Blast From the Past: A look back at the EV1

[mubd1234]

"Corrosion resistant non-metal exterior panels"

You mean plastic exterior panels?

[spyder64]

Yes, they should have kept it and refined it over time like Toyota did with the Prius. I don't think the Volt is going to make it. It's too expensive and has too many compromises considering what the competition offers today.

[TheWolfHowling]

Yes, it was not design to complete with ICE vehicles, until it became popular there was a waiting list of 8000 people, So GM killed it. And now GM is depending on the electric vehicles to save their ass. So how'd that work out for you, you bastards

[ChrisLuxembourg]

3:35  ...that are to much features for the oil industry!

[TheSeattleTexan]

Anyone else wondering what the EV-1 could do with today's battery technology and electronics?

[cg8888]

Truly amazing how far ahead of it's time this car was. As they listed off all the technologies the EV1 had, I was thinking in the back of my mind how many hybrids or EVs have these same technologies today. The Nissan Leaf comes to mind right away - even down to it's pedestrian alert system. Too bad GM killed it before realizing it's mistake and trying again with the Volt.

[WDPlumbing]

It's amazing how much nicer the chevy volt is when compared to this funny looking car.

[marybuggy1]

okay you wanna know who killed the electric car money,they seen the money oil and gas could bring goodbye electric and this car was a serious threat but you have people all over the world on youtube makeing electric cars from gasoline and is loving it,so now they are trying to pass the law about you cant make your own electric car lol soon everyone will make one chevy volt piece or shit it has a gas motor and only get 40 miles electric come on!!!!

[marybuggy1]

so it was made from a saturn sc2 just smaller okay when i make mines it goin to be a sc2

[wrotedog]

This car was a serious threat.

[toyotaprius79]

@wrotedog A threat? How much of a fecking threat it would be if GM went bankrupt with out it?

[wrotedog]

@toyotaprius79 By the way they almost went bankrupt without it, maybe they should have kept it.

[krayziesensei]

"The car of the future...today." No shit!!!! A lot of the design of this car was put into the Volt. The way the batteries are configured (in the t shape). Even the automatic honk at under 25 mph!!! Why did it take GM so long to reintroduce this "new" tech?

[tassoss1]

Thats the future! great car I hate SUVs they are like big usless Traktors

[mastifiorulamitongla]

BRING BACK THE EV1!!!

[elsinceroven]

un sueño perdido, que mas se podia pedir con un vehiculo como este

[Laurenxorz]

i was wondering, i know EVs are zero emission, but when the cars get old and you can't really use them anymore, doesn't the battery disposal cause just as much harm to the earth ? i mean imagine if everyone drove one... so many batteries. i dont think any vehicle humans will ever design will be 100% good for the earth. unless it runs on carbon monoxide/methane etc and spits out pure oxygen.

[stedavid13]

@Laurenxorz

I doubt you'd be able to throw these batteries out, even after their usable life in the car they'd still have plenty of capacity for energy storage, EVEN AFTER THAT you'd still have valuable minerals that would be recycled to make new batteries. You'd have to go out of your way to have these wind up in a landfill, their worth plenty of money no matter what stage of use it's at.

[AlxeMsatain]

@autolinedetroit it was NOT a flop GM did not want to sell these, that is why it was only leased, that is why they were not marketed verry well

[ermollejuo]

Imagine, if this car still exist , you only had to update the battery pack , probably for a much smaller lighter and and longer range.....

[rickcain2320]

Are most yahoo commenters simply retarded?

[granddad2002]

State of the art for 1995 was pretty interesting. Until one of these designs can surpass what is available in the current market place; electricity is a novelty for autos and did not survive the 1920s. But the potential for electric vehicles is far greater than ICE(gas burners). It is easier to move electric current than chemical fuel... and there are more ways to make electricity than making 9 billion gallons of our favorite gasolines?

