Why'd They Kill the Electric Car?

“Who Killed the Electric Car?” dives into the development and destruction of the electric vehicle. The documentary film begins in 1996,  when electric cars were first introduced in California. No gas was needed to fuel the vehicles, and releasing zero emissions, they provided a more safe and sound choice for the automobile consumer. About ten years later, all electric cars were killed off.

It’s evident that the film takes a side about the issue with electric cars, easily shown by the title “Who Killed the Electric Car?” The film itself shows mostly members of the community in support of electric vehicles. The film even opens with a scene of an actual funeral enacted by the community. Although one-sided, it does compensate with interviews and facts, utilizing sources from all sides of the big issue.

Seven suspects were picked off in the film, the car companies, oil companies, batteries of the electric vehicles, the California Air Resources Board, consumers, the federal government, and the hydrogen fuel cell. I think that some of the suspects involved had selfish motives in killing the electric car, especially the car and oil companies.

Hydrogen fuel cells were introduced by the oil companies. Need I say more? Author of  “The Hype About Hydrogen,” Joseph Romm, highlights the five miracles needed for hydrogen fuel cells to actually work in place of natural gas.

Oil feeds the economy financially, and I’m assuming that the reason behind the California Air Resources Board and the government were caught up in the mix for that reason. Car companies need the oil industry to fuel theirs, so I suppose to keep making money they went all cannibalistic on the electric car.

You can tell that the film’s purpose is to advocate for the electric car because in one scene the filmmaker, Chris Paine, ousts the car companies for hiding the electric vehicles from the public and initially destroying their creation. This side of the story relates to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  In a sense, the electric car was the second female creature. Frankenstein creates something, but sets out to destroy it instantly because of a certain fear.

The film’s perspective compares the electric car controversy to the story of David and Goliath. The film emphasizes on a statement made by a source, in which it is said that “if there are enough Davids in the world maybe we can win.”

For the consumers, it was an issue that was under the radar. They had no knowledge that they took part in the crime. The public will be able to recognize an opportunity they missed out on through this film. By recognition of the issue, a reincarnation and revival of the electric car may take place.