The Revenge of the Electric Car - 3 smiles

Chris Paine’s 2006 documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car presented a scathing portrait of the US auto industry’s calculated decision to destroy the momentum of electronic vehicles, especially GM’s recall of its pioneering EV1 model. He’s now returned with a far more upbeat sequel that optimistically depicts how automakers are finally coming around to the concept. Of course, it helps that the bottom line aligns with the greater good. Paine focuses on a group of industry leaders, including Bob Lutz, a veteran GM executive who describes himself as ‘an environmentalist, within limits’ who makes the decision to champion the Volt; Elon Musk, a dot-com millionaire who invests his vast personal fortune on his Silicon start-up car company, Tesla Motors; and Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Nissan who decides to risk his company’s fate on the affordable Leaf. Also included is the inventor and entrepreneur Greg ‘Gadget’ Abbott, who converts gas-run cars into electric vehicles in his own makeshift facility.

Although the filmmaker gives some historical context via clips from his previous movie, he’s more interested in providing character studies of men who make decisions based on pragmatism rather than strident propaganda usually associated with environmentalists. Paine enjoyed clear access to his subjects, resulting in a behind-the-scenes look at important men making important decisions. Narrated by Tim Robbins, the film includes cameos by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Adrian Grenier, Jon Favreau and Danny DeVito. And even the biggest fan of gas-guzzling autos will root for this group of risk-takers who are leading the long delayed transition from a reliance on oil to a new technology. 11/6/11