I don't know how much of my comments made it up, so reply if the full thing isn't there and you care. It's not like the EV would have killed the ICE immediately; cold weather kills mileage, and since most places aren't SoCal, it's not like EVs are practical everywhere. Besides, for long-distance driving a full-on EV may not cut it, so for those trips, people would still rely on the oil companies for some time. That's the only way I can explain destroying the best PR ever
I did a little reading on the subject and I finally figured out what happened. GM was leasing these based on an equivalent MSRP of $34,000, but it cost upwards of $100,000 to make them. They only made them because they had to, and leased them for the price they did b/c leasing them even at cost would have been cheating. When the mandate was killed, they stopped wasting their money. This would also go some distance to explain why they wouldn't accept the protester's offers.
@artistwithouttalent That's the only explanation that makes sense to me. It cost GM $500 million in R&D to develop the EV1, and this adds to there experience from a voluntary solar challenge they did, which shows me that they cared enough to try. I don't buy the oil companies killing it either. They could make money off of EVs; all they need is a high speed charging infrastructure, charge people 10 cents for a gallon equivalent, they could make a killing.
@petitus90 Stated range on the EV1 was 70 to 100 miles but Quentin Willson here states it's more like 40 or 50 miles in the real world. That was using lead acid battery technology.
Modern pure-electric vehicles with lithium ion batteries like the Nissan LEAF are greatly improved. The LEAF can easily achieve 70+ miles in real world conditions and the NEDC rates it at 109 miles of range.
Meanwhile Tesla's new Model S can do 300 miles if you have the money, but costs will decrease over time.
electric cars are not the way to go for the fuel efficiency market, manufacturers just need to make much smaller cars with smaller motors and less amenities. a 80-100 hp motor with a specialized 5 or 6 speed made for fuel efficiency and a light body and no extra luxuries would be perfect
@peshozmiata I can understand that but for me, there is something about the EV1 that makes me prefer it, i can't really explain it. Which modern one would you have? If I had to have one, it would be a Leaf.
@Rangeroversport12 The EV1 is very interesting because of its late 90s styling, was way ahead of its time and is now just a museum piece.
Out of modern EV's there isnt much choice, but i'd probably go for the new Smart Fortwo Electric. It's cheaper compared to all the other EVs today and offers everything you need for city driving. There's also the chinese BYD E6 that has very impressive specs, but there hasn't been much info about it lately, even if it's already in production.
oddly, one year after this was shot, GM put nickel-metal-hydrite batteries in that brought the range to 160 miles, I wonder what it would've done with Lithium ion batteries
@kernals12 Well, Chevron's patents on nickel-metal hydrite batteries expire in 2014. I suspect that that's why we're seeing electric cars popping up now. A car manufacturer who hasn't grabbed the market by then is out of business. Lithium Ion is slightly better, but not that much.
Juliar Gillard certainly liked this video. Then she read the comments and got upset at all the big pooey oil companies who in many ways tried to kill this car off and certainly stunted it's growth. Then she and Bob Brown, who favourited this video, made the "beast with two backs." Then the Australian Carbon Tax was born.
The later Versions of the EV1 changed their batteries from Lead Acid to NIMH and they went roughly 150 miles per charge easily. Imagine what would happen with LIPO batteries with roughly 7-8 times the energy of Lead acid and less than half the weight.....hmmm
@VRJensen1 It basically exists, it's called the Tesla Roadster. They're both 2 seaters. £35000 in 1997 is equivalent to £43000 now, but the Tesla is designed as a more premium car.
So this Top Gear Video is why in the Exxon Mobil Owned States Of America, one can only buy Seasons 10-15....Mystery Solved. Isn't Cash For Legislation Great!...aka Plutocracy.
Yeah - the internal combustion engine has 5 million days left!
So tragic to see the cause of technological progress abandoned in the West. Apparently in the China they're electrifying the taxi fleet - their equivelant of the London cab gets 80-100 miles per charge real world and really works.
This is perhaps one of the best EV1 videos ever. It exposes the truths about the EV1s demise (even while it was still on the road) that people want to blame on oil companies and conspiracy theories. It was a two-seater with limited range and cost $600/mo to lease and came out at a time when gas was $1/gal.
