Who Killed the electric car?

“Who killed the electric car?” is a documentary that projects the life of the electric car as an alternative friendly solution in relation to that of normal petrol cars and its effects towards the environment and human being.

Electric car was created in the early 20^th century and was phased out 100 years ago. It first appeared in California around the 90’s to 2006.  However, business competitors competitively dropped the price of gas/petroleum powered internal combustion engine (ICE). ‘Dropping the price’ sounded pleasant for the ears but worsening problems cause by gas/petrol cars continue to rise like smog, child asthma, CO2 emission and global warming.

Several companies tried to design and produced alternative solutions to run the car using alternative power source like General Motor’s ‘SunRaycer’, which is a solar powered electric car. GM expanded the production several years after in small scale production. Electric vehicles continuous production cased arguments between the car companies, the government and the consumer. Electric vehicles leases and won some rights in able to continue the production. However, when the leases expire they immediately crushed the left over vehicles and removed the records of their existence. Of course, member of the government who commanded this action were members or former members of oil and car companies.

It is interesting how ‘some people’ would choose and promote unsustainable and harmful products and options for their own sake compromising the environment and its effect to humans.  It is clearly portrayed in this documentary that the death of electric car is due to government and their connection towards the oil companies and not giving a chance to develop electric car further. Illustration of the use of alternative solution like solar powered cars to generate electricity is effective in reducing the carbon pollution. Designers must see this documentary in order to gain further knowledge about design and its relation towards the environment, government and consumers.