Revenge of the Electric Car DVD - Documentary Film About EV Industry Revolution - Perfect for Movie Nights & Environmental Education

If you've already seen the first film "Who Killed the Electric Car" I recommend that you watch the Plug In America's sponsored "What is the Electric Car?" before watching this. It tells more of the story of the EV1, and the insurance requirements that lead to the cars being destroyed as well as additional interviews from many of the same people in the first film, I think of it as 'Who Killed the Electric Car 1.5'. If you haven't seen the first film, your enjoyment of this movie shouldn't be effected, they are thematically quite different.This film opens with a overhead view a multilevel, multilane highway, and Dan Neil a reporter, that was mostly against EVs in the first film, and now has come to the conclusion that he will "never buy another gasoline powered car", and that "the only way forward is electric cars." It next recaps General Motors (GM) EV1 and the fall out from those events. Danny Devito recounts his owning the car. Two news editors Ray Wert and Owen Thomas are also key commentators on the events within the film from time to time. Bob Lutz is then introduced as one of the films main stars, a GM Media spokes person and vice chairman. They then give a brief overview of his career in a magazine style animated sequence. After seeing Toyotas success with hybrids he suggests a similar electric car project be started, but gets nowhere with the idea at GM. The story then shifts to Tesla Motors releasing it's first Roadster. Elon musk is then introduced. It then lists some of his other accomplishments such as SpaceX and PayPal. Bob's Story then picks up after hearing about the success of Tesla Motors, he is then given his chance to head the production project of a part EV/part Gasoline powered car known as the Chevrolet Volt. It is revealed at GM's 100th birthday celebration. While the car companies are ramping up their plans the story switches to the people who have been making cars electric for years through conversion. Greg 'Gadget' Abbott and his wife Charlotte Jackson are then introduced. They tell how gas cars can be converted to electric. He also did this for the bonus footage of the first movie. It then tells about his latest projects. He and GM, & Tesla also show off their cars at the Plug-In America parade. As the race to build the best and quickest selling EV in the USA begins, half way around the world Nissan/Renault's CEO Carlos Ghosn is introduced. As Nissan is beginning their ramp up to production of the all-electric Nissan LEAF. He discusses his plans for Nissan, as preparation are begun to mass produce the car, and try and beat the other car companies to the market.As each of the films principal players are building up their plans, a recession hits the world. Shortly afterward there is arson at Gadgets workshop. He looses much of the equipment and tools he has but finds some things still working including a controller. "With that," he says "I can build a car." GM and other car companies begin loosing money on their non-EV related projects and ask the US government for help. And they get snapped at by the media and the government for their wastefulness, and that they had not built the vehicles that the government had been asking them to build.The film then takes a quick look back at Preston Tucker and how his car company failed. And compares the difficulties he had with those that Elon Musk was having. He was going through hard times with SpaceX and Tesla, getting a divorce, and had gotten a new financee. In a similar way Lutz also has to handle difficulties in the design elements of the Volt. Elon then finds that there are a mass of Roadsters sitting in a garage all with small defects in them, which aren't being worked on at the time. Eventually they get to the director of the film's car and he 'Chris Paine' reluctantly makes another cameo in one of his films. As the US manufactures are having problems, in Japan the Nissan LEAF is globally launched.Gadget manages to get some loans and buys a old shed style garage where he can work once again. Tesla begins delivering cars, as Martin Eberhard is removed as president of the company. Elon eventually becomes CEO of the company and has to give the company $3 million to keep it going. They next raise prices to meet production demands. Sadly, as he is seen in the movie, these are some of Elon's most rude and grumpy moments. He later says that in these moments he was near total nervous breakdown. Tesla takes out a loan from the Department of Energy to keep the business going and to finish designing their family car the Model S.Back in Detroit a church holds a service, which hopes that the US government will help the automobile industry, which most of the people there depend on. GM went through bankruptcy and after which the government loaned them the funds they would need to reopen.Back in California 'Gadget' finds that the building he has been working in is full of harmful chemicals left over from the previous owners, he is getting sick, and has to stop working on his conversion. Meanwhile the LEAF goes on its USA promotional campaign. As GM goes through its new changes, Bob struggles to keep the Volt program