Who Killed the Electric Car?

From Miami Herald:

Shaped just like the murder-mystery its title promises, the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? introduces us to the victim, then rounds up the suspects most likely responsible for its demise.

The victim, of course, is the electric car -- specifically the EV-1, developed by General Motors in the late 1980s as a response to California smog-conscious legislation that required carmakers to devote a certain percentage of their annual output to zero-emission engines.

Initially marketed in California and Arizona, the EV-1 proved surprisingly popular with its early adopters, many of them celebrities (Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks, Alexandra Paul, Peter Horton) who were given cars for the free publicity.

But even as rival automakers Toyota and Honda cranked out their EV variations, and demand for the cars started growing incrementally, GM started doing everything it could to stop making them -- even suing the state of California and forcing lawmakers to soften their zero-emission stance. By April 2003, the EV-1 was officially dead, even though the people who had the opportunity to lease one (GM never sold them outright) all seemed to love it beyond reason.

Director Chris Paine points to indifferent consumers, big oil, government interests and, of course, carmakers as all having played a role in the failure of the technology. Although there's no question where his sympathies lie, the film's clear and informative exploration of the collusion between the private sector and government agencies, along with the auto giants' wielding of their financial power to sway legislature, can't help but raise the viewer's ire.

But in its final reel, Who Killed the Electric Car? turns inspirational, anticipating the viewer's what-can-I-do? frustration by pointing toward technology both current and upcoming capable of exceeding the EV-1's promise. At a time when sticker shock at the gas station gets worse every week, Who Killed the Electric Car? couldn't be more timely.

Narrator: Martin Sheen.

Director: Chris Paine.

Producer: Jessie Deeter.

A Sony Pictures Classics. Running time: 92 minutes. Brief vulgar language.