"Revenge of the Electric Car," coming to a theater near you
Chris Paine, maker of the famous (at least in these parts) documentary, "Who Killed the Electric Car," is planning a revival of the topic for his next film. Tentatively scheduled for a 2009 release and titled "Revenge of the Electric Car" (does the sequel look to get some inspiration from the Star Wars franchise?), it certainly wouldn't be a shocker if the electric car in question were none other than the Chevy Volt. While the first documentary focused on the destruction of the EV1 from General Motors - despite the fact that many past EV owners wanted to purchase them outright - the second film appears ready to welcome the electric car back from the dead.
We're not at all certain what the movie will focus on, but it is definitely true that electric cars are seeing a reincarnation of sorts. Tesla Motors, Fisker Automotive and General Motors all have plans to create new electric or hybrid vehicles in the coming years, along with many other major automakers. Even if it isn't the beloved little coupe, we join Mr. Paine and the throngs of ex-EV1 drivers in welcoming the electric car's return.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 1:42PM (7/09/2008)
The story is all about storage!
Let's hope that EEStor gives us the "happy ending" with a cheap, dense, high energy, safe and non-degrading electrical storage system.
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Peekoyle 8:47AM (7/09/2008)
Yeh, I'm not a fan of the 'Revenge of the..' title. It evokes horrible memories of those blights on film : The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy.
George Lucas took my childhood and stomped on it, just like how GM took Chelsea Sexton's and all EV lovers dream and stomped on it as well.
Personally I prefer 'The Return of the Electric Car', 'The Electric Car strikes Back' inspired by the much loved Original Trilogy. Also, what about ... 'Who is resurrecting the Electric Car?'.
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BlackbirdHighway 9:01AM (7/09/2008)
Wow, "The Revenge of..." title didn't make me think of Lucas at all, more like the "Revenge of Frankenstein", or maybe the "Revenge of the Nerds".
There are an incredible number of electric cars either here now or coming in the next few years. The next wave of electric cars is going to be huge.
The crushing of the EV1 and the other electric cars of that time now appears like the water receding just before the tsunami hits.
Electric cars are back, and this time they are here to stay.
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Chris 9:03AM (7/09/2008)
I'm afraid this movy might be a tat premature. The only EV with serious spec's that was supposed to hit the market by now -the Tesla Roadster- appears more and more to be another example of cyberspace vapourware with many cars apparently sold but none actually delivered and still no independent confirmation of the promised specs and a cumbersome PHEV offering like the Chevy Volt cannot be compared with the EV1 since it has none of the advantages of low maintenance and long lifespan that a real EV (with very view moving parts) would have. For now GM's efforts to kill the EV is successful and no cumbersome PHEV scheme will change that.
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Tony Belding 10:49AM (7/09/2008)
Correction for Chris. . . Tesla have delivered multiple cars to customers and are now starting about four cars a week on the production line. (They're deliberately keeping it slow until powertrain 1.5 is ready.) The first cars are going to investors in the company -- but they aren't freebies, they are cars that people paid for.
There is still "no independent confirmation of the promised specs", but nobody seems to care outside of the venomous Robert Farago and his small following of dittoheads. Tesla has established enough openness and credibility for most people to accept their description of the car, and most of us would rather see cars delivered to customers than to car magazines.
Chris M 2:09AM (1/31/2009)
Apparently "Chris" hasn't been paying attention. Tesla Motors started delivering EVs to paying customers in March, and had delivered 150 EVs to customers by the end of 2008. It is real, the "vapor" is long gone.
And Tony, there have indeed been "independent verification of specs" for the Roadster. It was tested by several auto magazines, and the estimated range was verified by the EPA.
kert 9:18AM (7/09/2008)
i wonder if Chris Paine knows about the 98 EV1 series hybrid version ?
Kinda hard to explain to audience what does Volt have on it that this EV1 did not.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:10AM (7/09/2008)
What the Volt has over the EV1 series hybrid is that you'll be able to get a Volt.
kert 1:12PM (7/09/2008)
Um, most predicted future events have non-zero chance of not happening.
I dont know the odds for Volt, but looking at where GM is heading i would not be too sure. And judging by their tempo by the time it will be available, there will likely be better choices.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:12AM (7/09/2008)
I can't wait to see this movie. I'd love to see Chris Paine issue a correction for his last movie first. He stated that battery technology was not a reason that the electric car didn't catch on. It's 8 years later now and the Tesla battery pack still costs over $20K, despite mediocre range in a miniscule vehicle, so it's clear that even now batteries are still a problem.
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Phil L. 11:19AM (7/09/2008)
Tony Belding -
I've heard about a few of the first deliveries - but little since then. Do you have sources that mention how many Tesla Roadsters have been delivered to private customers (i.e., people not directly affiliated with Tesla)?
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Paul Sallmen 4:18PM (7/09/2008)
Whoa! Wait a minute. I don't know what exactly this movie will be about, but shouldn't Mr. Paine hold off with any bold predictions until there are more EVs in showrooms. Why not wait till you can actually buy highway capable Zenn/Subaru/Mitsu/Volt/Nissan/Renault? Fortunately (?) it is expensive oil that is fast tracking this long overdue technology.
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nevjersey 10:26AM (9/19/2008)
Maybe the Revenge of the Electric Car
will be about the hundreds of private individuals -
and small independent companies - that are
building real, viable, daily commuter cars.
Maybe my Camry will be on the road by then...
Almost certainly my Prius will be converted
to PHEV by then
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Dave 12:49PM (10/01/2008)
Viva the home build EV. My electric DeLorean is fun and fast. It gets me 30 -40 miles on a charge and costs about 2 bucks to fill up!
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Jeff 12:58AM (1/31/2009)
Looking forward to this new movie. I too want an electric vehical and have enroled in a "How to build your own Electric vehical " course at South Seattle comm. coll.
Has anyone looked in on or heard from the founder and inventor of the great batteries that made the EV-1 possable ?
I ask because in the movie & trailer he talked about GM selling controling share of his company to an OIL company and they might just try to "Erase" him and his wonderful electric inventions!
Like the solar sheets WE could lay on our rooves and generate elctricity. Anyone heard or talked to him ?
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jeff 1:08AM (1/31/2009)
Reply; Volt -vs- EV-1
VOLT HAS A GAS MOTOR back- up. It is low-bred.
It only goes 40 miles per charge, EV-1 = 80-120 mpc.
volt= $ 40,000
EV-1 = "$250-$500/mth" quoted from movie.
chevy has gone backwards !
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Todd 5:25PM (2/07/2009)
Wake up !!!
Is it when we ar allmost dead that we will do something!
All we have to do is just not drive a gass car its that ez!
Shure it will take a big sackrifice at first but wourth it.....
Im in!
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