Yet another doc that calls the corporate world to task, Who Killed the Electric Car? follows the path of these innovative pollution-free autos from the factory to the junkyard. Automakers developed the cars in response to a mandate by the California state government to clean up smoggy skies. Car companies found this not worth the time and effort and sued the state.
They won, and shockingly, not only did companies halt production, they repossessed the cars and sent them to dirty graves. Why take back cars from eager owners? Why give up on clean, efficient technology? Director Chris Paine finds plenty of unsavory answers that make you want to lease a hybrid ASAP. Though it's hard not to be partial, Paine largely succeeds in presenting the cold hard facts--and entertains and educates at the same time.