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Old 08-06-2006, 05:02 AM
Nagorak Nagorak is offline
Active Enthusiast
 
Hybrids: Honda Insight
Posts: 74
Default Re: Who Killed the Electric Car?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jaykay
I found the movie interesting. I am an avid electric/hybrid supporter but I found one problem with the movie. While I don't doubt GM killed the car under suspisious pretense, it is easy to figure out why they crunched all the existing cars- they didn't want to keep dealers stocked with replacement parts. That demystifies some of the movie. They should have concentrated on GM's refusal to promote it rather than WHY ARE THEY SHREADING THESE PERFECTLY NEW CARS?????
Except that doesn't explain anything because the people who were willing to buy the cars were willing to sign a release saying GM didn't need to provide any parts for them. Also, if you think about it, the cost of keeping a few electric motors and related parts on hand at some warehouse would be negligible. They could just ship them out on demand and not provide mechanic services. They didn't need to keep every dealership stocked. At worst a few parts in some warehouse, at best nothing at all.

GM's move was just dumb. They made a bad PR situation out of one that could have been good PR. Just having people driving GM EV1s could have provided some positive publicity and interest in the company. I think that's basically why Honda keeps the Insight around, for the attention it gets, and the bragging rights, not because they make a ton of money on them.
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