Why The EV1 Was One Of The Biggest Flops In General Motors History

Looking like a HotWheels car that ended up in the microwave, the EV1’s styling left a lot to be desired. It was tiny and odd looking from every angle. Reviews from the time noted that the back two wheels were closer together than the front pair. All the wacky styling decisions were made so the EV1 was as aerodynamically efficient as possible. Unlike the high-torque permanent magnet motors that power today’s electric cars, the EV1 was driven by a single AC induction motor. Lithium battery technology was still in its infancy back in the 1990s, so GM opted for lead acid batteries to give the EV1 power. According to MotorTrend, the range was only about 70 to 90 miles. 

General Motors never actually sold any EV1s in the traditional sense, as they were only available to lease in select Saturn dealerships in the Southwest United States (via Hagerty). After the three-year lease period was over in 1999, General Motors collected the entire production run, totaling a little over 1,000 cars and crushed them. Only a few models were saved and donated to museums and universities. According to Hagerty, GM wanted to avoid the hassle of customers dealing with aging batteries and to protect the EV1’s design from corporate espionage. 

After investing over a billion dollars, the EV1 was no more, and it would be another couple decades until automakers were ready to make another serious crack at an electric car.