[choidj]

I'm in support of the electric car, but they need to make them less ugly. I mean really, can't we make them look like normal cars?

[JBK6650]

yeah they fucked up o got a buick and it kicks ass

[Z34teen]

Would I be wrong in thinking the EV1 was based on the Saturn Z-body platform along with the SC, SL, and SW? It would explain a lot.

[JFeng299]

T.T, i want one!!!!!

[jdonnaway]

Define a flop. If you sold out all production to customers who had to submit a resume and financial statement in order to apply for the privilege of leasing a car that they would have no option to buy, no guarantee of delivery, and not even an 'official' reservation on a waiting list that GM denied the existence for a decade, it seems rather less like a flop than a sacrificial lamb...

[Lawrence818]

@jdonnaway Yeah your exactly right! My dads partner got one and told me the same head ache just to get one! They ended up recalling the vehicle an they didn't give him the chance to buy one?! lol He also owned a Viper by the way. All those stupid GM managers should give back there pensions or some thing for messing it up for everyone. I would have loved to buy and American Prius!

[RickMartin7]

@jdonnaway It wasn't a flop. Every one that they made was sold.

[imurc]

@RickMartin7

Was leased not sold. And just like every product there was a select few who want it. But it doesn't justify the cost of producing them.

[jdichter]

i still hate GM for this. Great marketing. "It's like a saturn but it's heavier." I didn't realize that's a selling feature. F***ing assholes...

[ff8123]

0-60 in less than 9 seconds??? That was fast back then!

[ff8123]

Better range than Nissan Leaf and Chevy volt combined.

[zunzl1]

Oil is an important raw material for medicine and plastic. We should protect this raw material. The electric car is the only correct way!

[Xbow361]

this video was so boring i fell asleep watching it but other then that it looked like this car was neat

[5913sam]

These were great cars why WHY did they destroy them there was a demand for them.

[AshtonPhoto]

I'm with you Bert.

Why would you when there are so many good cars on the market?

[Bert9327]

It's not like they just stopped making them. They DESTROYED them. You can't even find a USED one even if you wanted. I'll never buy a GM car. EVER.

[masterlee123]

GM, Hahaahhaahahaaha...hahaaahhaah­a....haaahhaahaal NISSAN LEAF...HAAHaahhaaa Toyota got one to hahhaaahaa WoW that good. GM you funny hahaahaa......

[johnrico26]

For its day this car is was on point. Lead Acid batteries clearly are nowhere near ideal. Very Heavy for the amount power you can get from them. On a positive note they are much less expensive than Lithium Poly. I am very excited about this new generation of EV's rolling out. I plan to purchase a Nissan Leaf.

[doosierty]

Seriously, this car is still better than the electrics today and can you imagine where it would be today after years of refinement and updates and new technology based on it?

[j101saar]

It seems to offer more than the I-Miev, Leaf and Volt, and here we are in 2010. Oh dear.

[brian9827]

@j101saar its cause they dont want to get sued out if their own company for trying to make the gas company to become obsolete, so they make an "good milage" 100% electric car [i-miev and Leaf] , or they make a "okay on electric milage" plug in car [Volt]

[tellucas]

GM should have never killed this car off it should have remained as a niche vehicle since the technologies introduced introduced in the EV1 could later be used across the rest of GM's vehicle line. Think of where this car would be today after 10 years of refinement. Maybe it would look like the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky but with a 200 mile range !

[WARRIOR1125]

@j101saar friggin gas companies man

[14omega28ok]

@j101saar Look up Tesla! Man their cars are awesome

[darkmaster388]

@j101saar The difference is the Leaf and Volt were subsidized by Goverments. They were not supported by a growing market.

People do not want electric cars because of multiple reasons, Lithium ion batteries are dangerous and are tough to monitor (Source: Delphi / GM) and lithium ion batteries cause so much dangerous pollution that a town in japan (or some asian country) is officially a toxic waste dump.

EV cars just off-set the so-called pollution to powerplants and other countries.

