With gasoline prices approaching $4/gallon, fossil fuel shortages,
unrest in oil producing regions around the globe and mainstream
consumer adoption and adoption of the hybrid electric car (more than
140,000 Prius' sold this year), this story couldn't be more relevant or
important. The foremost goal in making this movie is to educate and
enlighten audiences with the story of this car, its place in history
and in the larger story of our car culture and how it enables our
continuing addiction to foreign oil. This is an important film with an
important message that not only calls to task the officials who
squelched the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, but all of the other
accomplices, government, the car companies, Big Oil, even Eco-darling
Hydrogen as well as consumers, who turned their backs on the car and
embrace embracing instead the SUV. Our documentary investigates the
death and resurrection of the electric car, as well as the role of
renewable energy and sustainable living in our country's future; issues
which affect everyone from progressive liberals to the neo-conservative
right. 

As a result of their development of a solar powered
vehicle for a competition, General Motors decided in the late 1980's to
develop a fully functional and affordable electric powered car. The
resulting vehicles were high powered, zero emission, but could only run
for approximately 100 miles on a charge, which is sufficient for most
day to day driving. Because they knew that the technology was feasible
and because of the global warming phenomenon resulting from the
uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels, California state regulators
passed the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate in 1990, requiring all auto
makers to offer for sale in the state zero emission vehicles. The
electric car was the most promising technology at the time. It was
argued that they were more environmentally friendly than conventional
vehicles, even if the electricity was produced through burning coal.
Under pressure from all the auto makers who sued the California Air
Resources Board, the mandate was revoked in 2003. Despite lessees who
loved their electric vehicles, all the auto makers repossessed their
electric vehicles and refused to re-lease or sell the vehicles even to
their existing users. Many forces seemed to be working against making
electric vehicles available, despite technology itself making their
production and operation feasible.