Who killed the. .electric car, planet, worker?

I just watched "Who Killed the Electric Car." Briefly, it explains that we had electric cars in the 20's that were more popular than petrol cars but they were phased out as petrol cars developed without anything too sinister. It then goes on to explain how the Californian government’s commitment in the 90's to a gradual increase in Zero Emission cars. Under the law car manufacturers were required to contribute a gradually increasing percentage of zero emission cars to be able to continue to sell cars in California. The cars were produced, they were fast quiet and enjoyable to drive according to users and they were popular despite negative advertising (they advertised the limitations first!) and were proven to be environmentally far superior to petrol powered cars. Even emissions based on coal fire electricity production were much lower than petrol cars.

The movie debates the reasons why the car failed and decides that it was everyone from air pollution authorities, oil industry bosses, federal government, hydrogen technology fuel cell prospects and car manufacturers themselves all wear part of the blame. Indeed they do all have their role to play however they fail to draw the biggest conclusion that it didn't succeed because there is more money to be made from other methods, the mandate set by a capitalist economy. The real message from the movie is profit over people, profit over environment and the lengths to which business and government will go to as means to ends.

This tale holds true for the reasons why vast amounts of money are spent on locating new fossil fuel reserves while comparatively small amounts are being invested in renewable technologies. When we have our own power generation that is renewed by nature there is no money to be made. The electric car has much lower maintenance costs and would see a massive fall in oil prices which would mean $100 trillion of oil yet to be exploited turn into a far smaller sum.

If we are serious about saving the planet, ending poverty and getting out of the clutches of big business we must endorse a new economy. Environmentally friendly consumption is an oxymoron. Global trade, as we know it is not a free-market and never has been. We cannot speak with our feet to a better world when no matter which direction you walk in you are squashing other people, other species and our planet.

What do you think about it?!