In 1996, the EV1, an electric car built by GM, began to appear all over California. These cars were fast, quiet, stylish, and produced no exhaust. Even more amazing, they ran without any gas at all. You simply plugged in your car at home or at a charging station and a full charge would yield 100 miles of driving. Imagine never having to pump gas again. Your car could charge while you slept and if your house could be powered with renewable energy... the possibility for a fossil free life was nearing reality.

The EV1 built by General Motors. Certainly not a Tesla Roadster, but still great in it's own regards. Photo: Courtesy

Almost 10 years later, the EV1 and its proprietary technology was effectively wiped off the face of the earth. Who killed the electric car? is a captivating documentary exploring the history of the EV1 and its untimely demise.

EV1 owners, who still sorely miss their electric car, explain that GM leased them the EV1 and mysteriously recalled the vehicle with no explanation and no option to purchase. Even after a solid month of picketing at the recall sites, 24 hours a day, these passionate car owners were not able to get their cars back. Where did the EV1s end up? Crushed in a landfill in the middle of the desert. Sounds like a bad conspiracy theory, but unfortunately it's true.

Delving into the politics behind the rise and fall of the EV1 opens a window into the larger landscape of oil politics in America. With GM now accepting public taxpayer funds to avoid bankruptcy, one has to wonder if their pandering to political pressures and suppression of electric car technology was ironically one of the keys to their economic downfall. Imagine an American auto industry that was leading the world in alternative fuel technologies. It would be a very different economic picture today.

So, who killed the electric car? While there is no one group to blame, this engaging film will open your eyes to the American auto industry-trapped in the past, struggling awkwardly to move into a renewable future.