GM EV1 drag race vs. Miata and 300z

[Triple88a]

The EV1 wasnt discontinued for any other reason but to keep the oil going.

[Laurenxorz]

GM was so heartless. i can't believe they preferred to crush all the EV1s (except one) instead of taking that 1,9 million $ offer

[bullet50000]

@Laurenxorz

well, they didnt, because if they did that, they would have to keep up a supply network, and that could have been hysterically expensive

[Laurenxorz]

@bullet50000 haha i guess so, still, they didn't have to crush them all.. ill never fully understand why they did that. they say the car wasn't in enough demand, but truthfully not enough people knew about it because they didn't bother advertising it much. those who knew of it though, mostly, loved the shit out of it. so that's clearly a lie.

[bullet50000]

@Laurenxorz

well, i disagree. i knew so many people who knew about the EV-1, RAV4-EV, Altra, and EV+, and they all said 3 things. 1, it was too expensive, 2, it is a bit impractical, because if you go over the range, it takes 6 hours to recharge, and 3, if you want to go on a trip, like LA to Vegas, you cant make it.

[bullet50000]

by it, i mean the EV in general in the 90s, and currently

[rockinconcorde2]

yep this is the car nobody wants

[Reparo96]

Dear Santa....

[misturchips]

@Reparo96 I've been a good boy this year. Please give me a GM EV-1 late model inverter (more power) and an early model motor / drive axle to match (copper would rotor vs. aluminum. Also, please provide spare parts and an extra motor wound with silver. I promise I'll not blow up Mr. Henderson's mailbox ever ever again (grin).

[Reparo96]

@misturchips That's exactly what I would have said. Lol.

[m1aws]

For genuine info on what real and modern day EV's can do google 'evtv jack rickard'.

The EV1 could sell now if they made it. With modern batts etc. it would kill of the 'gas car'.

have fun guys :)

[phattyhales]

is that the BYU car?

[toyotaprius79]

and who in the hell says electric cars are always slow.

[DMC1994L]

That wasn't an EV1 right there. That was actually the GM Impact prototype. That's the car that soon became the EV1.

[misturchips]

@DMC1994L Fantastic, then! I was mis-informed when posting. I'll keep the title EV1, though, because more common folk would know that name. I always wondered what a first-run motor with second-run controller would be like. Imaging if they used silver wire, too (just for kicks) - I'm sure it'd be even quicker! in our alternative propulsion class, we got to check out the EV1, and it sure was an interesting design exercise, just like the corvair...

[GayBoyRunning]

i clearly see why GM destoryed the EV1 is u ever notices that GM is one of the Bigges Oil Company owners on this Planet and having a Electric Vehicle will make the Oil companys Crash !!

[Ukrainatrain]

wow  ...spellcheck

[Ryantube007]

umm hey dumbass. if you read carefully, i am supporting electricity! Think hard now. We all ready have the groundwork to supply electricity anywhere in the country. We can supply loads of it for a cheap efficient cost. And as far as zero emmissions goes its the most viable stand alone source of energy there is. Solar panels as they stand may be included onto vehicles to assist but hardly provide for consumer demand.

[turboshagna]

How the hell was that so fast? Nice!

[jonnydorobantul]

SCREW GM no BAIL OUT MONEY UNLESS THEY BRING BACK THE EV1

[nambinhvu]

Why bring back the EV1? Put the money where it's deserved. Give money to Tesla Motors, that way it wouldn't be called a bail out; it'd be called an investment.

[MrWafflesMonster]

People say that hydrpgen is better but in new zeaalnd we really need electric cars beacuse who knows when we'll get cheap hydrogen cars?

[furknee06]

yeah i agree ryantube 007 and on top of that pretty soon we wont be getting our power from coal burning plants yeah i love gm but thats just one of the stupidest decisions ever

[easybeat]

Marvellous - inverter drive rules OK!

