Green Star to avenge its electric car killers: Ford, GM and Chrysler

Green Star recently announced to its stockholders that they once again have plans to compete in the electric car industry; the announcement is certainly no surprise for anyone who knows the name. In the 90’s, when the electric car was first building momentum as a viable, environmentally-friendly transportation solution, Green Star—then BAT International—put other car manufacturers to shame with their line of electric vehicles.

Over the past decade and a half, Green Star transformed from an emerging pioneer to an eventual leader in alternative energy. They have done so by providing a plethora of alternative energy sources and conservation practices as well as sustainable products.

According to their web site, Green Star has the goal of achieving “energy independence from petroleum and other fossil fuels.” To reach that goal, they have identified a major fossil fuel guzzler—cars.

Green Star’s first attempt at the electric car was in 1992. At the time, they revolutionized the industry by bringing impressive technology to the table that is still, in many ways, envied to this day.

Joseph LaStella, president of Green Star, tells the compelling story of the company’s first attempts to get the electric car on the road. According to his book National Birthright, the government issued a request for electric car prototypes in return for grants that would help reach California’s mandate to get 2 million electric cars on the road by 2003. Green Star competed for this grant by submitting three vehicles, all of which were a success.

Many of the automobile industry’s biggest manufacturers, including GM and Ford, failed to produce what the government requested (Chrysler managed to submit a vehicle that runs off nickel-iron batteries that was, well, in need of repairs more than my old 1987 Oldsmobile). Leaving only Solectria, Electric Car and Green Star.

Green Star’s performance impressed not only the engineers testing the cars, but the consumers seeing the cars at the auto shows. In fact, the cars they created in the 90’s set records in power and crash test safety that according to a recent press release, “still stand to this day.”

The reality is: Green Star is looking to get back in the mix and this time with strong financial support. The same press release states, “Investors in the United States and from foreign countries have indicated their interest and support for the re-emergence of this electric vehicle technology and expertise by Green Star Products.”

Considering that some of their technology still stands as record-setting, the Ford Transit and Chevy Volt may have a competitor to fear.

The major players in Detroit were able to shut down Green Star once, but now that they too are facing the inevitable scarcity of fossil fuels and high demand for electric cars from consumers, the Green Star electric car will not be killed again. If you haven’t seen the PBS documentary Who Killed the Electric, watch it!

It's time to put forth worthy companies that stand to compete in a market they should have monopolized a decade ago.