This streamlined, futuristic little hatchback is nothing short of genesis for GM’s present-day all-electric revolution. The practical Chevy Bolt EUV, the luxurious Cadillac Lyriq, the ground-pounding GMC Hummer EV – each owes a debt to the two-door you see here. This is the first mass-produced electric vehicle by a major automaker of the modern era, and it was decades ahead of its time. This is the GM EV1.
Pictured here on display at the recently reopened Petersen Automotive Museum, this particular example is one of just a handful of GM EV1 models still in existence – surprising, considering its importance.
The origin of the GM EV1 dates back to 1990 with the debut of the all-electric Impact concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Developed by EV company AeroVironment, which leveraged lessons learned during GM’s run in the 1987 World Solar Challenge, the Impact generated a huge response, and plans for a production version were quickly put into place.
Although GM had dabbled in all-electric drivetrains before (the earliest examples date back to 1912, with follow-up efforts in the ‘60s and ‘70s thanks to models like the Electrovair and Electrovette), the new production-ready Impact would be different. Rather than converting an existing ICE-powered vehicle to electric power, the new EV would be designed from the ground up for electric propulsion, leveraging the latest technology. By the late ‘90s, the GM had released its new all-electric vehicle – the GM EV1.
Interestingly, customers couldn’t buy the new GM EV1, as it was only offered via lease, and only to customers in Southern California and Arizona. The first units produced were allocated to high-profile individuals like celebrities and politicians, each of which was deemed a participant in “real-world engineering evaluation.”
Specs for the first-generation GM EV1 included a 16.5-kWh lead-acid battery providing upwards of 60 miles of range. Output was derived from a three-phase alternating current induction motor driving the front wheels with 137 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque. Top speed was electronically limited at 80 mph.
General Motors later released a second generation with a new nickel metal hydride battery, lower overall weight, and lower production costs. Range was boosted to 100 miles.
While futuristic and technologically advanced, the GM EV1 was eventually discontinued, and production was halted in 1999. In 2003, GM officially canceled the EV1 program, stating that the vehicles were unprofitable, and that due to the high costs of maintenance and service infrastructure, all existing units would be returned to GM. In total, 1,117 examples of the GM EV1 were built during its short lifespan.
Despite the protests of a legion of drivers and passionate fans, the majority of GM EV1s were subsequently dismantled. The few remaining examples (rough estimates put it at about 40) were either donated to educational institutions and museums, or otherwise lost.
Whatever the reason for its discontinuation, there’s no doubt that the GM EV1 was a pivotal moment for General Motors. Now, as the automaker prepares to launch 30 new EV models by 2025, the GM EV1 continues to serve as a reminder of lessons (hopefully) learned.
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Comments
Still a better looking car than the bolt
First major effort for annnnnny modern EV. Period.
I bet they wish they’d have kept working on it and would have had an EV to compete with Tesla and Nissan back about ten years ago.
Watch “who killed the electric car” on Netflix. Great documentary on the EV1!
Claims to be ground up all new. That car looks an awful lot like a saturn in many aspects. A car that also came out around the same time.
It has the same styling cues as a Saturn or an Oldsmobile of that era. Obviously though, aerodynamics were the real priority.
Ev1 and Saturn should had been Olds.
There are definitely Saturn parts bin components in the EV-1. I recognize air grilles and other components in the interior that are the same as parts that were in a girl friend’s Saturn SL2. There’s no point in re-engineering mundane parts, especially for a trial run product. The exterior styling cues are decidedly mid 1990s Saturn.
I had he opportunity to drive a EV1 back in the day. I was very impressed with how quiet it ran and the instant torque available. I understand GM never did sell any of these cars, only lease was available. Fun car!
I actually had a chance to sit in one at the Chicago auto show and from therei i was always a big supporter of gms ev1 cars ! these cars were very well built and the range would have been enough for the average driver ! now the few that remain you cant put a price tag on them
GM certainly hasn’t progressed much in the product naming department since the 1990s, at least not in the realm of electric vehicles. I recall when the Impact concept was rolled out that Auto Week magazine had great fun joking about the name. “It was a crash development program!” Bolt and Volt are too abstract. I drive a Bolt, and people are always getting confused about the name. I know it is supposed to be lightning bolt, but it begs the joke, only a nut drives a Bolt, for example. I kind of like Zap because it is kind of edgy and has a nice ring. We’ll probably get a name like Chevy Shock for the next Ultium based EV. And speaking of Ultium, that sounds like a name for a pharmaceutical.
It wasn’t an EV, but recall the trademark fight over the Baretta having the same name as the handgun? I believe it was Motor Trend quipped that of course the car and the gun might be confused because both might bounce wildly when tossed in a corner.
Zap would actually be worse than Bolt or Volt. It makes it sound like a cheap Zip car or something.
Something that is not well known is that not all units of EV-1 produced were strictly battery-electric. Citing Wikipedia, there were a few probably close to one-offs of EV-1 which included Diesel parallel hybrid, gas turbine series hybrid, fuel cell-electric and even a CNG fueled ICE engine.
I was surprised and excited to see an EV1 at the in the JiaDing district of ShangHai in the ShangHai Auto Museum.
He made several but CEO Rick Waggoner’s biggest blunder was scrapping the EV-1 program. GM had the first EV but stepped aside and allowed Tesla to become the world leader with no competition. GM management has no long term product vision so is the leader in almost nothing.