​​Remember the EV1? GM’s First EV​ 

In 1996, General Motors rebooted its electric vehicle program. What was once a viable mode of transportation in cities and around town some 125 years ago was lost in the shuffle of internal combustion engines and abundant gasoline. By the 1990s, the talk of bringing back electric propulsion as an alternative to the usual automobile was getting louder. 

GM’s solution was a modern city car—one with a rechargeable battery pack and a dedicated network of charging stations. Born from the Impact concept, the futuristic two-door coupe offered a stand-out design with the latest electronics and cabin technology. It also introduced key elements that are a part of today’s GMC HUMMER EV SUV, pickup truck, and Sierra EV, such as heat pumps, drive-by-wire systems, and One-Pedal Driving.  

These features helped bring the EV into the modern era. They provided solutions for EV operation in both cold and hot climates, making driving much simpler. In turn, these new features also added benefits that would be further realized in today’s EV, such as improved battery efficiency. Some technologies also extend to other vehicles, such as “by-wire” systems that have been added not only to the throttle mechanism but also to steering and braking. This also reduces the number of components and creates overall weight savings.  

The EV1 also featured low-rolling-resistance tires and a space-frame construction. The latter has been around since the 1986 Pontiac Fiero and the Saturn lineup. GM still uses this construction on the Chevrolet Corvette.  

Back in 1996, you simply did not go to any GM dealership to buy one outright. They had to be leased at select Saturn stores. In turn, they leased 1,000 EV1s – all of them produced at a special plant in Lansing, Michigan. Once the lease ended, you had to return your EV1 to the Saturn dealer where you took delivery.  

Practically everyone complied with the stipulations of their lease agreement. There is only a small handful of production models that exist today. One in particular was recently bought at an auction for $100,000 by a private collector from a Georgia impound lot. The new owner of EV1 VIN 212 reached out to the YouTube channel Questionable Garage for a collaboration to restore the EV1. 

Without ready access to parts to restore the EV1, GM reached out to the Questionable Garage for assistance. They are helping YouTube EV mechanics with engineering and technological know-how, as well as providing key components to get the EV1 back on the road. In fact, GM’s Vice President Mark Reuss has his and the company’s blessing for this restoration project.  

What GM learned from the EV1 is now experienced in today’s HUMMER EV and Sierra EV. If you want to be part of the wave of EVs used for work and play, contact us at Valley GMC to experience one soon!