Blast From the Past: A look back at the EV1

A decade ago GM's electric car, the EV1, was a flop in the marketplace. But with gas over four dollars a gallon it would probably attract a lot more attention today.

Back when it was launched, the EV1 was revolutionary. It had a host of innovative features like regenerative braking and light-weight construction. But none of that could stop GM from pulling the plug on the program just a few years ago.

Take a look at this GM corporate video from the Autoline archives which highlights many of the EV1's features and shows how relevant the car is today.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• John
• McElroy
• Autoline
• cars
• car
• auto
• autos
• GM
• GeneralMotors
• electric
• battery
• EV1
• EV-1

[j101saar]

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

[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.

[mubd1234]

"Corrosion resistant non-metal exterior panels"

You mean plastic exterior panels?

[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.

[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!

[14omega28ok]

@j101saar Look up Tesla! Man their cars are awesome

[wrotedog]

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

[WARRIOR1125]

@j101saar friggin gas companies man 

[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 !