Who Killed The Electric Car, and Why.

Amid the ever-increasing gas prices and air pollution due to tail pipe emission, this documentary digs into the GM EV1 electric car's short life - once the fad and all the rage in mid 1990s but fell by the wayside. What happened?  Who killed the electric car?  How could such a good-looking and efficient, environmentally-friendly car fail to transform our garages and skies? The documentary shows interviews with government officials, concerned celebrities, former GM employees and former owners to seek the answer to the question.

This documentary has been transferred from video to film.  On the power of its own merit and sincerity, it runs efficiently to to video screens in people's homes, which makes it like the vehicle it mourns. This movie may be quite timely considering that gas had so recently hit over $4 a gallon and will likely return to that price. And  some of the profits will go to countries where they support terrorists.

GM electric car is still fighting for survival. There are many celebrities that are vocal about using and endorsing electric cars.  Though they are not the official spokespersons and are not paid to do so - they choose to spread the word out of the goodness of their hearts.  Or maybe they just think it's cool that electric cars are finally getting attention from ordinary people and could be making a comeback.

And why not? These electric cars are unlike any golf cart that you've driven. This is not a toy car that you can only drive around the green or the country club.  This is a real car driven by real people.  Electric cars are cleaner, quieter and more inexpensive to run than gasoline-powered vehicles.  As to why the idea hasn't been fully adopted by the people yet - this is what the movie is trying to find out.  You'd think that with the gas prices and pollution, people would jump to the idea of having an alternative to fossil fuels.  But the evolution is coming slowly despite its key benefits.  

Electricity is way cheaper than gas, and some of it comes from renewable resources like wind and solar power.  Electric cars pollute 99% less than gasoline-powered vehicles (especially when using renewable energy sources to generate the electricity needed).  Electric cars are reliable and need less maintenance than your regular gasoline-powered vehicle. You don't need to get your oil changed.  Using domestically-generated electricity instead of relying on foreign oil can help achieve energy independence and America will no longer need to engage in costly wars just to secure energy supply.

If you want to modify your car to run on electricity, it would cost you upwards of $4000 to get it done in professional workshop. If you really want to save money, you can actually do the conversion process yourself at home. Generally, the retrofitting process involves removing the internal combustion engine, the fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel lines and radiator. The entire system is to be replaced with an electric motor and lead acid batteries. Imagine replacing all the components that has fluid running through it and changing it with wires connectors.

The existing drive train of the car such as the transmission, drive shafts and clutch system can still used. The electric motor will be coupled to the transmission and drawing power from the batteries. The number of batteries needed will depend on the horse power of the motor and the weight of the car.

If you do not have any knowledge on the electrical and mechanical system of a car, all these information may not make any sense to you. In this case, you can ask someone who has some car maintenance skill to assist you. To start the conversion process, you should first get a good step by step modification guide. Most good quality guides are available online.

About the Author:  Fed up of the high gasoline prices? Why not cut it completely by driving an electric car. Get more information on electric cars and how they work by doing research on the web.

Do it yourselfers can click here to find Electric Car Motors.