[Tamayo1980]

And for all the people who say " what about charging or what if i runs out of charge"? ahhhhhh there weren't gas stations everywhere when gas cars became popular. And that "electric cars will over load power grids" lol, Most cars would be charging @ night, so home charging should not be a big problem Electricity is the universal currency of energy so why not? build charging stations at say colleges, Walmart, malls and shopping centers with a pay to charge option? i mean its best option to gas

[gtgidemgreen]

the ev-1 was not a flop, they had more on a waiting list than they could make. GM made the ads for it scary and purposely only produced 4 a day. GM hated selling the car because it didn't have much of any expensive repairs. They only made the car to prove the law wasn't possible, they didn't want it to be a success so they sued the law and then stole every single car and crushed them. It was GMs best car ever made and for that reason it lasts long so you don't need to buy a new one every 5 years

[whtswrngwthupeople]

@gtgidemgreen why the hell would GM spend millions and millions developing this car to then destory it?? that doesnt make any sense. The reason why the electric car is dead is because the powers that be want their slaves dependent on oil so they can be controled. This is why the Interstate system was designed by the pentagon so communites would be spread aparts and everyone would be dependent on oil and then the government surpresses any alternitives to oil so they can collect GAS TAXES!

[cougarsstudios]

Well this was a horrible idea from the start. A car with low maintence, Uses no gasoline, And no emissions because its fully electric. What were those idiots thinking? Hummer is the way of the future people!

[Tamayo1980]

@cougarsstudios lol, i know people would be scooping then up now if ppl really wanted to protest Bitch Please (BP) and make them go bankrupt for killing the gulf and endangering our planet. imagine if that car was still in production for the past 14 years it could have done so much good. But why worry about how much good a car can do for us, as Americans we love giving away money we work hard for LOL Wish i had an EV-1 as a second car over any Hybrid.

[darkmew5]

Greedy gas station companies!!!

[LunaraApple]

Bring the EV1 back, dammit!

[masterlee123]

@LunaraApple Relax Relax the Nissan Leaf its on it way.  GM must be bitting them self in the ass by now. And by the way EV1 looks out of date.

[Tamayo1980]

@masterlee123 yeah that was 14years ago lol

[you2the]

dumbass, we need that car

[prisonson]

evil oil companies

[grndiesel]

I want to thank you and everyone else on YouTube for posting file footage of the EV1/Impact program by GM. Its a piece of automotive history that must not be forgotten

[MrBugbear]

the ev1 was never sold.... only leesed

[angurisloud]

@MrBugbear leased.... not leesed....

[TimKGrimes]

EV1 - proof that G.M. has no interest in its customers.

Doom on you, GM.

[rezn66]

The movie "who killed the electric car?" seriously made me cry. It's sad how money can actually repress innovations in engineering.

[anonymityismyname]

It's not only sad how money can repress innovation, it's sad how capitalism as a whole can hurt us as a nation and people.

Honestly after watching "who killed the electric car" I can honestly say I will never ever buy a GM vehicle ever again based off the principle of what GM did.

GM you not only failed the envirornment, you failed America and it's people all for money.

Thanks...

[Tamayo1980]

@anonymityismyname YUP that how i decided Not to buy any American Vehicle ESP GM. They could have changed the world with the EV-1 but they sold out. Thats a sad day for capitalism and Democracy. Isn't the American public a major share holder of GM now anyways? Lets see how much we change or way in order to change our futures.

[AllCarsAllTheTime2]

@rezn66 well man if you threaten a big wigs pockets they will bitch and whine until they get their way. Its sad. Every major company and even our government is ran by nothing more than spoiled children

[gtgidemgreen]

@rezn66 Agreed

[samoht1977]

@rezn66 I cried too, believe it or not...

