The 2006 documentary film explores the creation, limited use and eventual death of the electric car in the United States and the use of renewable energy and sustainable living in future. The film also speaks about the role of automobile manufacturers, oil industry, the US and Californian government and the consumers in limiting the adoption of this technology.

Electric cars appeared on roads in 1996 all over California and were quiet, fast and produced no exhaust. They also ran without gasoline but after ten years or so, they were destroyed and went out of market. The film deals with this history of electric car, its development and limited commercialization. Events related to air pollution, environmentalism, politics and global warming have also been discussed in the film. The film directed by Chris Paine, tries to bring to light an issue that was either completely unknown or forgotten by most Americans. The documentary is very informative and fact driven and forces us to think about the manufacturing and marketing strategies of the electric car and how the concept got killed. It also makes people sit up and think about the pollution they are causing by using the SUVs and other such vehicles. The might of oil industries is shown in the film hoping that if not the environment concern, the rocketing oil prices will bring about the change.