Who Killed the Electric Car Analysis

IN 1996, ELECTRIC railway carS BEGAN TO APPEAR ON roads ALL OVER CALIFORNIA. THEY WERE QUIET AND FAST, PRODUCED NO EXHAUST AND RAN WITHOUT GASOLINE. TEN YEARS LATER, THESE CARS WERE DESTROYED. t separatelyerS GUIDE A quiet SHOCKING INDICTMENT OF OUR GAS-GUZZLING AUTO COMPANIES AND THE PETRO-POLITICIANS WHO lie with THEM. KAREN DURBIN, ELLE MAGAZINE SUNDANCE study FESTIVAL 2006 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2006 WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? line of credit TO THE TEACHER Who Killed the galvanic machine? is a powerful tool pertinent to galore(postnominal) academic disciplines and adaptable to a variation of abilities, learning styles, and sort out path goals.This rich, self-contained picture palace requires little or no redundant research on the part of the instructor or the class, but scum bag be use upd as the foundation for sovereign student research. The rent divides neatly into both nearly equal and indep block upent segments that substructure be shown on successive a ge or at divers(prenominal) points in a unit. Both segments endure delicate dissertateion opportunities. The classroom experience of students victorious courses on environmental science or offerings that entangle a unit on atmosphere prime(a) or environmental concerns would be enriched by view Who Killed the galvanizing elevator car Car?.Courses that encourage interest in locomotive engineering and practical math applications would in addition benefit. The full and civic interrogates that the film explores offer a natural connection for t separately(prenominal)ers running(a) in the bea of civics, regimen, ethics, and worry ethics. In many of these courses the film could be do by as a case study. The ethical questions raised be nearly infinite and a large variety of higher-level- sentiment activities can be developed from the film. Included in this packet are discussion prompts, class activities, and research suggestions. 1 FILM heavyset included, the Gener al Motors galvanical vehicle is eatured. As this segment concludes, the success of the industrys legal strategy is symbolized by a celebrity-studded funeral for the electric car. This segment is filled with actual analysis that examines conflicting claims somewhat emissions, practicality, cost of various provides, and consumer demand. Who Killed the electric Car? is presented as a whod oneness-it mystery. Staying true to this genre, the film opens with inevitable background training, describes the crime committed, answering each(prenominal) of the what, where, and when questions, and thus in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gathers the funnys for sustain scrutiny, coming to a conclusion on the guilt or innocence of each. The endorsement half of Who Killed the Electric Car? is principal investigator Holmes at his best. The septette suspects identified in the first half of the film are scrutinized. One by one, consumers, batteries, anele companies, railway car shaper s, the U. S. government, the atomic number 20 Air Resources room, and the newest villain, the enthalpy car, scarper under the bare bulb in the inspectors interrogation room in an attempt to answer the question asked in the films deed Who Killed the Electric Car? At the end of each segment the featured suspect is judged as guilty or innocent.Opening with a bit of self-propelled history that bear witnesses the electric car as a agonistic election to the inherent fire engine, Who Killed the Electric Car? takes the viewer back to the kickoff of the twentieth century and the dawn of the automotive age. A straightforward explanation of wherefore splatteroline beats out electrical energy as the fuel of choice and how the internal combustion engine wins dominance concludes the vast overview. The film then moves to the recent ago with the founding of the California Air Resources Board and their 1990 conclusiveness to require that ten portion of totally ars inter diversi fy in California by each car manufacturer be zero-emission vehicles by the year 2003. The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde retort of automotive companies is revealed production and marketing of zero-emission cars is detailed, a period during which the legal and political assorts of the homogeneous manufacturers work to defeat the law that gave parenthood to modern electric vehicles. While several(prenominal) manufacturers are The film ends on a positive note, recognizing a grassroots presence that envisions cleaner air and energy independence. In a John Kennedy-style appeal, the film claims that those who illuminate our energy onundrum give be those that revision the world. 2 SELECTED SCENES FOR CLASSROOM REVIEW 119 1940 cardinal million new cars are sold in Television advertisement for G. M. s California each year. electric car. 255 2121 loud oil supports the combustion Introduce Dr. Alan Lloyd of C. A. R. B. engine over the electric car. 335 2210 Air quality in California Manu facturers lawsuit to Black cloud of death. invert emissions standards. 432 2230 Each gallon of gasoline burned yields prexy Bush endorsing total heat 19 pounds of carbon dioxide. technology in the assure of the Union. 455 2243 Introduce S.David Freeman. Hydrogen Hummer and the hydrogen highway. 740 2320 Creating demand for electric cars. C. A. R. B. hearing on the emissions standards. 850 2530 C. A. R. B. and Californias C. A. R. B. pick out to putting to death the standards. zero-emission policy. 1240 2615 Cost to run an electric car equals Manufacturers start to collect gasoline when gas is 60 cents per gallon. the electric cars. 1410 2735 Californians Against Utility uphold the electric car campaign, Company subvert including the mock funeral. 1610 2930 G. M. claims to let built electric cars lastly EV1 collected. fit in to demand. 1910 3120Marketing How far, how fast, EV1s in a G. M. lot. how such(prenominal)? 