Who Killed the Electric Car?

Guide Note

Who Killed the Electric Car? is a 2006 documentary film that explores the 10 year life span of the battery electric vehicle in the United States, specifically the General Motors EV1. The film explores the role that several parties including auto manufacturers, the oil industry, state and federal governments, and consumers played in the failure of the electric vehicle in the 1990s. It also explores the effects that technological limitations of the vehicle, like the quality of available batteries, and competing technologies, like hydrogen vehicles, had on the electric car. It has been criticized, primarily by General Motors, for not accurately portraying the company's dedication to the technology. Most criticisms focus on the movies implication that there was a high demand for electric vehicles and an unwillingness of automakers to produce the cars.

Fast Facts

1. Director: Chris Paine
2. MPAA Rating: PG
3. Duration: 1 hour 32 minutes
4. Genre: Documentary/Education
5. Nominated for Best Documentary Film Academy Award in 2006
6. Release Date: June 28, 2006
7. Release Company: Sony Pictures Classics and Papercut Films
8. Gross: $1,685,646