[Ryantube007]

They quashed this car because pluging it in would require more coal burning plants, thus more polution..IDIOTS! alternatives like ethanol are worse then coal. To produce it they have to clear cut forests and grow crops that generate loads of carbon emmissions plus the side effect of losing trees to cleanse air of CO2. At least electricity doesnt have to be transported through costly tankers and trucks. Distribution is already there. (GM- no vision, no direction, no clue, for the future)

[min47pgl]

But producing electricity on a mass scale is far more efficient in the the engine of a Hybrid and wastes less that having lots of engines running separately.

[Ryantube007]

The EV1 was killed because it represented resistance to the consumption of the automobile as well as all the ajoining industries such as repair parts, oil, and supply chains. This vehicle was killed by many corporations such as big oil etc, but the tool used was the hydrogen car, which is too being killed by the hybrid. Its a cycle that the auto industry uses to get out of emmission laws(read the fine print). fortunatly foreign auto makers have called them out and are serious about the hybrid.

[Ryantube007]

*note* im being highly sarcastic

When i say they killed the EV1 becuase it would require more coal burning plants thus more polution....IDIOTS i mean its a buII$h!t excuse. Solar panels on every home, windmills, wave absorbers, hydro damns, nuclear. there are so many sources of power other then coal, automakers just picked the worst example.

[Ryantube007]

both the 300Z and the miata are fast, but they fail because electric cars produce the same level of torque during any range of their rpms. 0-7000 at around 110ft-lbs i believe. where as internal combustion engines do not, their horsepower and torque vary during thier rpm range. Kinda looks like it was based on a sunfire model, but then given an aero dynamic back end to reduce drag. (GM- no vision, no direction, no clue, for the future)

[SKOUNDREL81]

i don't feel sorry for GM at all, I wish the US government didn't bail them out! they got greedy and realized that the ev1 was not going to make them "as much" money as a combustion engine car which needs a ton of parts and heaps of servicing over it's life time, all of which make money for the company. it's not all GM's fault though, i suspect the relationship between the white house and oil company also had a lot to do with this cars demise. Just look at the bush administration!!!

[smijman]

fuck um ,,/,,

[StuBotNYC]

we need electric cars and solar panels installed on ALL buildings, especially in cities. But there are those who have fought it since Jimmy Carter and the scientists and engineers of 1976 were so enthusiastic to move forward- those who make money on keeping things the same have the money to stop progress for the greater good selfishly for the few who profit from not moving forward.

[ekimsnevets]

Fine, but don't forget the rolling blackouts that occurred back around the time this was being killed. I can't exclude the reality of that time through eyes at this time. I work in the energy sector and have for 27 years. When the Chinese currency crisis happened crude oil dropped to $8 a barrel and gasoline was as low as 75 cents in some places. That was 1998, just 10 short years ago. Do you think that was an environment ripe for investment in alternative sources of fuel and/or transportation?

[albdesi]

i agree at the time, America or the world at large didnt need an electric car, and it wasnt very practical because oil was cheap anyways. but now in modern times when it is practical whyy do we have "hybrids" which are still dependent on gasoline, when we already had a completely independent electric vechicle in the 90's?

[ekimsnevets]

Yes and my original point was that inspite of the fact the USA may have not been ready for the EV1 back then (in mass numbers) Europe was. In that time GM could have refined it and improved the technology so that when the price of crude shot up the past few years they would have been in the driver's seat.

I don't think there has been a big force behind it. I am convinced it was purely short-sighted and inward (USA) looking strategy.

[albdesi]

yes, but had GM not wanted to further pursue this, surely it would have been picked up very quickly by other manufactures.Yet still today we have "hybrids". GM crisis didn't begin in 2008, but shortly after 9/11 when the price of oil shot up. EVEN if all research on electric motors was discontinued after the ev1 , they still would have time to start up the program again and make the necessary improvements .

