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Take a Ride in the Brilliant EV1

GM’s EV1 is the main 'protagonist' of one of the saddest stories in the history of the automotive industry. It was heralded as the first commercially viable and mass-marketed electric vehicle in history, only for GM to recall and then scrap each and every one of the 2234 cars made between 1997 and 1999 - the ones they could not destroy were disabled and are no longer functional. We have managed to find a few videos of people driving around and enjoying their EV1s, while already knowing that their lease-only cars were headed for the crusher.
EV1 1 photo
Photo: oldcarbrochures.com
GM cited many reasons for doing what they did, but the real motive behind their scrapping of the EV1 will forever remain a mystery, despite numerous credible conspiracy theories floating around. The EV1 was powered by a 137 hp / 150 NM (110 lb-ft) electric motor which drew its power, first from a 16.5 kWh lead-acid battery pack, which provided a range of just under 100 km (62 miles). Then, in 1998, the battery packs were upgraded with a Panasonic-sourced lead-battery pack which boosted the car’s range considerably, to around 160 km (100 miles). However, the car had been first envisioned to draw juice from a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack, which wasn’t available when the car was first manufactured, but these 26.4 kWh battery packs only became available near the end of the car’s production life in 1999 - it also reduced the car’s weight from around 1,400 kg (3050 lbs) to 1,319 kg (2,900 lbs), while slightly increasing charge times.

Performance-wise, the car could sprint from 0-100 km/h in eight seconds dead, and reached a top speed limited to 130 km/h (80 mph), however, without the limiter and thanks to its very aerodynamic shape and low drag coeficient of 0.19, it could have easily reached the 200 km/h (125 mph), we say. Also, thanks to the instant power delivery, it was actually described as fun to drive by its owners. Factor in the low number of moving parts, and the considerably less complicated construction and operation, when compared to conventionally powered cars, and the EV1 made (and still makes) a lot of sense, so we're sad that the industry was set back by at least 10 years due to GM's questionable decisions.

A quick reminder of what the EV1 was about and what it meant

A short video featuring exterior and driving shots
A longer drive of the EV1, one week before it was crushed
Good quality driving video. EV1 manages to achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.67 seconds
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