In 1996, a fleet of electric cars began to hit the road in the United States, leased to drivers fo around $500 a month. But less than ten years later, only a few were left. Despite the please of some impassioned owners, General Motors chose to end the lease program, and took all the EV1 vehicles off the road. . Join Ira Flatow and guests in this hour of Science Friday for a look at the short-lived electric car, and a conversation with the director of a new film chronicling the vehicle's demise. Has the time for electric vehicles passed, eclipsed by other technologies?

We'll also get a bird flu update. Last week, researchers confirmed the human-to-human transmission of avian influenza, though health experts said that there were no signs that the virus had mutated into an easier-to-transmit form. We'll find out about that, and efforts to combat the bird flu.

Plus, new research into crops and carbon dioxide levels. More carbon dioxide may not help crop plants grow better. Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Robert G. Webster
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Rose Marie Thomas Chair
Department of Infectious Diseases
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, Tennessee
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Donald Ort
Professor, Plant Biology
Research Leader, USDA/ARS Photosynthesis Research Unit
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Urbana, Illinois

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Chris Paine
Director, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" (Sony Pictures Classics, 2006)
Los Angeles, California

Bill Moore
Publisher, EV World.com
Papillion, Nebraska

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This segment produced by Charles Bergquist