[albdesi]

this car was created in the early 90's.If it had been a matter of saftey, then surely such a great idea would have if not been correct in ev1, been later used in another model. the EV1 , but it is still dependent on gas and oil. After all of those year we couldn't have perfected the idea of a car that isn't dependent on oil? this is the decision of a power a lot greater than that of GM. If it was just GM who didn't want to continue with the idea, another comp

[albdesi]

the problem is that the ev1 posed a "threat" to the whole oil industry. everything would be effected, not immediately, but in time. The govt didn't want cars to be completely independent from the use of gasoline and oil. any would have definitely picked it up .

[myron73]

Are you saying that GM killed the EV-1 because the oil companies didn't want it released? Did they treaten GM (or the American auto industry) in some way?

[albdesi]

im saying it was a power alot greater than GM, if it was for them, they would have kept going with the idea.A car like this would have become very popular and dependency on oil would have been signifiganty reduced, thus it was completely discontinued.

[ekimsnevets]

The Big 3 companies, GM in particular, always built what would sell well in America instead of giving more consideration to opportunities in other affluent countries whose population when combined would be as large or larger a market than here in America. This was a squandered opportunity to advance the technology ahead of Toyota's Prius and also fill contaner ships with cars built here in America and letting our auto workers enjoy some prosperity.

[alyr315]

I guess the solution is very easy, but that proves that there is a "hidden" power that doesnt want that. It's called OIL CARTEL. And they feed us with this climate change scam. Shit man, how can people be so much asleep and sheeps.

[ahset]

No kidding man. People are so stupid falling for this global climate crisis. They never know about the other factors on the global warming formula. Why are the Icecaps on Mars melting? Why are the icecaps on jupiter's moons melting? Are there people pumping CO2 on Mars? The sun is getting hotter yet sheep follow the crowd but remain asleep.

[ekimsnevets]

Here is my problem. Granted in countries like America, Australia, Canada where a lot of folks have long commutes this may not have been a very successful vehicle in terms of sales. The real missed opportunity was in places like Japan, France, Italy, Holland and the UK where the commutes are short and the price of fuel was much more expensive in the 90's than it is here in America today.

[alyr315]

Dont worry, this car would have been a success here in America. Many people comute much less than 100 miles a day.

[silentbob71420]

thats so cool

[B450R]

good reply, and I agree. I is always about money, and they werent making any of woth this vehicle. No1 like E-cars back then, they looked horrible and were often concidered some bad joke or science experiement. No that "demand" (and it's never been higher than it is now) is up, well companies have a reason to produce these types of cars now. IMO: the Volt is the best looking E-car ever made, without some kind of decent looks, no1 will by (and drive) an ugly bubble. (even at 5+ bucks a gallon)

[alyr315]

The scam behind the volt is that EV1 was able to give over 100 miles on a charge AT THE TIME. And with more advanced batteries now Volt can't give more than 40 miles on electric? Come on!!

[ahset]

your exactly right. I built an electric bike using "cheap" chinese LiFePO4 batteries and I can get 35-40 miles on a charge. I'm doing this in my living room. Why can't GM do this with all their money? Because they won't. Plug-in priuses are getting over 100 mpg. WTF? 40 miles UNTIL a gas engine starts up? Give me a break. The Volt is not an electric car. It still has the gasoline pimp on it's back.

[Ryantube007]

LOL and here is the best part. Automakers have the technology to make a good E-vehicle that can compete with the Internal combustion engine in milage, distance, and speed. Despite the fact that the internal combustion engine has recieved all the attention for the last century. Internal combustion engines started out crude and are complicated, yet countless decades, advancements, and technologies and some no name electric car beats a 300z to the finish line. What if we chose electric?

[ahset]

the 300zx was definately a non-turbo model with 200 bhp. I know because I used to own one. The twin turbo model would definately won but that's besides the point. I completely agree with you. gas motors are 20% efficient. electric motors are 75-85% efficient. Some are crossing the 90plus % mark! Cell phones and laptops are creating a huge demand for better batteries and they are here today. A123 and their nano phosphate cells can discharge so high. 90C rating! Youtube the killacycle to see.

