Who Killed the Electric Car?

Who Killed the Electric Car shows how an innovation aimed at eliminating the need for petrol to fuel cars in the 1990s was suppressed by the automotive industry. General Motors unveiled its EV-1 in 1997 as a vehicle that provided transportation without using petrol or oil. It also required no muffler and never needed its brakes replacing.

Although the idea appeared to solve many of the issues and costs associated with maintaining a car’s engine, GM recalled and destroyed every EV-1 in 2003. The documentary explains how a combination of factors led to the demise of the revolutionary car, including actions taken by other automobile manufacturers, governments and consumers. In the future, however, technology that utilises renewable resources to power vehicles could ultimately prevail. As society has learned from the past, the future of the electric car depends on external influences.

A sequel, Revenge of the Electric Car, was released in 2011.