Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)

A documentary that investigates the birth and death of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in the future.

Director:

Chris Paine

Writer:

Chris Paine

Stars:

Martin Sheen, Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Sheen	...	Narrator (voice)
Reverend Gadget	...	Self (as Greg 'Gadget' Abbott)
Dave Barthmuss	...	Self
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Self
Jim Boyd	...	Self
Alec N. Brooks	...	Self
Alan Cocconi	...	Self
John R. Dabels	...	Self
Phyllis Diller	...	Self
Colette Divine	...	Self
Tom Everhart	...	Self
David Freeman	...	Self (as S. David Freeman)
Frank Gaffney	...	Self (as Frank J. Gaffney Jr.)
Mel Gibson	...	Self
Greg Hanssen	...	Self

Storyline

With gasoline prices approaching $4/gallon, fossil fuel shortages, unrest in oil producing regions around the globe and mainstream consumer adoption and adoption of the hybrid electric car (more than 140,000 Prius' sold this year), this story couldn't be more relevant or important. The foremost goal in making this movie is to educate and enlighten audiences with the story of this car, its place in history and in the larger story of our car culture and how it enables our continuing addiction to foreign oil. This is an important film with an important message that not only calls to task the officials who squelched the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, but all of the other accomplices, government, the car companies, Big Oil, even Eco-darling Hydrogen as well as consumers, who turned their backs on the car and embrace embracing instead the SUV. Our documentary investigates the death and resurrection of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in our ...

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Plot Keywords:

car | electric car | technology | california | big oil | 

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Taglines:

Unrest in the Middle East. Rising Petrol Prices. Global Warming. There was an Alternative.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The boxy, small EV shown being crushed in the movie was the Honda EV-Plus. They, like the sleek GM EV-1, were only available for lease; several returned to Honda, and were converted into fuel cell demonstration vehicles. For a while, you were able to lease them through EV Rentals (at several Budget Rent a Car locations).

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Quotes

Mel Gibson: Who writes the history? Um, well... The guy with the biggest club.

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Connections

Features 60 Minutes (1968)

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Soundtracks

Death Star
Written and Performed by John Dickson
Courtesy of Fingers Axe Music

User Reviews

Everything a good doco should be

What a fantastic documentary! I was ready to dismiss it – I'd heard the argument about coal- burning electricity production and it seemed pretty fair to me. But this film goes into so much more depth and detail. And while it talks about science and politics, it manages to be highly entertaining at every turn.

I think this is due in part to the sincerity and warmth of the characters involved in trying to save the iconic EV1 (Chelsea Sexton is my new hero). I think the interviewers did a great job of getting people's views and personalities across. I thought they'd be a bunch of nuts, but within minutes I was ready to pull my gas-guzzler to bits in sympathy. I wanted an electric engine, I wanted to become a part of the movement that these people so passionately believed in.

Both sides of the argument seemed to get a fair hearing. And they managed to get interviews with some very interesting people at all levels. The arguments made by the film where coherent and well-structured, and the footage they managed to find was great considering just how badly GM wanted it destroyed.

This is everything a good documentary should be. Even if you have no interest in cars or the environment or the dodgy dealings of the oil industry, see this movie. I'll open your eyes.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 August 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Filming Locations:

Willow Springs International Motorsports Park, Rosamond, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$45,138, 2 July 2006

Gross USA:

$1,678,874

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,764,304

Company Credits

Production Co:

Plinyminor, Electric Entertainment, Papercut Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1