It has been my opinion for a long time now that GM (top management) has attempted to shoot down the PURE ELECTRICS from the beginning. they, as are all the other auto manufacturers, conforming to the minimum agreements made by CARB to postpone the mandates. The infrastructure (Public Charging ) has from the beginning also ignored all attempts by drivers to improve the disastrous placement of the chargers at the charging locations, the almost inviable signage that would warn gas operated cars away from our EV charging slots, The endless broken chargers, the worst advertising in all my observations of advertising over a lifetime. marketing a two seater car to people who are of young family age. Marketing to the wrong people at the wrong places. (Costco, where large family customers go to buy cheaply in volume)The almost hiding of the beautiful EV1 at all the auto shows with no one assigned to answer questions about the car. This has been from the first day. All this has been brought to their attention from the first day. I believe that the success of the electric car, in the opinion of the Auto manufacturers, kills the goose that lays the golden eggs. I also want to state that I believe most of the people working for Saturn and GM are not knowledgeable about upper managements decision to kill the car. The worst things ever said about electrics have come from Auto executives and the repeated boy the auto press.
Bob Purcell in Charge of the EV1 was told by Jack Smith to "Turn it into a business"
Meaning of course, Turn it into a profitable business. This is impossible in the early years of a new technology. No infrastructure, High initial costs for low volume production. Total public ignorance of the product. Replacing a technology that is refined and works well.
The Infrastructure people were not told to create an infrastructure to make Charging work for the drivers but rather
to sell Magnachargers(Manufactured by GM). The competition between the inductive (Magnachargers) and the Conductive chargers, used by most everyone else has been totally destructive to this baby trying to walk.
When I complained to the infrastructure people, I was told in what turned into a shouting match the they(Edison EV), Had no say or concern in where these private or public garages placed the chargers or in what signage they should place around the chargers. I swear to you this is true. Of course the parking lots and garages that put in the chargers knew nothing of the problems that the drivers faced and were totally dependent on EV EDISON to inform them. EV Edison was happy to sell the chargers and that is all they cared about. They were in lots of trouble as they had expected far more leases from individuals. Almost all the lease were from people who wanted the EV1 before it came out. Some Saturn Dealers told me they never had a customer come in from seeing an ad.
Saturn who distributes the car was another (mistake?) or intentional screw up. People who go to a Saturn dealership go to buy an ordinary car at a low price that is not negotiated. There is no' drop in' buyers they almost always locate in low rent areas away from most other dealers.
OK The following post came in yesterday!
-----Original Message-----
From: gloria quinn [mailto:gquinn@edisontec.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 3:21 PM
To: 'ev1-club@cco.caltech.edu'
Cc: EV_TEAM
Subject: [EV1-CLUB] Let this be a warning
not to get on Don Devlin's bad side.
Tomorrow we will formally announce
that Edison EV will cease operations
in the near future -- most likely within
the next six months.
While we believe in the long-term viability
of EVs, we have concluded that the
market is growing too slowly to sustain
a stand-alone business at this time.
During the transition period, Edison EV
will continue operations to ensure that
our customers and facilities receive adequate
service and support until other entities can
take over our activities.
Along those lines, we have received literally
hundreds of service calls so far this year.
While we have, at times, experienced
difficulty doing the repairs right away because
of part supply issues, we have tried to deal
with this situation as best we can by putting
out the inoperative list on Fridays. Montana
Ave. was on the list last Friday. Santa Monica
Place was not -- because our contractor had
gone out -- third time this month -- to replace
parts since we received the last service call.
We have provided GM with a list of chargers
with chronic problems. We are hoping to
get authorization soon to replace, rather
than repair, them.
Anyway, we wanted to let the club know what
was going on over here. But please don't arrest
us -- we can't afford the bail now.
Thank you. |