going while finding time for his family. Once again in California Tesla has made a deal with Daimler automotive, and while waiting for the government's loan, Tesla launches their 'Model S' sedan. Shortly before the event begins, and at which Elon will spend most of the night trying to sell deposits on the cars, he says "It won't be fun for me, but I hope its fun for others."At the 'North American Auto show' the Tesla Roadster, Volt and Leaf are shown, while walking around doing interviews, Elon and Bob meet and they find themselves in front of the LEAF and discuss what they think are the advantages their cars have over it. Turning towards Tennessee, Carlos is busy at a ground breaking ceremony for a the factory that will build LEAFs in the USA. Shortly afterward Elon Musk is seen at the launch of Tesla Motors on the stock exchange, a day in which they raise $226 million. Next the Chevrolet Volt goes into production. As Nissan gets a similar loan to its competitors, for the building of their factory for the LEAF. Tesla opens their new Headquarters, as Elon makes an opening toast to "Get us off F***ing oil as fast as possible." The only 'strong language' used in the film. Gadget gets a new place and can begin work again.There is a short montage of EVs being delivered, along with scenes of solar and wind power plants. Then Danny Devito is seen getting the delivery of his new GM car a Volt. Next there is a preview of new EV models that are being produced, as the Volt and LEAF are returned to, and it tells what awards each has won. It is then announced that Tesla got their government loan, there is footage of their new Tesla factory opening, and the announcement that Elon married Talulah his financee. Bob is seen in the shadows, looking out into a bright sunny day, and is said to have retired.Similar to the beginning of the movie, Dan Neil talks about his new fondness for EVs as the movie closes. The credits begin to appear as Gadget is seen driving his finished conversion, reaching a distance of 121 and a half miles.Besides the DVD, the movie is available on direct digital viewing at places such as Amazon, YouTube, for $2.99 to watch, or buy $12.99, and ITunes at $12.99. The DVD offers additional features such as;*Tribeca Film Festival Talk, a 35 minute post-screening discussion, with a moderator, the stars of the film, and the director about their views of the films subject and events that have happened since filming ended.Bonus footage:* Dave Bathmuss talks about events since the first movie as he prepares for his on stage meeting with Arnold Schwarzenegger, nearly 3 minutes in length.* EVs in Iceland, the President of Iceland talks about EVs and the environment, a interviews with a Journalist as she test drives a Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and two electric car companies personal in a hot springs, there are several scenic views of the thermal and renewable energy slightly over 3 minutes.* JK and Colette, two of the drivers featured in the first movie, tell about their experiences with their RAV4 since the making of the first movie. Nearly 1 minute and 30 seconds long.* First Tesla Crash, Esben Pedersen of Tesla Europe talks about sales in Denmark, the colder environment and about the wind power they produce there. Then a driver Jens Petri talks about a crash that the Roadster had, in which no one was hurt, and about the wind power they produce their. 3 minutes and 10 seconds.* Original opening of the movie, an animated sequence which only the last few seconds of it actually appear in the finished film. The animation starts with cave men and shows a humorous history of travel up until the 'Revenge of the Electric Car'. Two minutes long.* Tesla Model S Reveal, promo footage of it's production and excerpts from Elon's Model S launch event speech. About 3 minutes and 40 seconds.* Volt on Green Carpet, 1 minute of short interview excerpts of various celebrities after having test rides.Interviews extended and unused segments of discussions with;* Bob Lutz, 2:20 minutes/seconds.* Carlos Ghosn, 8:56.* Dan Neil, nearly 5:23.* Elon Musk, 2:44.* Gadget and Charlotte, 2:21.* Michelle Krebs, 2:03.* Owen Thomas and Ray Wert, 1:28.* Ralnn Wilson & Hal Sparks, 1:15 minutes/secondOther extras* Nissan LEAF's Polar Bear commercial* A two screen text biography of the director.* Trailers for this and other Docurama films including one of the company itself.Not listed on packing itself is the added feature of Audio Commentary on the film by director Chris Paine.Besides the audio commentary by the director, the audio has music composed by David Robbins. The music is mostly symphonic, with traces of Jazz, Pop/Techno, most of the interviews and conversations are left without music. There are the occasional rock and roll tracks. This time Tim Robbins gives the narration, his deep voice gives a tone of sorrow to the struggles that are encountered to the people with in the movie.If you like Elon Music's story, I reccomend watching two other documentaries about him. "Bloomberg's Risk Takers: Elon Musk", and National Geographic's "Mega Factories Supercars: Tesla" (a documentary of the production and release of the Model S). Another documentaries you might like is "Making of the Mitsubisih i-MiEV Electric Car".