[nambinhvu]

That's not a no name electric car; It's an EV1, which was made and destroyed by GM. Check out the Tesla Roadster and the Tesla Model S. those cars are the EVs of today and are a lot better. Electric vehicles actually existed for a really long time they just had a harder time mass producing them, so they were ruled out by combustion vehicles. I think Tesla will be the company to change that forever.

[Drpepper687]

Several frustrated GM EV1 designers and engineers left for the Tesla program after GM took the EV project away from them.

I think Tesla was actually started by those former-GM engineers, but if that's not the case there are still a ton of them working for Tesla now.

Good for them, Tesla is an amazing company. GM cars were always my favorite, but GM will burn in hell for bowing to big oil and destroying the EV's.

[Ukrainatrain]

i guess people like you will never get it through your head that the EV1 appealed to a very small band of people and were much to expensive to manufacture. This is why it was killed. If there was a way to make money on it, trust me, GM would.

[Drpepper687]

Remind me again, how many thousands of EV1's were picked up by consumers?

[Ukrainatrain]

wrong again. only 800 were leased at heavily subsidized prices. Understandably so because since they were leased at about $400 a month, not many people were willing to get a car with little range since gas was cheap and you can could get a really awesome conventional car for that price. Toyota discontinued their RAV4 EV program for the same reason - they would basically have to pay people to drive them. This was more of an experiment for them than anything.

[Drpepper687]

Wrong again? Sources please, d-bag.

NONE of the people who leased the EV1 complained about the 140mile range, pal. And your cost claims? F A I L.

Go to ev1 (.) org and learn something.

[Ukrainatrain]

rather than resorting to childish namecalling, state YOUR sources. Dont point me to some website that someone made in their basement with MS frontpage.

1. people that were willing to pay 400 bucks a month for a limited range two seater got them mostly for the novelty aspect. The masses did not want it even at this subsidized price.

The batteries are almost cost prohibitive even today. Why do you think Toyota canceled the RAV4? both companies knew they can not make a cheap long range EV.

[Drpepper687]

I expected you to ignore sources, and sorry but, did you state YOUR sources?

"1" (debunked): Look up all the videos of happy owners who were willing to buy out the rest of their lease to keep their cars. Kinda strange to go that far for a "limited range novelty" huh?

140 miles for me is a full week of driving to work, and then some. Who the f*&# is going to drive 70 miles both ways to work a day?? The batteries go further than 140 miles now.

[Drpepper687]

Off topic for a moment:

Lol dude, have you been arguing your point on EV and alt fuel videos on YouTube for years? This video was in my "recommended viewing" list when I logged on earlier this week, and I was shocked to see you still carrying on your propaganda speech MONTHS after I last saw you complaining on another video! That was probably a year ago! Can you saw, "obsessed"?

Get a life, get a girlfriend, get another hobby or something LMAO! Hilarious!

[Drpepper687]

*say*

Lol, before you get immature and start a typo war...

[Ukrainatrain]

i dont have the time or the patience to copy and paste sources for you, you can find them as easily as at the bottom of a wikipedia article. I only feel compelled to comment on this matter when a comment like yours comes to my attention. The people that were willing to buy them were obviously quite wealthy, and it WAS for novelty because nobody is going to spend that much money to save a few bucks on gas. Even a prius makes little sense with TODAY's gas prices.

[Ukrainatrain]

don't get me wrong, im all for ev's, but i hate idiots like the one whose website you showed me who will continue to blame GM for not following a business model that would obviously continue to lose them a shit load of money, but give toyota, honda..a pass. If you are really passionate, stop crying, and buy a volt next year. We will see how many of u will wana to pay 40g for one, a much better package than EV1 was. I fear not many. But hypocrites, crybabies, and conspiracy theorists don't help.

