Don't Call it a Comeback: The EV1 Electric Car
GM’s EV1 became a movie star in filmmaker Chris Paine’s “Who Killed the Electric Car?” The film documented the debut of the all-electric car that could get 70 miles on a single charge, as well as the battle GM went through to scrap every last vehicle.
When GM first leased the EV1 to 1,000 people in 1996, gas cost approximately a dollar per gallon. Now that we’re in the age of $4 gas, the EV1 has begun to make more sense, and some — including automotive journalist John McElroy — have called for its return. McElroy says GM could put it into production in an underutilized factory and cash-strapped drivers would hurtle themselves at the car as soon as it hit dealerships.
GM has made it clear that, due to logistical challenges, this is a complete non-starter. First of all, the EV1 would not meet today’s safety specifications; it would cost GM a lot of money it doesn’t really have (the company lost a large, if unknown, chunk of money on the EV1 in the ’90s); and some of the specialized parts used in the vehicle are no longer being produced.
Also, when it comes to revolutionary vehicles, GM has already gone all-in on the 100 mpg — theoretically — Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, due in 2010. The EV1 will surely remain a part of automotive history; the technology and overall concept were important in paving the way for the Volt and other fuel-efficient cars that will follow (even if it took automakers awhile to catch on). It’s no coincidence that Paine’s next movie, due next year, is titled “Revenge of the Electric Car.”
A Suggestion to Revive the EV1, and with it GM’s Credibility (Detroit Free Press)
