Who Killed The Electric Car? | 1996 | DOCUMENTARY

Who Killed The Electric Car?
is a provocative documentary that investigates the rise—and sudden disappearance—of modern electric vehicles in the 1990s, focusing on General Motors’ EV1 program in California. At a moment when clean transportation seemed inevitable, the cars were recalled and crushed, igniting public outrage and a mystery that still resonates today.

The film methodically examines the intersecting forces blamed for the EV’s demise: automakers, oil companies, government policy, consumer behavior, and technological limitations. Through interviews, archival footage, and firsthand accounts from drivers who loved their EVs, the documentary challenges viewers to consider how innovation can be stalled—even when the technology works.

Seen today, the film feels less like history and more like prologue. With electric vehicles now mainstream and climate concerns front and center, Who Killed the Electric Car? serves as a cautionary tale about momentum lost, progress delayed, and the power structures that shape the future of transportation.

This is not just a film about cars—it’s about energy, politics, corporate influence, and the cost of delaying change.

Restoration / Presentation Philosophy
At Vintage Tape Vault, we present historically important films with clarity and context—preserving their original intent while allowing modern audiences to engage with the questions they raised. This title is shown as a documentary artifact of its time, reflecting the debates, technology, and politics of the early 2000s.