[locutus213]

no they wouldnt. big oil paid them to kill it. they are sucumbing to pressure to go with everyone else and build hybrids. Big deal. Ten years you had a car that people wanted (despite what GM says) that could traval at least 200 miles per charge. There new Hybrid goes 40 miles before a gas engine kicks in. Big deal. Have it go at least the 200 miles like the EV1 and youll get my attention. But they are still bowing down to big oil.

[Ukrainatrain]

youre continuing to follow flawed logic. Take a look how much one EV1 cost to make. There was no way to make it cost effective because in order to get the range and power, price of the battery skyrocketed. It's as simple as that. This is why to this day no company in the world has made a successful EV. If you want to blame GM, you must assume that every company in the world is involved in a conspiracy with big oil.

[Ukrainatrain]

the volt is actually a very smart package. it's not a hybrid, it's an electric car with a range extender. It's a lot smarter than an ev1 because it's range is far more than 200 miles, and most people will not use any gas because one way trip to work is less than 40 miles. This is done to keep cost of battery to a minimum. Rather than speaking from your preconceived hate for GM, do a little bit of research and open your mind.

[locutus213]

OK son--how old are you? If your an adult you either work for GM or a petroleum company. First off I have no "preconcieved hate for GM" I still own a 2 Chevy's. Do research about what? What would you like to know?

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain OK not getting on you or nothing but think about the impact of the EV-1 if it were still in production for the past 14 years. Like most cars these days every year has the model has something more innovative about it, this would be the case for the EV-1 as well. I read an article of generation 2 Ev's getting 120 miles to the charge. volt isn't a smart package or a good buy for the price 35K+ lol. GM's Moving backwards with Volt while others are producing full electric cars.

[Ukrainatrain]

@Tamayo1980 GM lost money on every EV1 because they had to put enough batteries in it to have a practical range, yet price it at an affordable enough price. Perhaps electric cars would be more advanced now but you are suggesting that GM shouldve singlehandedly financed this undertaking - unfortunately an impossibility. Fast forward to today's technology, fully electric cars are still not viable. Do you see many teslas? will you buy a Fisker? Volt type hybrid (small battery) is the answer for now

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain Lol lost money because of batteries? Them why would the oil companies buy revolutionary battery technology? (I bet you have a answer for that too “Insider”) Logically, when GM crushed cars that were on the street and orders waiting to get filled, they lost more money in many fields not just batteries. What about R&D, and testing, marketing (even though it was lowest part of spending) manufacturing and more. Affordable enough price? Lol why did you think they leased them?

[Ukrainatrain]

@Tamayo1980 I will not go into a dissertation for you explaining simple facts you can look up yourself. If you choose to blindly believe propaganda movies, go ahead, but you don't make sense. You say $35K for a sedan with a range of 40 miles before using gas is too expensive, but $500 a month 10 years ago for a coupe generated waiting lists. Guess what, a few hundred people on a waiting list does not justify investing in a multi-billion dollar program. Guess who is holding up the E car. YOU

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain ? If you watched the video “who killed the electric car” you will see that people wanted to buy these things, they waited in lines, picketed even had checks to pay for them and still, GM crushed them so I don’t think pricing was even and issue. It’s not a question of if they would be more advanced today, but how much better it would have made our society. Look at battery technologies 15 years ago compared to today. Look at computer technologies 15years compared to today.

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain . Look at the technologies in the combustion engine 20 years ago compared to today; Not much has changed because combustion engines are only about 26% efficient compared to electric motors powered by batteries 90% efficient. Battery technologies would logically only got better whit time. The proof is all around us. I don’t think it was in impossibility for GM to build these cars and sell them to people who could afford them or willing to pay for one.

[Ukrainatrain]

@Tamayo1980 By the way, I think the next step is electric, but this is how I know you dont know what youre talking about -- combustion engine did not improve? Over the last 20 years cars have gotten much heavier and at the same time more fuel efficient. The success of electric cars hinges on capacity and price of batteries. It will not succeed until an electric car becomes competitive with a gas car price wise, operation cost, range, and power. 2 are not ready yet, guess which ones.

