Who Killed the Electric Car?

2006, Documentary, 1h 32m

106 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

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critics consensus

A searing indictment of big business and greed, Who Killed The Electric Car? is a well-tuned doc that simultaneously entertains and enrages. Read critic reviews

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Who Killed the Electric Car? Photos

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Movie Info

Following a strict mandate on air emissions in California, General Motors launches the EV-1 in 1997. It is an electric automobile that requires no gas, oil, muffler or brake changes and is, seemingly, the world's first perfect car. Yet six years later, GM recalls and destroys the EV-1 fleet. Filmmaker Chris Paine examines the birth and death of a revolutionary vehicle.
  • Rating:
    PG (Brief Mild Language)
  • Genre:
    Documentary
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Chris Paine
  • Producer:
    Jessie Deeter
  • Writer:
    Chris Paine
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $1.7M
  • Runtime:

Cast & Crew

Martin Sheen
Narrator
Reverend Gadget
Ed Begley Jr.
Phyllis Diller
Colette Divine
Mel Gibson
Chris Paine
Director
Chris Paine
Writer
Dean Devlin
Executive Producer
Richard D. Titus
Executive Producer
Tavin Marin Titus
Executive Producer
Jessie Deeter
Producer
Thaddeus Wadleigh
Cinematography
Michael Kovalenko
Film Editing
Chris A. Peterson
Film Editing
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Who Killed the Electric Car?

All Critics (106) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (12)
Full Review… Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Full Review… Rob Nelson Village Voice Full Review… Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Full Review… Brad Newsome Sydney Morning Herald Full Review… Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com Full Review… Roger Moore Orlando Sentinel Full Review… Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Full Review… Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Full Review… Jonathan Kiefer Sacramento News & Review Full Review… Christopher Campbell Cinematical Full Review… Kam Williams Upstage Magazine Full Review… Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope
View All Critic Reviews (106)

Audience Reviews for Who Killed the Electric Car?

  • Jan 09, 2013
    Very interesting film on the alleged destruction of the electric car by GM. Interestingly enough, I think this was the last time that Mel Gibson appeared in something and was thought of as a hero. I'm more convinced however that the electric car was originally killed because of a lack of infrastructure rather than because of the oil industry. The electric car has returned in some form of course but the infrastructure issues continue.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Dec 21, 2008
    A very informative documentary.Why would the government allow an electric car and then they would lose money on gas prices?
    Lee K Super Reviewer
  • Jun 15, 2008
    A pretty decent well put together documentary that really informed me of something that I knew of, but did not really know much about. With the things that were stated about the electric car, it would be a good car to take around town or back and forth to work, but not to be able to go out of town and visit family or friends. We do need something like the electric car though as things are getting a bit out of hand. But the nice thing about this documentary, this is not really a propaganda piece, at least for politics anyways. A David versus Goliath story.
    Ken D Super Reviewer
  • Nov 18, 2007
    A really great documentary showing how money controls everything and how America is filled with zombies that buy what big business tells us to buy.
    James A Super Reviewer
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