3 3320 5036 G. M. spokesperson condones the Suspect Car Manufacturers fate of the collected EV1s. 3530 5620 PBS at the car crusher. Suspect Government 3658 10357 S. David Freeman, Were up against Suspect C. A. R. B. roughly of the silver in the world. 3715 10702 Vigil for the EV1s. Suspect Hydrogen give notice Cell 3840 11108 Would you profane one of these electric President Bush at a hydrogen cars? Display check for 1. 9 million filling station. dollars offered to G. M. 3920 11505 Who controls the future? Last cars moved. He who has the biggest club. 11852 3934 1 characterization from Naked Gun 2 /2 Automotive Museum The Smell of Fear. 4025 12030 refer of suspects. Verdicts. 4058 12232 Suspect Consumers The fight intimately the electric car was quite only when a fight some the future. 4320 12358 Suspect Batteries Introduce James Woolsey and hussy In America. 12719 4638 The one base of batch that steps Suspect fossil oil Companies up to take it on is the theme that will change the world. 4 reciprocation PROMPTS These p rompts can be used for full-class discussion, depressed theme conversations, or adapted for use as writing assignments of varying continuance and detail. What compromises connect to cars and transportation are you volition to make to preserve and improve air quality? Brainstorm possibilities and then discuss each one, focvictimization on the middling consumer. What one assertion in the film do you disagree with? wherefore? What one assertion in the film troubles you the almost? wherefore? In your own words, explain why the car manufacturers collected and sunk the electric vehicles. Did government serve the people in the case of electric cars? why? Does government have the right to allege companies what to manufacture? Why? How important an uncover is our nations dependence on oil?Explain. Do you agree that those who figure out the energy question will change the world? Explain. Should the world oil tack on be divided evenly according to population, given to tho se able to pay the highest price, or reserved for developing nations? Explain your opinion. Is it unexceptionable for a nation to use oil as a weapon? Why/why not? Would you characterize each of the following as a right citizen or a bad citizen? Why? -The oil companies -The automobile companies -U. S. consumers -Scientists researching hydrogen fuel -The citizens trying to save the electric car Is energy a national hostage issue?Why/how? Explain. How is the use of hydrogen as a fuel related to the reemergence of nuclear power? Does drilling for more(prenominal) oil in the pristine natural state make sense? Why/why not? given the in formation provided in the film, do you turn over electric cars are a sound alternative to combustion engines? Why/why not? Given the information provided in the film, do you believe you will be able to buy a hydrogen-powered car in the near 10 age? 20 old age? Ever? Why/why not? 5 MOCK COURT subscribe confession and prosecution teams fo r each of the seven defendants identified in the film.Have the teams prepare for a mock trial using the information in the film and if desired, additional research. full stop a trial with a control board that has not seen the film. Roles Judge Acts as presiding incumbent maintaining order, resolving conflicts, and charging the jury. Prosecution team acts curtilage against the named defendant using witnesses, charts, graphs, and strong-arm unalikeiate. The team would also cross-examine defense witnesses. The prosecutions job is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the guilt of the defendant. exculpation team Presents say that rebuts the prosecutions view and may suggest alternative perpetrators.The defense may use witnesses, charts, graphs, and physical evidence. The team would also cross-examine prosecution witnesses. The defenses job is to create reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant. This body process can be used as an alternative assessment of student noesis while also building little thinking and oral presentation skills. 6 COMMON GOOD Open the activity by reading the paragraph below. pass on for a few minutes of command comment on the concept of the super acid intelligent and the claim by then G. M. death chair Charles E. Wilson Whats good for the landed estate is good for General Motors and vice versa.The preface to the United States governing body opens with the words We the deal of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the uncouth defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of self-sufficiency to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. These words imply a parkland interest that is conductd by citizens and government, a concept often referred to as the common good. In 1953, the then electric chair of General Motors, Charles E.Wilson, was nominated by Pres ident Dwight Eisenhower to serve as his Secretary of Defense. During Wilsons confirmation hearings, senators were concerned that he would have difficulty making a determination that could hurt General Motors, a major(ip) defense contractor, even if the decision was in the best interest of the United States. When asked this question, Wilson certified senators that he could make such a decision but that he could not depend such a situation, because for years I thought what was good for the state of matter was good for General Motors and vice versa. disciple instructionWho Killed the Electric Car? implies that the common good is not being served by the decision to abandon electric vehicles and embrace hydrogen technology. Write your own definition of the common good. Make groups of 3 to 5 and share these definitions. Try to agree on a group definition. Evaluate General Motors decision to kill the electric car platform in light of your groups definition. Be ready to report your findings to the class. Do Mr. Wilsons thoughts from 1953 reflect the General Motors stomach that is presented in the film? If the Senate called the current president of G.M. to explain the death of the electric car, imagine what he might say that would be quoted more than 50 years later. 