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain lOL your own comments prove you don't know absolutely what you are talking about or what you want for your future. How can you believe that electric is the future if you believe in the volt. A car that you think is 100% electric like the Nissan Leaf. < (thats what you said in one of your posting to me) Electric has been the future GM just sold out that all i am saying. If you don't know the Volt does use gas, this makes it a hybrid not a true 0 emissions vehicle or a true electric.

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain So if combustion engines did not improve over the last 20 years what did? the paint job? the frame? you said it yourself "cars have gotten much heavier and at the same time more fuel efficient" why do you think the engines are able to hall a heavier vehicle around while burning less fuel? Wait i can guess? is it because Combustion engines have been improving over the past 20 years during production, testing, and research and development of better performing engines

[Ukrainatrain]

@Tamayo1980 Buddy, are you on drugs? combustion engines DID improve. That's the argument I just made, to contradict YOUR statement.. Anyway, you are either too stubborn or too dumb. The volt does not use any gas until the battery is depleted (at which point a gas generator starts recharging the battery) This makes long trips possible, something that neither tesla nor the leaf can do. That way that's the only car you need - for road trips, as well as all electric commuting to work and back.

[RechargeableLithium]

@Ukrainatrain Actually no. The Volt is a series/parallel hybrid - like the Prius with an additional clutch. The gas engine directly drives the wheels at higher speeds, and when the battery is run-down into the 'charge sustaining' mode. Regardless of their deceptive advertising, the Volt is a plug-in hybrid, nothing more or less. It's not an 'electric car.'

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain . People will buy 70K escalade or 100k SLR and hummers. The Tesla roadster is a super car priced @ 100K, but they also plan on a production model for the year 2011-12ish; called the model s prices at approx 50K but they only plan to produce 20k cars. Tesla roadster is full electric super car than can get 220+ to a charge. The technology works, but it’s up to the big corporations to start being more socially and morally responsible. Ohh No I would not buy a VOLT.

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain I would rather spend the money on true electric vehicle. I would rather have a regular gas car and a fully electric vehicle than a combination of both. Nothing wrong with the volt other than it’s a step backwards and still expensive @ 35K

[Ukrainatrain]

@Tamayo1980 And that's precisely what EV1 owners had to do. Lease a limited range commuter two seater for $500 A MONTH!! Unfortunately, you are part of a small niche market willing to do this. Most people are not willing to pay two insurance premiums and buy two cars, they want a combination of fuel efficiency and range for long trips. This is why cars like Volt and Leaf which ARE fully electric, but give you the peace of mind of a range extender - actually viable. What do you not understand?

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain yeah and that was 14 going on 15 years ago. A small niche? lol i just buy what the system makes me and so do you. All i am saying is that the Volt is crap and that GM still wants us to us gas in our vehicles proves that they really don't wanna innovate, they just wanna follow Toyota. Ahh VOLT is Not 100% electric that's a fact. Nissan Leaf is. Ohh and by the way, you don't pay too premiums for owing 2 cars, you act get a bigger discounts for owning 2 vehicles.

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain I pay $110 For 2 vehicles under full coverage. a 98 4runner and a 2008 Maxima. I buy my vehicles out right so i can save money. And i plan on selling my Maxima so i can put a deposit down on the Tesla model s 100% electric. If a small American Company can mass manufacture a 100% electric sedan why can't GM? ohh wait they did 15 years ago. I compare your statements to the one the politician use as to why we (America) have not gone back to the moon yet "its not safe" lol

[Tamayo1980]

@Ukrainatrain Dude, the oil companies just wanna keep a monopoly on the transportation industries and they need the help of big car manufactures and the government. They ( oil company) keep the greedy (people in charge that make and set policies) people rich with oil money while the oil companies get what they want. yes i am A small Niche that wanna be free and independent of all profit hungry people, a small niche that wants to stop paying for gas that never gets better but prices keeps rising

[locutus213]

"people like you" Cmon. The EV1 appealed to a small band of people because it was only offered to a small band of people. And there was a battery design that was about as expensive as todays hybrid batteries but when GM bought intrest in that company--a controlling intrest- that technology was sold. To an oil company. So of course that battery along with its price dissapeared. ALL EV1 owners wanted to buy their cars. How many people can say that about the cars they drive now? That says Demand.