Now we are seeing EVs that are half that price, have more than double the seating and cargo capacity, and have superior batteries at a time of $4/gal gas. EVs will win this time.
@diggingforgold No they won't. The only reason petrol is expensive is because of political reasons. As soon as that gets sorted out, it'll be cheaper than water again and the EV will be out on its ass, as it is just too damn good. Only the Chinese are taking them up because they're Commies and hate our values (just kidding it's because their society is not run by oil companies)
What is and will be happening is that established companies are going to squeeze the market until prices for fuel are so high that the economy is threatening disaster. Then, they will release alternative energy and keep profit margins in their favor. It's all a game and unfortunately, we are the losers.
What is and will be happening is that established companies are going to squeeze the market until prices for fuel are so high that the economy is threatening disaster. Then, they will release alternative energy and keep profit margins in their favir. It's all a game and unfortunately, we are the losers.
Thing is, they were on the right track. If they'd been committed enough to develop and use the kind of battery technology that the Prius and Tesla have, who knows what the EV1 might have become?
yep, and the sad thing was that they crushed every single last one of them once the program was dropped. now im not saying that im the greenest person in the world. im about to get 90 rx7, not the most fuel efficient. but i would drive an one of those any day
@smhorse I own about 13 Ro80's, Love Em! As for the EV1, it's a crime that GM crushed them all. I watched " Who Killed The Electric Car" on a plane and was horrified at the ending :-(
I don't know how much of my comments made it up, so reply if the full thing isn't there and you care. It's not like the EV would have killed the ICE immediately; cold weather kills mileage, and since most places aren't SoCal, it's not like EVs are practical everywhere. Besides, for long-distance driving a full-on EV may not cut it, so for those trips, people would still rely on the oil companies for some time. That's the only way I can explain destroying the best PR ever
artistwithouttalent 1 week ago
I did a little reading on the subject and I finally figured out what happened. GM was leasing these based on an equivalent MSRP of $34,000, but it cost upwards of $100,000 to make them. They only made them because they had to, and leased them for the price they did b/c leasing them even at cost would have been cheating. When the mandate was killed, they stopped wasting their money. This would also go some distance to explain why they wouldn't accept the protester's offers.
artistwithouttalent 1 week ago
@artistwithouttalent That's the only explanation that makes sense to me. It cost GM $500 million in R&D to develop the EV1, and this adds to there experience from a voluntary solar challenge they did, which shows me that they cared enough to try. I don't buy the oil companies killing it either. They could make money off of EVs; all they need is a high speed charging infrastructure, charge people 10 cents for a gallon equivalent, they could make a killing.
artistwithouttalent 1 week ago
Go baby Go!
mikennamorato 1 month ago
why was this car able to drive 250 km and now 16 years later they cant get it over 100 km ??? why ?
petitus90 1 month ago
@petitus90 i don't think you noticed but this was filmed in 1997.
rhcplover100 1 month ago
@petitus90 Stated range on the EV1 was 70 to 100 miles but Quentin Willson here states it's more like 40 or 50 miles in the real world. That was using lead acid battery technology.
Modern pure-electric vehicles with lithium ion batteries like the Nissan LEAF are greatly improved. The LEAF can easily achieve 70+ miles in real world conditions and the NEDC rates it at 109 miles of range.
Meanwhile Tesla's new Model S can do 300 miles if you have the money, but costs will decrease over time.
TheChargingPoint 2 weeks ago 2
Comment removed
petitus90 1 month ago
I hate GM for what they did with this care. I really REALLY like to see GM go bankrupt for what they did.
kaasaanfiets 1 month ago
You gotta admit...for an electric car, it looks pretty damn good.
MrThestig8 1 month ago
beauty killed,,thx oilpissers
hejdiklump 1 month ago 3
I LOVED that EV1 sound!
