The Energizer Bunny may keep going and going with his 9-volt battery but General Motors’ fleet of EV1 electric cars weren’t so lucky, though it wasn’t because their rechargeable batteries died.
Around 10 years ago, the few hundred Californians who drove the electric cars eventually had to give the little wonders back to the company, only later to see images of them flattened on top of one another in a deserted part of Arizona as if it was a car burial ground. But why should the public care about some futuristic car that runs on no gasoline or about some possible cover-up? This may seem a little one-sided but so do parts of “Who Killed the Electric Car?” that looks at the events surrounding the birth and death of the EV1.
Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” overshadowed this film, probably because it focuses less more on cars and less on the environment. But it may also have to do with the fact that many people either didn’t know about electric cars or just don’t care — points actually discussed in the film.
“Who Killed the Electric Car?” has that “60 Minutes” feel to it, examining the electric car through interviews, figures and whatit means for the future. Though instead of Barbara Walters, we get narration by Martin Sheen, and on-screen cameos by Phyllis Diller, Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks, Alexandra Paul and other celebs (yes, Arnold Schwarzennegger is seen in news footage saying something like, “This is good for Californians”).
The film does provide a solid foundation for answering the question of who killed the electric car. Just like a “Who Dun it?” scenario, it breaks the suspects into seven categories and says who is guilty: consumers, batteries, oil companies, car companies, government, California Air Resources board and the hydrogen fuel cell.
Since you probably spend at least $30 at the pump for a tank of gas and think oil companies are like piranhas, you might feel strongly one way before even watching this, but try to keep an open mind.
‘Who Killed the Electric Car’
Studio: Sony Home Video
Price: $26.96
Extras: Deleted scenes, “Jump-Starting the Future” featurette, Meeky Rosie music video “Forever”
