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Technology Stocks : Electric Fuel (efcx) Comments -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Steve who wrote (80)	9/6/2000 12:19:28 PM
From: gg cox	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 121

To: Futurist who wrote (5193) From: Don Devlin Tuesday, Sep 5, 2000 7:17 PM ET Reply # of 5199 On December 6, 1996 I was the first person in Los Angeles to lease a GM Gen 1 EV1. In December of 1999 I leased a GM Gen 2 EV and am presently driving that car and averaging about 140 miles per charge (Nickel metal Hydride batteries made in Troy Michigan). Within a month or two after leasing the first EV1 I began to notice what appeared to be terrible advertising and absurd marketing. I made my feelings known to everyone involved and was assured that the advertising and marketing would change. Month after month the promises of change were given by GM and Saturn to the EV1 drivers but there were no changes. After a few more months and even years it became clear that this Giant Corporation and all other Auto companies were trying to sink the electric car. They had developed the egg that could kill the Golden Goose. How? No replaceable parts required, other than tires. No maintenance. Batteries (NiMH) that would last the life of the vehicle. In volume the EV could be sold for the amount of profit GM makes on their large SUVS. In 1998 I wrote the following letter to EVworld.co and it was published. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the EV1 by Don Devlin Remember that very fine British play and movie, 'Amadeus'? The story dealt with Mozart's last years at a time when he was no longer the precocious child prodigy who had delighted the music world in 18th century Europe. He arrives at the king's court relatively unknown and is not immediately identified as the great genius who the world will later revere. There is one person however that does recognize the sublime brilliance of the great master. Salieri is the official composer of the Austrian court. Although Salieri is a minor composer, he is the most respected composer,and the very one who could do the most for Mozart and the very one in the court most threatened by Mozart's genius. Although conflicted by his great admiration for the young composer Salieri believes that for his own survival he must destroy the great artist who threatens his exalted position. And now we come to the General Motor's EV1. Is there an analogy here? GM and other automobile companies are experiencing one of their most profitable periods. Much of this affluence comes with the outsized SUVs that have now taken a bit more than half the consumer market. The profits on these monsters of waste and consumption and pollution are enormous. The parts replacement business is enormous. The infrastructure is in place. The General Motors EV1, the electric vehicle, is a masterpiece even in its first generation. The second generation is about to appear with very few significant changes but with the emphasis on greater range through the addition of advanced Nickel metal hydride batteries. The problem is that the EV1 is a snap to make and in volume could sell for a very reasonable price. There's no engine, no clutch, no transmission and on and on. The car is essentially an aerodynamic, electronic computer with wheels. It is a technological marvel. It has but one moving (Propulsion) part as opposed to hundreds in the Internal combustion engine. The EV1 is a no maintenance vehicle it could last more than ten years without ever setting wheels in a gas station or changing a part. No grease, no dirt, no smell, no pollution. That's not sometime in the future, that's now. The talk is that the new batteries will last the life of the vehicle, over 100,000 miles although that has not yet been officially announced. The EV1 is a powerhouse. It can power out of a dead stop faster than almost all Gas engine cars. With instant torque, it can feel like a G force if you hit the accelerator hard. It amazes everyone who has ever driven it. It is the most aerodynamic production vehicle in the world. It is beautiful and attracts the attention and approval of everyone who recognizes it. You may by now have heard reference to the famous 'EV smile' that comes from fellow drivers and the ever constant 'Thumbs up' EV drivers experience. The GM EV1 is simply the best URBAN , Suburban, and commuter vehicle in the world. Is it in the minds of the planners that they have created the machine that can kill their golden Goose? Some think that is the case and is the only thing that can explain what has to be the most unattractive most uninforming and in fact invisible advertising campaign in history. GM advertising has yet to show a full shot, or attractive picture of the car after two years in the marketplace. As an EV1 driver I can tell you that each day as I am charging at a public charger or simply, parked somewhere, a small crowd of people gather to ask questions about the car. They know not who makes it, how it is propelled, how far or fast it will go , where to go buy or lease it , how much does it cost, where do you charge it, will it run out of fuel and on and on. GM and all the other companies have told the potential consumers nothing at all that would induce them to buy or lease these vehicles. Is this incompetence or has Salieri decided the car must be destroyed? If this is intentional they are succeeding wonderfully in destroying or seriously delaying the advance of the electrics. If after two years, this is actually incompetence, the future of the electric vehicle is very much in doubt and so is the future of the executives responsible for this incredible debacle. I believe These thought have been proven to be true. September 5th 2000 Don Devlin