about fuelmaking emissions, don't forget to consider the emissions due to drilling, shipping, refining and fighting over oil. "

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MO wrote on Jan 19, 2007 12:44 PM:

" Electric cars today simply shift fossil fuel pollution sources and use. When America gets serious about nuclear power again and other alternative power sources, then electric cars will make more sense. For pete's sake, if the French can do nuclear safely, anybody can. Plus, much of the French nuclear design came from American companies. Enough of the anti-nuke scare tactics. Finally, let's do a true cost-benefit. A hybrid has dozens of pounds of smelted copper and nickel. They are not resource neutral. "

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nylodian wrote on Jan 19, 2007 8:44 AM:

" I found the clip - it's a news clip on YouTube titled "Water As Fuel" for anyone interested. "

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nylodian wrote on Jan 19, 2007 8:35 AM:

" I remember seeing a clip last year about a man who invented a process converting the hydrogen from water (I think he called it HHO)to safely fuel cars. He was able to run the car 300 miles on water using his process. I suppose his technology will be supressed too. "

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