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In 1992 General Motors built a great little electric car called the EV1. They built 1000 of them, and put them out on lease. Nearly everybody who got one loved it, and begged GM to sell it to them when the lease was up. Instead GM took them all back and crushed them. Their claim was that people were not happy with the range of about 100 miles per charge, with the batteries of the time. In fact, GM nearly doubled the range just within the course of the year or 2 that they made them. In 2006 Chris Paine made a documentary film about this car, and the circumstances surrounding it. It is an epose type of film that GM and the oil companies hated, of course. If you are a member of the vast right–wing conspiracy, you will probably think that this movie was made by hippies and commies to cause trouble for the US carmakers, but in fact it was filmed well before oil prices started spiking and was really intended to show that the car was just the right thing at the right time. In the film, a wide variety of people are interviewed: drivers, battery inventors, salespeople, etc. The film makes a good case for the car as a strong prototype that was quickly ramping up to be a real contender. As with any new technology, rapid evolution of components and economies of scale would have reached a tipping point relatively quickly, if GM produced the cars fast enough, and particularly if the government kicked in with technological help and financial subsidies. This film is well worth watching, and joins the ranks of interesting evidence of how and what people can do to make life better. Personally, I would love to own an electric car, I have wanted one since the first Arab oil embargo occurred when I was in college. I assumed at the time that it was 5–10 years away, and that has stretched to 10–20 and stayed there ever since ever since. Hey guys, JUST DO IT !Read full review
So after many years, I wanted to see "Who Killed The Electric Car" again, so I bought a copy. I watched it again tonight and it is really an eye opener. In 2003 most of the EV1s had already been crushed in secrecy out in the AZ desert but the last 78 units were in a lot locked behind a chain link fence at the GM facility in Burbank, CA. The coalition of protesters, known as the EV1 vigilers, spent weeks staked outside the gate 24-7, some days in the pouring rain, making sure that GM couldn't sneak the cars out in the night to be crushed. GM contended that no one wanted these cars which of course, was baloney. On day 15, the coalition set out to call them on it. In 48 hours time they signed up 80 people willing to put up $24,358 each to buy the remaining 78 cars for the residual price of the lease. In this last ditch effort, they publicly made GM an offer to buy the cars. They got a check together for 1.9 million dollars and announced the offer. GM wouldn't even acknowledge them. The vigil lasted for 27 days until finally GM sent a bunch of cops and a convoy of empty auto transporters to scoop up all of the remaining EV1s and quickly take them away to be destroyed. What they didn't realize at the time was that all other manufacturers of electric vehicles were crushing their cars too. Ford was crushing their Think City and Ranger EVs. Honda was quietly crushing perfectly good EV Plus cars and Toyota their RAV4 EVs. Soon all EVs were gone, just like that. Chelsea Sexton makes a great point in the documentary about legacy automakers and the problems posed for them in trying to sell EVs as part of their lineup: "In order to market a clean car, you have to suggest that your core product cars [that use oil and gas] are dirty." In March 2009, however, outgoing CEO of GM Rick Wagoner said the biggest mistake he ever made as chief executive was killing the EV1 car and failing to direct more resources to electrics.Read full review
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A friend recommended this movie. The movie was entertaining in a smart, engaging way. For political or persuasive films like this, watching with a devil's advocate mindset left one yet unanswered question-- why were the existing cars were taken away from the lessees (and why did they never had the opportunity to buy the cars in the first place)? Outside research (after seeing the movie) indicates this had to do with safety, but one wonders why, if this is the case, GM didn't present the public or the lessees with the safety facts that influenced their decision to not only stop offering these vehicles, but to take them from the drivers who apparently love(d) their cars. A very interesting, thought-provoking film. Doesn't seem overly biased-- exploring many reasons and many possible "guilty" parties or "killers"-- although it is true that the filmmaker is one of those biased EV1 lovers. I recommend watching the film, then deciding for yourself if the people who created, and the people who are featured in the film arrived at their "biased" electric car-loving justifiably. It's a good way to spend an entertainment dollar and an hour or two of your couch-time, at the very least.Read full review
Saw this movie years ago. So glad I could find it in a reasonably priced DVD. The subject matter is as relevant today as it was it the 1990's. Many people are not aware that this country had great electric cars made in California back then and the technology to make them-- all electric, not just hybrid! Main problem, for all the reasons the movie stated, the car manufacturer decided to literally destroy all the cars after several years, not even letting those who leased them buy one, and many loved the car and wanted to buy one. All thinking people need to see this movie. The DVD was brand new, unopened in shrink wrap. I just wish media mail was faster-- but the shipping was free.
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Who killed the Electric Car is one of the best if not the best documentaries on environmental issues and on why they murdered this wonderful product. Chris Pine's film paints a picture on an industrial culture whose aversion to change and reliance on oil may be deeper than its ability to embrace ready solutions. This film WILL frustrate you greatly. It's that simple. All of this talk about cars of the future with hydrogen fuel cells in 15 or 20 years from now is ridiculous. It's here NOW__and they KILLED it. The first cars weren't perfect. But we're talking 1996___! My GOD__by now they would be perfect and then some. This film which has been described in the New York Times as a murder mystery and a call to arms is the best documentary on Electric Cars I have ever seen. Mr. Paine presents a surprisingly balanced film that time and again exhibits man's greed, stupidity, short-sightedness and another excellent example of American corporate stupidity. I firmly believe General Motors BLEW IT___! I think BIG Middle East Oil Told them the STOP IT____! Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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