[imurc]

@rezn66

Its not really sad at all there was nearly NO DEMAND for the car, it was a car that was ahead of its time. It has most of the same features as the 01-03 Prius, in the 90's the first gen Prius wasn't profitable for Toyota.  It wasn't until 2004+ when the Prius starting selling well. Therefore, its supply and demand, why waste the money making a car no one will but and have the pleasure of using its bad for business and in turn bad for the business employees

[rezn66]

@imurc Ok obviously you never watched the movie I was talking about.... GM is a VERY corrupt corporation. And of course the Government likes to back corrupt shit.

This car was about being REVOLUTIONARY, even if there was no demand, which has been stuck down time and time again the supply line was CRAP because they were building each car by hand. Had they made a manufacturing line the price would have come down and been more attractive to buyers. So STFU.

[imurc]

@rezn66

Very nice to see people instantly assume things, and also get very defensive. Yes I did see the movie, and I also so a movie disproving nearly everything thing they said, both movies have some degree of truth. Who said it wasn't revolutionary? No one wanted the hassle of an electric car in the 90s, when the general consumer had access to cheap gas, why does it matter. I am in the automotive industry I know what I am talking about here. Why waste money on something no one wants.

[rezn66]

@imurc EXACTLY! So you're one of the corrupt mother fuckers who thinks gasoline is the best thing that has happened to energy production since coal?

[imurc]

@rezn66

I have to say this comment, made my laugh. Whats wrong with gasoline? Fossil fuels are still used to produce most electric used today. Coal also is one of the major things used to power electrical things. And the environmental effect of making a electric car is FAR worse then the use of a standard gas car. If there was a better idea, I'd like to hear it. Whats your idea for a renewable resources? Non efficient solar that will cost families MORE in the cost of electric.

[deedundone]

@imurc ??? WTH? Gasoline burns producing Carbon which pollutes every single place the vehicle is used. Yes, Coal is used to produce power, but so is Nuclear, Wind, Solar, Hydroelectric, Geothermal, and so on. The environmental effect of making an electric car? All vehicles damage the earth in their creation, but with an electric car you see the damage taking place farther away from the city streets in which the car is driven! And non efficient solar? Solar panels could be installed anywhere???

[imurc]

@deedundone Any idea how many batteries and toxic chemicals are in a electric car vs a standard car? Solar panels are too expensive and presently not worth doing. Hydroelectric/geothermal has very limited local uses, and is very cost prohibitive. But hey if people want a electric car, go for it, its a free country, if people think its better, they're wrong. As far as cars to save money, Diesel cars are the way to go.

[vambreace]

@imurc i agree with you in some points. so you know why solar panels are inefficient. because the government will not let further development, electric cars are expensive because they will not let us get this technology so easy, you buy a car, you buy electric appliances. tv's stereos phones air conditioners heaters ETC ETC. and you have to work a life for keep ride your car see your favorite program hear you favorite music. do you call this freedom!? is a soft cage soft or not still is a cage

[deedundone]

@imurc Obviously you think GM was selling the car, so really, do not have an opinion when a simple look up will show you that they leased them. only able to lease 800 units in face of production costs of US$1 billion over four years, the company closed the program because it was seen as an unprofitable niche market, and not needed especially when California lifted its CARB regulations. the argument here, is not profitably, it is, How does a Car company take a car away and crush it. Correct? Yes?

[imurc]

@deedundone you didn't read my post, I already knew they were leased. And as far as crushing it, the need to be crushed, its a huge liability for the company that could cost them WAY more, with frivolous lawsuits... Is it right, no! But the people who sue people for things like that are wrong, NOT GM. The are protecting themselves. I own a business and would do the same thing.

[vambreace]

@imurc you will do the same if you only think in you and the thing that matter you, because that we are where we are today, destroying our planet, intoxicating air rivers and sea ,killing animals, extracting petroleum ETC ETC. ok i understand is cool keep your mansion maybe your roll Royce you yacht, i know all that's things are cool. but remember this is our planet our home if we destroy it where we live!?.

