Car-sitters vs. The Crushers: Burbank EV Vigil Starts Today

Citizens and celebrities sound clarion call to rescue petroleum-free, pollution-free EVs.

Burbank – February 16, 2005 – Today in Burbank, citizens and celebrities will begin a California car-sit to protest General Motor's confiscation and destruction of its all-electric, zero-emission EV1 commuter cars.  As Washington shuns Kyoto climate protections, Californians are taking a stand against global warming and calling on Detroit to revive its all-electric vehicle programs to meet longstanding waiting lists for the Earth-friendly cars.  At an 11:00 a.m. press conference this morning, EV defenders will demand that GM reverse its unpopular decision to destroy the only zero emission cars in its gas guzzling line up and resume active development of its EV fleet.

WHO
Ed Begley, Jr, EV1 driver
Bob Seibert, EV1 driver
Andy Weisser, American Lung Association
Hart Bochner, EV1 driver
Ellen Crawford and Michael Genovese, EV1 drivers
Alexandra Paul, EV1 driver
Jennifer Krill, Zero Emissions Director, Rainforest Action Network
Earth Resources Foundation
Jason Mark, Global Exchange

WHAT
California car-sit underway now
On-site press conference from the EV graveyard

WHEN
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
11AM

WHERE
1105 West Riverside Dr., Burbank 91506

VISUALS
Stacks of crushed EV1s as backdrop

Where have all the EV1’s gone?

In 1996, GM introduced about 700 of the sleek EV1s, to lucky lessees in Arizona and California. The majority of the EV1s were snapped up by eager Southern California drivers who were unanimous in praise of their new electric vehicles. “I decided to go electric,” says EV1 lesee and actor Peter Horton. “I had seen those sleek, sort of George Jetson EV1s shoot by me with surprising speed on the freeways. I thought, fine, I'll get an EV1. Along with simply loving the car, there was a sense that if this succeeded, it would significantly change the automotive landscape. But as I lifted the phone to make the call, I had no way of knowing that this simple, reasonable act was my first step into the electric car wars.”

Despite widespread public support and waiting lists thousands of people long, in 2000 GM began taking the cars away from devoted drivers, sending them to sit and rot in parking lots, and then crushing them. Today, approximately 77 still survive in California, in the Burbank lot, and the individuals involved in the vigil beginning Wednesday are determined to stop GM from destroying the rest.

Give the people what they want

A recent Harris poll found that 63% of adults are likely to purchase a car with enhanced fuel efficiency, if they have the option. Those surveyed went on to say they would spend an extra $1600 for a hybrid electric car. Rather than bend to meet public opinion and consumer demand, EV manufacturers including GM continue to destroy their EV fleets. And the public continues to fight back.

A growing worldwide movement to challenge the auto industry’s ongoing assault on electric vehicles has been met with success. Last fall, public pressure resulted in Ford Motor Company’s decision to resell, rather than scrap, its US fleet of Th!nk City cars, which are now being resold to customers in Norway. In January, 2005, an eight-day peaceful public vigil in Sacramento convinced Ford to resell its full-electric Ranger pickup trucks.

According to the American Lung Association, air quality throughout southern California region ranks the worst in the nation, largely due to auto emissions. “No question about it. Electric Vehicles are the solution. Such a simple thing can impact our dependence on foreign oil and our air quality. We believe that everyone deserves the choice to drive clean vehicles- and we want that choice,” says Rainforest Action Network’s zero emission director Jennifer Krill. “When GM destroys these EV1s they are also destroying the possibility for a safe, healthy, and environmentally sustainable future.”

Supporting statements

“Once upon a time I drove a car that was made in America,  emitted nothing when I drove it, required little or no maintenance and used American made electricity,” laments Bob Seldon, a Santa Monica attorney whose son dreamed of driving the EV1 to college. “My neighbors who drove it couldn't  get the smiles off of their faces.  There were waiting lists for it. It was a winner designed by a team of unsung and largely unknown heroes. GM decided it had to die!”

“In a nutshell, the EV1 is fun to drive, easy to maintain, good for the environment, and reduces our dependency on OPEC. I just can't get enough, and I never want to drive a gasoline-powered car again,” says Myron Ahn, whose EV1 sits and rots in the Burbank lot, awaiting the crusher.

Californians have expressed a desire for clean transportation- and the technology exists to produce it- today. In fact, General Motors began making it available over eight years ago when the EV1 electric vehicle came to market,” says former GM employee Chelsea Sexton. “Every vehicle General Motors made available was leased- and the public wanted more. Instead of making more cars to meet this demand, GM dismantled its factory and sued the state of California to get rid of Zero Emission Vehicle mandates.

“When we got our EV1, we thought it would be our second car. But immediately it became our primary when we found through experience it was easier to operate,” says Moorpark nurse Diana Reagan. “Quickly, it became easier and easier to use this car and it became an integral part of our life and lifestyle. No visits to the gas pump. No oil changes or smog checks. And we never had to worry about the price of gas or wait in line for it. We had no inkling as to not just the convenience of an electric car, but the sheer pleasure of it. I had to be talked into getting the electric car by my husband, Mike. My biggest hurdle was mental-it's too limited, you have to plug it in, it's just a golf cart. But, no! It was in every way a car, only better. My electric car "filled up" all by itself whenever it was parked. I'm not an eco nut, tree hugger sort of person, but the more I saw of how far less my electric car contributed to our pollution problems-directly and indirectly-the better I felt. Another perk, Mike and I have traveled more and had more fun in the short year and a half of driving electric than in all the years of driving gas. Electric changed our lives.”