I wish they would make an EV that sounded like it again.
johnson1095 1 month ago
Watch "Who Killed the Electric Car?" /playlist?list=PL92488D74E3B73F66&feature=plcp It's all about the EV1
jctoad 1 month ago
electric cars are not the way to go for the fuel efficiency market, manufacturers just need to make much smaller cars with smaller motors and less amenities. a 80-100 hp motor with a specialized 5 or 6 speed made for fuel efficiency and a light body and no extra luxuries would be perfect
SuperCracksmoke 2 months ago
I'd rather have one of these than a modern electric car
Rangeroversport12 2 months ago in playlist More videos from ysivyboi1
@Rangeroversport12 I'd rather have a modern electric car...
peshozmiata 2 months ago
@peshozmiata I can understand that but for me, there is something about the EV1 that makes me prefer it, i can't really explain it. Which modern one would you have? If I had to have one, it would be a Leaf.
Rangeroversport12 2 months ago
@Rangeroversport12 The EV1 is very interesting because of its late 90s styling, was way ahead of its time and is now just a museum piece.
Out of modern EV's there isnt much choice, but i'd probably go for the new Smart Fortwo Electric. It's cheaper compared to all the other EVs today and offers everything you need for city driving. There's also the chinese BYD E6 that has very impressive specs, but there hasn't been much info about it lately, even if it's already in production.
peshozmiata 1 month ago
I drive a prius. And use to drive a 1999 Honda insight. Hybrids are better than pure electric vehicles.
IncredableDrE 2 months ago
@IncredableDrE How do you know if you've never driven a Electric car?
14omega28ok 2 months ago
oddly, one year after this was shot, GM put nickel-metal-hydrite batteries in that brought the range to 160 miles, I wonder what it would've done with Lithium ion batteries
kernals12 3 months ago
@kernals12 Well, Chevron's patents on nickel-metal hydrite batteries expire in 2014. I suspect that that's why we're seeing electric cars popping up now. A car manufacturer who hasn't grabbed the market by then is out of business. Lithium Ion is slightly better, but not that much.
grieske 3 months ago
GM is fucking stupid
69chevyy 3 months ago
@69chevyy No, they weren't. They would've been sued for patent infringement by chevron if they had continued, and that would've been very expensive.
grieske 3 months ago
Too bad that GM crushed all the EV1's...
mailxxxxxx 3 months ago
This was BEFORE the brilliant PANASONIC NIMH battery that they put in the next year and that gave 120miles.
anarchosolar 3 months ago
AND people thought that Toyota came up with Eco-friendly cars.
hum6web4 4 months ago
Imagine New EV 1 with Batterie Changinstations
No Kabel
No waiting till Batterie is Reloadet
No limit in Range
tassoss1 5 months ago
Juliar Gillard certainly liked this video. Then she read the comments and got upset at all the big pooey oil companies who in many ways tried to kill this car off and certainly stunted it's growth. Then she and Bob Brown, who favourited this video, made the "beast with two backs." Then the Australian Carbon Tax was born.
Jerram89 6 months ago
@Jerram89 LOL legendary
galbmw 5 months ago
What is it with Top Gear and driving electric cars until their batteries go flat...
MiG21aholic 6 months ago 5
Mileage has improved hardly, since the first electric cars arrived.
Skoda130 6 months ago
35,000 quid!!!! Fecking GM and some arse-wipped gobshites ''proffesionals'' said the EV1 was worth more than 80,000.
toyotaprius79 6 months ago
@toyotaprius79. 35 000 British pounds was much more what is it now
isokessu 6 months ago
Gangs in L.A. don't use axes they use guns
RyanBlockb5 6 months ago
some of the kit car makers should make a copy!!!
DanFrederiksen 6 months ago
It really is too bad Big Oil owns the Government and the Auto Industry here in the great Plutocratic Oligarchy of America.
VRJensen1 6 months ago
The later Versions of the EV1 changed their batteries from Lead Acid to NIMH and they went roughly 150 miles per charge easily. Imagine what would happen with LIPO batteries with roughly 7-8 times the energy of Lead acid and less than half the weight.....hmmm
VRJensen1 6 months ago
@VRJensen1 It basically exists, it's called the Tesla Roadster. They're both 2 seaters. £35000 in 1997 is equivalent to £43000 now, but the Tesla is designed as a more premium car.
CCmachine 6 months ago
So this Top Gear Video is why in the Exxon Mobil Owned States Of America, one can only buy Seasons 10-15....Mystery Solved. Isn't Cash For Legislation Great!...aka Plutocracy.
VRJensen1 6 months ago
Does anyone know which dealership this is called?
