Who Killed the Electric Car?

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Year: 2006

Runtime: 92 min

Language: English

Director: Chris Paine

Documentary

In 1997, General Motors introduced the EV-1, an innovative electric car that challenged traditional automotive design. Offering zero emissions and eliminating the need for gasoline, oil, or routine maintenance, it appeared to be an ideal vehicle. However, just six years later, GM unexpectedly recalled and dismantled the entire fleet. This documentary explores the story behind the EV-1’s brief existence and investigates the reasons for its sudden disappearance, raising questions about the future of electric vehicles.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1990s - 2006

The film covers the critical timeline from the emergence of modern electric vehicles in the 1990s until 2006. This period saw both significant advancements in electric vehicle technology and a systematic decline of these cars due to corporate and governmental pressures. The timeline reflects the struggles between innovation and market forces influenced by oil companies and automotive giants.

Location

California, Arizona, Australia

The film is primarily set in California, where electric cars were first introduced and later suppressed. Arizona is depicted through the visuals of GM's Proving Ground, highlighting the fate of the EV1s. Australia is referenced as the site of the World Solar Challenge, emphasizing the global nature of the development of electric vehicle technology.

🌍 Location 🚗 Electric Vehicle

Last Updated: January 02, 2025 at 17:53

Main Characters – Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)

Meet the key characters of Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Chris Paine

Chris Paine serves as the documentary's filmmaker and narrator. He passionately investigates the historical and political factors that led to the demise of the electric car. Paine's determination for social change and his role in documenting this critical environmental issue showcase his commitment to raising awareness around sustainable transportation.

🎬 Filmmaker 🌍 Environmentalist

Last Updated: January 02, 2025 at 17:53

Major Themes – Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)

Explore the central themes of Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚡ Innovation vs. Greed

The theme centers around the clash between technological innovation and corporate greed. The film illustrates how electric vehicles, despite their potential to transform the automotive industry and reduce pollution, were stifled by profit-driven motives of oil and car companies. This theme raises questions about consumer choice versus corporate influence.

🌱 Environmental Awareness

Environmental issues are at the forefront, highlighting the detrimental effects of fossil fuels and the promise of cleaner alternatives. The documentary connects public health concerns and emissions with the urgency for sustainable energy solutions. It advocates for the transition to electric vehicles as a means to combat global warming.

Last Updated: January 02, 2025 at 17:53

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Investigative Thrillers Exposing Systemic Injustice like Who Killed the Electric Car?

Documentaries and dramas that methodically unravel a case of corporate or political corruption.If you enjoyed the methodical, tense investigation in Who Killed the Electric Car?, you'll find similar experiences in these movies. This thread groups documentaries and dramas that feel like thrillers, uncovering stories of corporate greed, political corruption, and technological suppression with a sobering, urgent tone.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a journalistic or activist pursuit of truth against a formidable, often faceless, opponent like a corporation or government body. The story unfolds through interviews, archival footage, and a logical presentation of evidence, building a compelling case that culminates in a revelation of wrongdoing, though the ending may feel ambiguous due to the ongoing nature of the real-world conflict.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific mood blend of intellectual engagement, rising frustration, and critical urgency. They are united by a steady, methodical pacing that builds a case, a tense tone driven by high stakes, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from the real consequences of the injustice being exposed.

Sobering Stories of Technological Suppression like Who Killed the Electric Car?

Narratives about promising innovations crushed by powerful opposing interests.For viewers who were fascinated and angered by the story of the EV-1 in Who Killed the Electric Car?, this thread finds similar movies about suppressed technologies. These films explore the clash between innovation and powerful established interests, resulting in narratives that are both fascinating and deeply frustrating.

frustratingcriticalsoberingurgentenragingidealismcorporate greedlost potential

Narrative Summary

The narrative introduces a groundbreaking idea or technology with the potential to change the world for the better. The central conflict arises as powerful entities—often corporations or industries threatened by the change—work systematically to discredit, buy out, or destroy the innovation. The journey is typically one of idealism clashing with cynical realpolitik, leading to a bittersweet or ambiguous ending where the idea's potential is acknowledged but its immediate future is uncertain.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared thematic core of innovation versus obstruction. They generate a specific emotional mix: the excitement of discovery paired with the frustration of witnessing its suppression. The tone is consistently critical and urgent, driven by a sense of injustice and the high stakes involved for society.

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Who Killed the Electric Car? Summary

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Who Killed the Electric Car? Summary

Who Killed the Electric Car? Timeline

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Who Killed the Electric Car? Timeline

Who Killed the Electric Car? Spoiler-Free Summary

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Who Killed the Electric Car? Spoiler-Free Summary

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