7 HIDDEN AGENDA Teacher introduction As a class, brainstorm about the term hidden schedule. When you get all the ideas on the board, make groups of 3 to 5. In groups, have the class discuss the ideas on the board and then write a definition of hidden docket that the group can agree on. As a class, share these definitions and create one work definition for the whole class. Have students repossess to their groups and discuss what hidden schedule(s) the following may have had.To make a claim, the group must have at to the lowest score one piece of solid evidence from the film. Each group should decide which cardinal of their claims are the strongest and prepare to present them to the class. Present and discuss Automobile companies vague order of backup _____________________________________________________________________________________ show up Oil companies Hidden agenda _____________________________________________________________________________________ secern Filmmakers Hidden agenda _____________________________________________________________________________________ EvidenceCar companies Hidden agenda _____________________________________________________________________________________ Evidence Federal government Hidden agenda _____________________________________________________________________________________ Evidence Fans of the electric car Hidden agenda _____________________________________________________________________________________ Evidence C. A. R. B. Hidden agenda _____________________________________________________________________________________ Evidence 8 WHAT IS THE power OF strain? What is the fibre of business in a democratic/capitali st family?The mixed interaction between business, government, and consumers is presented as a case study in Who Killed the Electric Car?. After viewing the film, crystalise your own attitude toward the billet of business, in front any discussion, by using the prompts that follow. rate the entire list from 1, most important, to 10, to the lowest degree important, and then write safe a sentence or two that explains each ranking. Using your results, make groups that include individuals with different attitudes. While you discuss the movie, canvas how different views of business influence opinions about the film. ______ The use of business is to make a profit. _____ The region of business is to make a good product. ______ The power of business is to serve the consumer. ______ The economic consumption of business is to support government. ______ The case of business is to fix government. ______ The exercise of business is to ready consumers. ______ The role of business is to improve breeding. ______ The role of business is to harbor the environment. ______ The role of business is to provide consumers with choice. ______ The role of business is to project solutions to societys problems. 9 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT? What is the role of government in a democratic/capitalist society?The complex interaction between business, government, and citizens is presented as a case study in Who Killed the Electric Car?. After viewing the film, clarify your own attitude toward the role of government, before any discussion, by using the prompts that follow. Prioritize the entire list from 1, most important, to 10, least important, and then write on the nose a sentence or two that explains each ranking. Using your results, make groups that include individuals with different attitudes. While you discuss the movie, analyze how different views of government influence opinions about the film. ______The role of government is to defend the nation. ______ The role of government is to create a just society. ______ The role of government is to protect the consumer. ______ The role of government is to protect business. ______ The role of government is to regulate business. ______ The role of government is to educate consumers. ______ The role of government is to improve life for all citizens. ______ The role of government is to protect the environment. ______ The role of government is to provide consumers with choice. ______ The role of government is to invent solutions to societys problems. 10 MAKING THE CASEIn the guerrilla half of Who Killed the Electric Car? , each of the suspects in this mystery is held up to scrutiny. playing as an unbiased detective, develop a list of the evidence offered for guilt and the evidence that indicates innocence. In groups or as a class, use these evidence lists as the soil for a debate that leads to a vote on each suspect. The suspect___________________________________________________ Evidence to condemn E vidence to acquit 11 BRIAN DANIELS teaches history and ethics at Hudson High School, Hudson, Massachusetts. He is the enlighten facilitator for the democratic school curtain raising atHudson High and an active member of the schools First Amendment Schools team. He has been didactics for thirty years and holds bachelors degrees in history and psychology from capital of Massachusetts College and a masters degree in critical and creative thinking from the University of Massachusetts at capital of Massachusetts. He will become the Curriculum Director for English and Social Studies grades 6-12 in the Hudson school regulate in the summer of 2006. He has been create several times in the Boston Globe and has an article slated for publication in October of 2006 in the National Social StudiesSupervisors fellowship magazine. A SONY PICTURES CLASSICS RELEASE ELECTRIC pleasure PRESENTS A DEAN DEVLIN/PLINYMINOR PRODUCTION A FILM BY CHRIS PAINE WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? NARRATED BY MAR TIN SHEEN EDITED BY MICHAEL KOVALENKO CHRIS A. PETERSON DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY THADDEUS WADLEIGH ORIGINAL euphony BY MICHAEL BROOK CONSULTING PRODUCER ALEX GIBNEY decision maker PRODUCERS DEAN DEVLIN TAVIN MARIN TITUS RICHARD D. TITUS PRODUCED BY JESSIE DEETER WRITTEN AND enjoin BY CHRIS PAINE FOR BRIEF MILD LANGUAGE. WWW. WHOKILLEDTHEELECTRICCARMOVIE. COM WWW. SONYCLASSICS. COM