[Laurenxorz]

@rezn66 i actually cried too , especially when they showed the pictures of the crushed cars to people.

[kiiiro]

@rezn66money or the lack there of, does a lot to shape our world. EV-1 got about 70 miles on a charge...why does the "new and improved" Volt get only 40(advertised)?? Answer, the car execs and the oil execs want us to burn gasoline, period.

[kiiiro]

I say drive'em straight from the assembly line to the crusher, save some time.

[WaltGe]

The EV1 cost GM more to produce and maintain than what customers paid to lease the car. Like any other business, GM needed to make money. While the EV1 lasted, customers got a fantastic deal on a great car. For one, I'd like to see more electric cars on the road, but apartment dwellers would have trouble utilizing this car b/c of the need for a charger.

[JakeCastle60163]

Can you imagine an EV1 on L-Ion batteries ? Or a future gen Zinc Ion battery?

[XXRichieXXrichXX]

the car is a pos like all other EVs these cars have to be charged for hours on end and have no range

[electro5]

So General Morons Took all the cars back and trashed them because the gas prices would fall? FUCKING IDIOTS! That was the best car ever, that was the future, FUCK GAS!!!!

[gabbogabbo]

They must have known that the big oil giants would have a problem with this kind of car, but there marketing of this car was terrible.

I love watching Who killed the electric car movie just for fun. Nice little car thou! Stupid GM.

[kittycatback]

General Motors = General Morons

[shechshire]

I call them "the goon squad" lol

[iGaRaai90]

@kittycatback Im sure a branch of engineers at gm was dismayed at the EV1's diminish, but I suspect gm had threatening influence from other companies to remove the EV1

[watchmyywhipp]

@kittycatback LMAO

[deserteagle1010]

@kittycatback it's probably the most true and accurate true I ever found on a Youtube comment :))

[barsy07]

@kittycatback your a retard, GM wasn't the reason it was killed off it was the governments regulations that made it impossible and then required them to destroy the ones that had been made.

[gab1971]

@kittycatback Or Gay Morons xD

[mariohead101]

@kittycatback a moron to not sell it

[LouieWasHere66]

If GM would of kept this car and actually sold it they would've been way ahead of game, would of been at ev4 by now and with the new LiPo batteys if would of had well over the 300 mile range and with the new nano lipo battery that just developed 2 months ago it would of put it over 500 mile range.

but still don't knock it because it didn't fit your needs it was a 2 seater like the Fiero, mk2,RX7 and so on.

[h2opower]

It would be nice of them to make an EV2. I never seen the inside of this car or ever seen one in person due to military sending me over sea's a the time. It sure is a nice car just wish GM would get it's head out of it's ass and buck the system a lot of my friends died for (oil).

[klovesm316]

they made an ev1 generation 2 then recalled it the same time. theres a reason my family or me have never ever gone down the gm road.

[mrivera1]

If I could pick any place and time to go back to, it would have to be the US in the '90s. So many advancements and so many new ideas. It is a shame that we threw it all away for lesser priorities.

[AnalMart]

The EV1 was a damn nice car and way ahead of its time.

The $33k price, limited seating, limited range, and cheap gas of the era are what killed it. Not some nefarious conspiracy.

Still GM should have stuck with it just based on the loyalty of EV1 owners instead of being shortsighted and milking the SUV cash cow.

[roykaz]

GM had the golden graal of the future cars.

They had destroyed it!!!

Can you believe it?

Yes you can. Answer: "Petrol dollars".

Now they are in agony. And invented the Volt

an only 40 miles electric car!!! Tesla makes it to 420 miles!!! Wake up GM. THAAAAAA

[abcdefghiklmnop12345]

Im sorry autolinedetroit, the ev1 was not a flop in the market place, GM caused the flop themselves. But good try.

