Singular — May June 2009
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Singular Vision
CHRIS PAINE ACTIVIST / FILMMAKER
“THE WAY I LIKE TO THINK OF IT,” Chris Paine explains, “is that if aliens came to Earth and saw that we’re still using a 4,000-pound object to transport a 145-pound person, the aliens would say, ‘Obviously, humanity still hasn’t fi gured out anything about energy.’” Paine’s 2006 documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?, shook up a recalcitrant General Motors and spawned a grassroots electric-vehicle movement. His desire for mobility is at the root of both his work and life. In addition to being a roving activist and spokesman for Plug In America, an organization that promotes electric vehicles, he’s also helped create businesses as varied as Internet Outfi tters, a dot-com success story, and Mondo-tronics, which produced shape-memory alloys used in the Mars Pathfi nder. About his singular vision, he says, “Certainly my friends, family, activism, businesses, fi lms and this movement have been my primary life projects.” Paine is currently shooting his next documentary, Revenge of the Electric Car. e fi lm is scheduled to debut in 2011, following the release of GM’s long-awaited electric hybrid vehicle, the Chevy Volt.P WRITTEN BY / JULIA INGALLS PHOTOGRAPH BY / VIRGINIA CONESA
“THE WAY I LIKE TO THINK OF IT,” Chris Paine explains, “is that if aliens came to Earth and saw that we’re still using a 4,000-pound object to transport a 145-pound person, the aliens would say, ‘Obviously, humanity still hasn’t fi gured out anything about energy.’” Paine’s 2006 documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?, shook up a recalcitrant General Motors and spawned a grassroots electric-vehicle movement. His desire for mobility is at the root of both his work and life. In addition to being a roving activist and spokesman for Plug In America, an organization that promotes electric vehicles, he’s also helped create businesses as varied as Internet Outfi tters, a dot-com success story, and Mondo-tronics, which produced shape-memory alloys used in the Mars Pathfi nder. About his singular vision, he says, “Certainly my friends, family, activism, businesses, fi lms and this movement have been my primary life projects.” Paine is currently shooting his next documentary, Revenge of the Electric Car. e fi lm is scheduled to debut in 2011, following the release of GM’s long-awaited electric hybrid vehicle, the Chevy Volt.P WRITTEN BY / JULIA INGALLS PHOTOGRAPH BY / VIRGINIA CONESA
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