Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)

Who Killed the Electric Car? feels like watching a mystery unfold in real time, except the clues are corporate memos, political pressure, and a technology that seemed ready to change everything. It’s a searing, sharply edited documentary that turns what could’ve been niche policy history into a genuinely gripping story—part courtroom argument, part elegy, part call to attention. The film’s great strength is how convincing and accessible it is: it doesn’t just point fingers, it builds a case, letting the outrage land with a visceral punch. If you’re allergic to advocacy docs, its righteous anger may feel pointed, but if you want something fascinating and impressive that will stick in your mind long after the credits, this is essential viewing.

Who Killed the Electric Car? is trying to be a clear, accessible autopsy of how a promising EV moment in California got smothered by politics, industry pressure, and mixed incentives. It lays out the timeline and key players efficiently, but the delivery can feel oddly quiet and repetitive for a story that practically begs for outrage, so if you want a fiery, propulsive takedown you may find it a bit passionless. It also doesn’t spend much time grappling with the real-world safety and practicality concerns of early battery tech, which can make the argument feel selective if you’re looking for a more balanced engineering-focused view. Still, if you like straightforward issue docs that prioritize clarity over drama, it’s a solid, if subdued, watch.