Who killed the electric car - full movie

Who killed the electric trolley and train-system - full movie


Taken for A Ride (1996)

Well, the electric car is here as we speak, so it hasn't been killed off completely..

There are certainly some electric cars around again now. They just suffered a 10 to 20 year set-back that's all. Which is a bit tragic, but not half as tragic as what happened to public transport systems in the UK and USA.
Though consumers are partly to blame, it was ultimately government succumbing to corporate pressure which was the main catalyst for the degradation of one of the essences of modern, civilised society. IMO.


Taken for a Ride (1996)

- full length documentary the creation of General Motors & the Auto Industry's personal paradise; from the ashes and on the ruins of important national assets.

kai weeks wrote:There are certainly some electric cars around again now. They just suffered a 10 to 20 year set-back that's all. Which is a bit tragic, but not half as tragic as what happened to public transport systems in the UK and USA.
Though consumers are partly to blame, it was ultimately government succumbing to corporate pressure which was the main catalyst for the degradation of one of the essences of modern, civilised society. IMO.


Taken for a Ride (1996)

- full length documentary the creation of General Motors & the Auto Industry's personal paradise; from the ashes and on the ruins of important national assets.

The cars in that movie(the recent 1990s GM model) were part of a test run on a technology that was not market ready. After the test, they were brought in. This helps to protect proprietary information and prevents the company from having to maintain a supply chain for a limited roll out prototype. I watched the movie years ago, and didn't buy into the premise. We now have the Chevy Volt and many other electric cars.

I drove an all electric Nissan yesterday. It belongs to one of my customers. He has over 6000 km on it but has only charged at home three times. We have many free charging stations. It costs about $2.50 to charge if the batteries are 90% discharged. If public charge stations continue to be free, his cost of ownership will be less than if he had bought a similar gas car. This car is one smooth ride and at $33,000 was about the same price as other cars of that quality and size. On this island, the 160 km range is fine. He seldom drives more than 50 km (30 miles) in a day.

Nobody was killing those electric cars. They were testing technology and consumer demand. While the cars have improved vastly, the cost compared to gas vehicles has dropped dramatically. Electric cars are here to stay.

That makes a lot of sense, I understand what you mean about the electric car - and it does in fact confirm my suspicions. Thanks for getting those figures down too. I have to say that it is good news indeed that the electric private mode of transport is coming down to affordable levels...and further more that the demand may finally be there.

The electric come gas/petrol vehicles on the market now, are an interesting development too. Range is extended ad infinitum but frequent re-fueling is required because of the very limited gas/fuel/petrol tank capacity... every 100 odd miles or so I belive.

To just add one thing here I'd like to say that the documentary "Taken for a Ride" is on a topic aside; and mainly focusing on the demise of the electric trolley in highly urbanised areas. This was due to ruthless/opportunistic exploitation of certain weaknesses of democracy during the era. Weaknesses that are still exploited today in other areas and, ironically, with similar methods.

Electric cars are here to stay. Todays electric cars are not. Lumping round half a tonne of battery for bugger all power was dead before it was born. Carbon-Dioxide and turbine are the new. Low heat power generation without a piston engine.

Peter Mckinlay wrote:
Electric cars are here to stay. Todays electric cars are not. Lumping round half a tonne of battery for bugger all power was dead before it was born. Carbon-Dioxide and turbine are the new. Low heat power generation without a piston engine.

When you write "low heat", do you mean low temperature? If low temperature, then how would such a turbine engine achieve sufficiently high thermal efficiency? What do you propose as a source for the required heat?

What are the temperature extremes seen by the carbon dioxide working fluid in this system (highest temperature achieved by the CO2, and lowest temperature achieved by the CO2)?

Peter Mckinlay wrote:
Electric cars are here to stay. Todays electric cars are not. Lumping round half a tonne of battery for bugger all power was dead before it was born.

I will agree with that! Batteries are the joke in todays EVs.... fuel-cells is what needs to be I'd guess. Instant (pretty much) to change en route etc. Many benefits. Aluminium graphite oxidising fuel-cells. hehe.

I know naught about that turbine CO2 cold turbine drive though. Any more thought's on it? More ideas on what needs to be done to get it in the EVs of tomorrow?

Unless you're producing your own energy cleanly, or buying it from a clean source, you're likely contributing to the problem.