General Motors EV1

General Motors EV1
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	1996–1999
Model years	1997 (Gen I): 660 units 1999 (Gen II): 457 units
Assembly	United States: Lansing, Michigan (Lansing Craft Center)
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Transverse front-motor, front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Electric motor	Three-phase alternating current induction motor with IGBT power inverter
Transmission	Single-speed reduction integrated with motor and differential
Battery	16.5–18.7 kWh lead–acid 26.4 kWh nickel–metal hydride (NiMH)
Electric range	EPA, revised to 2019 procedure: •Lead–acid: 55 mi (89 km) •NiMH: 105 mi (169 km) EPA, original 1999 procedure: •Lead–acid: 78 mi (126 km) •NiMH: 142 mi (228 km)
Plug-in charging	6.6 kW Magne Charge inductive converter
Dimensions
Wheelbase	98.9 in (2,510 mm)[1]
Length	169.7 in (4,310 mm)[1]
Width	69.5 in (1,770 mm)[1]
Height	50.5 in (1,280 mm)[1]
Curb weight	3,086 lb (1,400 kg) with lead–acid batteries 2,908 lb (1,319 kg) with NiMH batteries

The General Motors EV1 is a battery electric car produced by the American automaker General Motors from 1996 until its demise in 1999.

A subcompact car, the EV1 marked the introduction of mass produced and purpose-built battery electric vehicles.^[2][3] The conception of the EV1 dates back to 1990 when GM introduced the battery electric "Impact" prototype, upon which the design of the production EV1 was largely inspired. The California Air Resources Board enacted a mandate in 1990, stating that the seven leading automakers marketing vehicles in the United States must produce and sell zero-emissions vehicles to maintain access to the California market.

Mass production commenced in 1996. In its initial stages of production, most of them were leased to consumers in California, Arizona, and Georgia. Within a year of the EV1's release, leasing programs were also launched in various other American states. In 1998 GM unveiled a series of adaptations for the EV1, encompassing a series hybrid, a parallel hybrid, a compressed natural gas variant, as well as a four-door model, all of which served as prototypes for possible potential future models. Despite favorable customer reception, GM believed that electric cars occupied an unprofitable niche of the automobile market. The company ultimately crushed most of the cars, and in 2001 GM terminated the EV1 program, disregarding protests from customers.

Since its demise, the EV1's cancellation has remained a subject of dispute and controversy. Electric car enthusiasts, environmental interest groups, and former EV1 lessees have accused the company of self-sabotaging its electric car program to avoid potential losses in spare parts sales,^{[note 1]} while also blaming the oil industry for conspiring to keep electric cars off the road.

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