[Ukrainatrain]

yea ok show me one solid source about these miracle batteries.

1. How did u expect GM to fund a nationwide program when they were losing money on every car? 2. If such a battery existed, that would put gm at the top of the world as a car company, the price of this technology would be so high, an oil company would invest in it, rather than buy and suppress it. Just think logically.

[locutus213]

Who said GM was losing money on every car? GM? And I do :think logically" Mr. Spock. Oh and--yea ok show me one solid source about these miracle batteries-- Watch the movie "who killed the electric car" for starters

[Ukrainatrain]

If GM had a way to NOT lose money on EV1, today they would have a way to NOT lose on the Volt which they also plan to subsidize because of, again, COST OF BAAATERIES. GM supplier that has developed the latest battery technology would manufacture batteries for other car makers. Do you see anyone else take a crack at it? Tesla wouldnt cost $120K.

My dog is a more reliable source than Moore. Any idiot knows you have to take his movies with a grain of salt. Dont give me shit that some1 spoonfed u

[JIMFoamy1]

that wasn't michael moore. not my battle, i'm just sayin

[Ukrainatrain]

You're right, it was Jessie Deeter. I was thinking about Roger and Me...

[Ukrainatrain]

you obviously dont have any concept of the way that car worked. Electric motors have huge amounts of torgue. This is why this drag race is possible, as well as the electric version of the arial atom. The trick is to have enough energy on board to keep going a few hundred miles. That's where the gas engine is easy and cheap, and batteries are extremely expensive.

[NickyRamone1234]

WOW I WANT THE EV!!

[bd189]

if that clip wouldn't get that model to sell they sure know something we don't.

[misturchips]

The problem wasn't a lack of interest / sales from the public, but safety standards. They all could be destroyed due to some tricky legalease. Basically, you couldn't 'own' one - they were only leased. Why? GM would've had to stock spare parts for 10 years. That's quite an expense, especially if there was some design flaw and they needed to keep rebuilding controllers etc. It's OK, though - much was learned from the program, and the 'volt' concept shares some of this knowledge.

[cygnusixion]

I see what you are saying but GM only produced 1115 of these and electric motors are more reliable than ICE, GM could have made more than enough spare parts to last 10 years and the cost would have been less that the cost to legally fight against CARB and the cost to retrieve and crush these cars. GM wanted these thing off the streets because something or someone told them too do so. Not to be vular but in this case GM was the prostitute and big oil was the pimp!

[paulpita07]

ur a dumbass...i hate all u ignorant fucks that talk about this. u expected GM to continue to throw money down the toilet. They werent making money on the car! If they wanted to make money they would be charing 50k and who is going to pay that much money for a 2 seater that will get u maaaybe to work and back? they proved that they could do it and then u still ride their ass...every1 thinks it is so easy, than go build an electic car.

[rickcain2320]

@misturchips

GM took 2 billion dollars of research money from the Clinton Administration to make the EV-1. It essentially was a free car to their spreadsheets.

[Tamayo1980]

@bd189 They (GM And big oil) knew their time was at an end and profits would disappear with this cars introduction to the world. But they also knew that we (Americans) would keep buying oil if it were cheap and they knew if government gave more incentives to buy Hummers, F2000, excursion, suburban, and denali, because SUV are "big and safe" Americans would jump on it like fly's on shit. Look at the film again; they saw the end of their world with gas no longer being a monopoly.