WhiteIceMan3 7 months ago
Yeah - the internal combustion engine has 5 million days left!
So tragic to see the cause of technological progress abandoned in the West. Apparently in the China they're electrifying the taxi fleet - their equivelant of the London cab gets 80-100 miles per charge real world and really works.
badnewswade 9 months ago
I like the commentary that comes after 6 minutes and 5 seconds... a very valid point.
BrunoInBrazil 10 months ago
This is perhaps one of the best EV1 videos ever. It exposes the truths about the EV1s demise (even while it was still on the road) that people want to blame on oil companies and conspiracy theories. It was a two-seater with limited range and cost $600/mo to lease and came out at a time when gas was $1/gal.
Now we are seeing EVs that are half that price, have more than double the seating and cargo capacity, and have superior batteries at a time of $4/gal gas. EVs will win this time.
diggingforgold 1 year ago 8
@diggingforgold No they won't. The only reason petrol is expensive is because of political reasons. As soon as that gets sorted out, it'll be cheaper than water again and the EV will be out on its ass, as it is just too damn good. Only the Chinese are taking them up because they're Commies and hate our values (just kidding it's because their society is not run by oil companies)
badnewswade 9 months ago
hey if anyone has the money and time could they please build a replica of the ev1?
computerwiz4 1 year ago 3
What is and will be happening is that established companies are going to squeeze the market until prices for fuel are so high that the economy is threatening disaster. Then, they will release alternative energy and keep profit margins in their favor. It's all a game and unfortunately, we are the losers.
CMagalis 1 year ago
What is and will be happening is that established companies are going to squeeze the market until prices for fuel are so high that the economy is threatening disaster. Then, they will release alternative energy and keep profit margins in their favir. It's all a game and unfortunately, we are the losers.
CMagalis 1 year ago
GM sucks big time for canceling this car. Bought off by the oil companies!
seinsmeld13 1 year ago
GM would've been successful with this.
toyotaprius79 1 year ago 3
GM sold it with faulty delco batteries.
they knew it would fail. they had to be forced by law to use nimh.
with nimh the ev1 performed much better. good ranges. but then gm killed it. patents sold to chevron.
CAESARbonds 1 year ago
Euro plates on that Volvo at 2:44 ?
kazimann 2 years ago
my God I'd have bought one here in Texas,,
IF I EVER HAD A CHANCE.....
Joshcom88 2 years ago 30
Man you and me both.
klarusboy 2 years ago
@Joshcom88 ya but texans are rednecks that dive big trucks
saweet999 1 year ago
@saweet999 more like Alabama or some where near.
toyotaprius79 1 year ago
@Joshcom88 Texaco and co Bought the Ev 1 Batterie Market and Killed Ev 1
tassoss1 5 months ago
An now GM is almost bankrupt, and after the EV1, they think the Volt is a savior, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
mi16t 2 years ago 5
The host was sooo negative, he never gave the car a fair chance.
zmansporscheboxster 2 years ago
This was the dream that died.
smhorse 2 years ago 48
i know right? "Who Killed The Electric Car", great movie
86touge 2 years ago 3
Thing is, they were on the right track. If they'd been committed enough to develop and use the kind of battery technology that the Prius and Tesla have, who knows what the EV1 might have become?
smhorse 2 years ago
yep, and the sad thing was that they crushed every single last one of them once the program was dropped. now im not saying that im the greenest person in the world. im about to get 90 rx7, not the most fuel efficient. but i would drive an one of those any day
86touge 2 years ago
Ah...the RX7. I love rotary engines. I once owned a 1973 NSU Ro80 that had the Wankel from the RX7 in it!
smhorse 2 years ago
yea me too, 13b FTW. i wanted one since i was like 12 years old, and i love sliding. not a bad car to do it in
86touge 2 years ago
@smhorse I own about 13 Ro80's, Love Em! As for the EV1, it's a crime that GM crushed them all. I watched " Who Killed The Electric Car" on a plane and was horrified at the ending :-(
djphilmanns 1 year ago
@djphilmanns Yes, you bought one of mine....
smhorse 1 year ago
thanx again for the post
sportfuryman 2 years ago
They didn't try to stop it they laughed at it.
deltapunk21 2 years ago
could work with new batteries
fcabido 2 years ago