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GM was in dire financial shape when work on its production electric car began, and the program was put on hold by new CEO Jack Smith just 16 months later. A core team of about 100 engineers continued development and a batch of 50 prototypes were hand-built for a 1994 'PrEView Drive' program that loaned them to regular folks for three months in a dozen U.S. cities. This innovative effort paid off by accumulating hugely valuable real-world experience, engineering data, and feedback on how the cars performed, how people used them, and what they liked and disliked about them.
In March 1994 Smith and GM's Board of Directors appointed Bob Purcell to revive the EV program and 'make a business of it.' The team became GM Advanced Technology Vehicles (ATV) Division with a mission to lead the industry in EV technology and sell it to other automakers that chose not to invest billions of dollars to develop their own.
The EV1 began with the development of the Impact Electric Vehicle that was announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show on January 3, 1990. Improvements were made through four generations of Impact research. In March of 1995, the Lansing Craft Center started production on the fifth generation impact and 34 were built. On January 4-5, 1996, the EV1 was announced at the Los Angeles and Detroit Auto Shows. Production began in Lansing on August 5, 1996.
During its production lifespan, 1,100 examples were built. They had a cost of $33,995 (lease only @ $399 / month). The 2970 lb vehicle had a top speed of 80 mph.
The 1996 EV1, with a practical range of 50-70 miles from its pack of 27 advanced lead-acid (PbA) batteries, was available for lease (only) to residents of Los Angeles, CA, Phoenix, and Tucson, AZ through designated Saturn dealerships. Availability expanded to San Francisco and Sacramento, CA and the upgraded 1999 Gen II EV1 offered optional Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries that doubled its range. But far too few were leased to allow the continuation of the program, so it was canceled the following year.
In March 1994 Smith and GM's Board of Directors appointed Bob Purcell to revive the EV program and 'make a business of it.' The team became GM Advanced Technology Vehicles (ATV) Division with a mission to lead the industry in EV technology and sell it to other automakers that chose not to invest billions of dollars to develop their own.
The EV1 began with the development of the Impact Electric Vehicle that was announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show on January 3, 1990. Improvements were made through four generations of Impact research. In March of 1995, the Lansing Craft Center started production on the fifth generation impact and 34 were built. On January 4-5, 1996, the EV1 was announced at the Los Angeles and Detroit Auto Shows. Production began in Lansing on August 5, 1996.
During its production lifespan, 1,100 examples were built. They had a cost of $33,995 (lease only @ $399 / month). The 2970 lb vehicle had a top speed of 80 mph.
The 1996 EV1, with a practical range of 50-70 miles from its pack of 27 advanced lead-acid (PbA) batteries, was available for lease (only) to residents of Los Angeles, CA, Phoenix, and Tucson, AZ through designated Saturn dealerships. Availability expanded to San Francisco and Sacramento, CA and the upgraded 1999 Gen II EV1 offered optional Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries that doubled its range. But far too few were leased to allow the continuation of the program, so it was canceled the following year.
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Recent Sales of the GMC EV-1
(Data based on Model Year 1996 sales)
GMC EV-1s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1996 GMC EV-1's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
| Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
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1996 GMC EV-1
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