Who Killed the Electric Car?

Synopsis: In the 1990s, following California’s passing of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, American car companies began producing electric cars for mainstream consumption. GM’s EV1, which was by all accounts quiet, fast, and capable of driving up to 80 miles on one charge, used no gasoline and quickly developed an intensely devoted following in California. But even as its popularity grew, car manufacturers were fighting the mandate; it was overturned, and by 2005 just about every single EV1 had been recalled, crushed, and shredded. GM put its resources into the Hummer instead. This film looks at the tangled web of interests behind the car’s untimely demise, laying out convincing cases against the auto industry, big oil, corrupt federal and state governments, and consumers themselves. It is biased certainly, but is a rousing call to awareness and action.

DVD extras include deleted scenes; JUMP STARTING THE FUTURE - a mini-documentary on the future of alternative fuel vehicles; ‘Forever’ music video.
Language: English
Country: United States
Year of release: 2007
Year of production: 2006
Notes: A follow-up film REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR was released in 2012 (see http://www.revengeoftheelectriccar.com/index.html)
Subjects: Business studies; Engineering; Politics & government; Technology
Keywords: automobiles; business ethics; electric cars; multinational corporations; petrochemicals industry; political issues

Director

Chris Paine

Cast

Martin Sheen

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British Universities Film & Video Council