Electric Cars: EVs for the 21st Century

What would a video on electric vehicles be without Hollywood's favorite environmentalist Ed Begley Jr.? Ed proudly touts the benefits of non-fossil fuel burning vehicles (he's owned a series of electric cars since the early '80s), as do the mayor and city staff members of Palm Desert, California, the first city in the U.S. (in 1992) to make electric-powered vehicles street legal. While some of the designs border on Euro-goofy (a single-seater pod vehicle that Austin Powers would shag for) or American-goofy (is a Humvee-shaped golf cart supposed to be funny, cool, or both?), many of the vehicles boast respectable specs: some can speed along at up to 80 m.p.h. and cruise for up to 140 miles before needing a recharge. With gas pricing creeping up to the OPEC glory days of the 1970s, many folks are looking hard at alternative transportation, especially with Congress's mandate that Detroit automakers must start producing electric-powered vehicles. To that end, the video features full-size experimental vehicles, from mail delivery cars to bus-sized people-movers that are not tethered to overhead lines. Aimed at grades 3 and up (with fast cuts and upbeat music and narration), Electric Cars may get some wheels rolling (in heads, anyway) about transportation ideas for the future. Recommended. Aud: I, J, P. (C. Block)