video reflection- who killed the electric car

"In 1996, electric 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 futuristic cars were almost completely gone."

The film “who killed the electric car” is filmed by Chris Paine who owned an electric car since 1990s and keep it until 2003. The car he was driving is EV1 exactly, the car produced by General Motors in 1996. After GM collected all the EV1 back, he bought RAV4EV which produced by Toyota and use it till now. These kind of electric car have the high velocity and high efficiency, it generate by electric and without pollution. Chris loves this kind of car since he saw it, but the electric cars did not promote also have been destroyed. He is wondering why this might happen and that’s why he filmed this movie.

In this film, A discussion about the history of how electric cars develop in south California, the electric cars have been introduced to public since 1966. This kind of cars has the advantage that gasoline cars, hydria cars cannot compete. It produces no pollution, low price. Especially after California pass the Zero Emissions Mandate, and it also the reason GM introduce this revolution electric cars into the markets. The main device of this car is the battery, It do not required to renewal gas, engine oil, nearly no need Brake maintenance. They should be popular in the market with all these advantages. The fact is they failed the mission this time. The film analysis this case from many different factors that might affects. The US consumers, batteries, oil companies, car companies and us government. Although some consumers complain that they do not like the car need charge 60 miles, Car companies then increased the per charge miles with 100 miles. After interviewed 65 people involves in this event. They are vehicle manufacture lawmaker, engineering, consumers and the car enthusiasts in los angles. The final summary indicates the fallen of electric cars is because they threated those oil companies’ profit.

The film illustrates that using solar and wind to generate electricity would further reduce the carbon pollution of a switch EVs. Many companies are adapting to change to build new car and energy alternatives. At this point, Stan and Iris Ovshinsky steal the show as Stan shows off his new battery and solar power technologies that are advancing rapidly and are not controlled by oil companies as in the past. 

As a designer, i think every designer should watch this video, because every one should interested in energy saving policy.  the video also told me a good product is not just designed for good income but also designed for change the enviroment. rencently we are designing a package to solve a social issue. this video reminded me that i have to design a product not just solve the issue but also should be keep the enviroment green.

Video Reflection - How it's made: Packaging (2006) and Giving a Packaging a New Life (2001)

In “How it’s made”. There are 6 parts talking about it: cardboard boxes, packing tubes, Tetrapak, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles and jars. They are interesting, as they allow me to discover the use of recyclable materials and also understand how the packaging comes from, how the packaging is made.


In cardboard boxes part. Firstly he told us the cardboard box was born by accident in 1870s. how the cardboard been made. Then the cardboard been cut 9 times and separate into layers. Then the cardboard been cut into shape with handles. Workers send the cut offs back to the paper melting then they can be recycled. The folder machine folds the cardboard. The printing apply the water ink on the board one color a time.


In packaging tubes part, artist first use flexible metal containers for their paints back in 1841. Now days we use them for range of things, like tooth paste, glue and skin cream. The tubes design let us squeeze out most of the product, and we can still read the important fine print of the twist package. This package is made of aluminum because it foldable, light weight. Then the video told us how the tube package is made.


In tetrapak part, tetrapak containers keep drinks and food product safe and stock up to years without refrigeration. And they made mostly from paper, they are recyclable and the things like paper towels and toilet paper. Tetrapak containers is packaging built with nature and freshness in mind. Tetrapak containers hold all sort of food products from smoothes to fine variance. The package gives products a long shelf life because it’s special layers. The plastic, paper board and the foil. And then the video showed how the tetrapak been made.


In the aluminum cans, the aluminum cans can always be recyclable. they always can be melted down and used again. Aluminum cans has light weight. And the production starts from roll of aluminum sheet. Then it show us how the cans been made.


In glass bottles part, whether they colored or clear, glass bottle are charged green. Glass is made of nature ingredients. You can recycle glass years. And making them use less energy than producing metal or plastic. Then the video shows how the glass been made.


In plastic bottles and jars part, plastic packaging become more commen, plastic bottle and jars are lighter to carry and live no sharp edge when you drop it. Many transparent bottles and jars are made of type of plastic called PET.


Giving packaging a new life are documentary episodes which shows the structure of wastes and how these different waste are recycled. These are some of the examples of processes.


Most paper factory are also recycles, the waste paper are count about 60% of material used produce new paper. It is most important secondary material. They dissolving the paper and puled in the pulper then the printings are removed. The fibres are dissolved in the ater and pressed, drained and dried. Tissue and toilet paper also made from waste paper.


Food containers are made from 80% cellulose which consists of long and high grade paper fibres. This packs are manufactured by different material that bonded together. The plastic and aluminium are separate from cardboard.


Aluminium cans is melted cut and rolled then used us manufactory aluminium product such sheet. The sheet can be printed and made into packaging, production waste will recycled.


Glass is recycled sort by color and different color are pick up and recycled separately. And the all the glass pieces and melted and been shaped into bottles. Approx 2.7 millions tonnes waste glass are recycled each year twice much as before.


In the mean time More than half a million tonnes of plastic packaging are recycled each year which are 2/3 of the total quantity produced. They sorted by their types when recycling, old plastic form are melt and shaped into new forms, Plastic bottles such as PET are processed into high grade regranulate which can be used to manufacture drainage pipes and children’s toys. 


As a industrial deigner , I think these videos tells us how important it the recycling and it is beneficial and long-term use. The videos promoted the idea of the recycling may be the only option for human to reply upon for our consumerism world.

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