Feature2006·92m·7.2

Who Killed the Electric Car?

A lack of consumer confidence... or conspiracy?

Documentary

In 1996, electric cars began to appear on roads all over California. They were quiet and fast, produced no exhaust, and ran without gasoline... Ten years later, these cars were destroyed.

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Cast

Martin Sheen

Self - Narrator (voice)

Mel Gibson

Self

Chelsea Sexton

Self

Tom Hanks

Self (archive footage)

Reverend Gadget

Self

Ed Begley Jr.

Self

Details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Languages
English, French
Budget
$1.0M
Revenue
$1.7M
Age rating
Quality
4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production
PlinyminorElectric EntertainmentPapercut Films

Crew

Director

Chris Paine

Writers

Chris Paine

Gallery

Reviews

rsanek

7/27/2020

7.0

Interesting albeit very biased perspective on early electric car attempts. The film could have spent more time on describing the older electric car technology -- I was unaware that in the early 1900s there were, in fact, already cars that didn't run just on gasoline. I found it laughable when, near the end of the movie, the creators assess that essentially everyone, including car companies, oil companies, CARB, even consumers (!) are to blame for electric's downfall. I think you could convince me of car & oil companies, but it's a real stretch to say that a regulator that simply didn't adopt stricter guidelines 'killed' an industry, or that people did because they didn't buy this amazing product. Overall, OK, but would not recommend unless you're really into electric cars.

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