Awesome car though

[jamesm00769]

ev1 was cool gm fucked up hopefully they won't do the same thing with the volt

[rnel2791]

wow thats pretty amazing that was 1996, now gm realizes it has to make it again in 2010 as the chevy volt. they should have stuck with it even though gas was around 90 cents a gallon back then.

[min47pgl]

That last line says it all.

"The EV1 was not designed to compete with the combustion engine cars of today, but to complement them."

[sockosockosocko]

how the description could call this car a "flop" is beyond me. it was never given a chance.

[zacattack8]

Screw GM the Volt is shit it can only go 40 miles per charge. if they kept this awesome car on the market , and made a good effort to advertise it, the would have made so much money. but they don't want to dissapoint the oil companies.

[dal3fan88]

the car never really runs off of the gas engine. once you go over 40 miles the engine turns on and recharges the battery so your always running off the electric engine. but honestly the average person drives about 29-60 miles per day, but people do that in several trips. so when your done with the car for the time you charge it until you get back.

[min47pgl]

But it is so less efficient to run loads of little engines that one big Power Plant.

[adams98gtp]

I love how you only ever see these cars active in california, bring it up to canada in -36.. good luck.

[trakkaton]

If that's the car of the future that means that our rulers don't want a furture.

[informedskeptic]

Regarding the car's range at 72 degrees (ideal). What's the range at 0 degrees? (a lot less). Hence my impractical claim. This range was achieved at shortening the batteries life (why the volt is limited to 40 miles). Charge times would not have improved in the interim unless you have installed a 220 or greater circuit in your home and GM had the hardware to handle it as well. I'm not going to rent a car just to visit relatives a mere 40 miles away for Christmas. If GM survives, buy a Volt.

[sockosockosocko]

ev1 generation TWO got 120 miles range. i just read a detailed account of an ev1 performing incredibly tackling hills with heater blaring and outrunning muscle cars on on-ramps etc. this killing the electric car is an illustration of capitalism gone bad

[trakkaton]

You don't know what you are talking about. Range NEVER was an issue except for uninformed propagandists.

If you want to almost double the range, you simply double the batteries. They could have achieved a 200 miles range easily, but unlike you they were RATIONAL, that is: Relying upon DATA to make a decision that is RATIONAL.

[94134]

it was not a flop in the market place, GM just made people think it was. There was a huge waiting list for this shit, i wouldve bought it man.

[TheEVtruth]

Like the waiting lists for Tesla and others?

[ernnst14]

i want one :[

and ugh, its so advanced for its time.

think of how long the range would be now,

and how short the charge would be.

it would probably be BETTER than a gasoline car.

[informedskeptic]

Echo Odziz comment. Too bad the limited range of the car and a very limited battery life wouldn't make it practical. This is where the Volt is a much better idea. Instead of having a car capable of limited travel, you can have the best of both worlds and a battery designed to last.

[TomtenT]

The range issue is going to be ranted forever.

It's a consequence of the legacy from the fossile fuel era: noone craves 1000 mile ranges of an ICE ...

Since the REAL LIFE need for range was actually met by the EV-1 as it came (lead batteries and all) for 80 % of the population, it is not fair to claim it to be impractical because of it's range.

> The limited luggage space and number of passengers might justify the term impractical though.

Still an awesome piece of engineering craftmanship !

[jareza]

Jesus... this WAS THE CAR....

Regenerative brake system?? wow....

KEY LESS OPERATION!?

the charger system itself was a piece of wonder!

to bad GM killed it =(

[Sayakawill]

The car of the future............ to die

[Romiman1]

I want one too. Now!

[nsxjl]

You scum bags GM, i was so excited when i seen this car in the flesh a the Epcot centre early 90s florda. Then you shelve it shame on you!!! How much did the oil rich companys pay to shelve it.

[oldtilter]

They should petition GM to bring this car back!!

[ksolarte]

They will be back!!!

when only 15 to 20% of the actual population of the world still alive!... be alert!

[Odziz]

Nice piece of EV nostalgia.