GM EV1

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Not wanting to come over as all green and lentilist, I have been doing a little reading about the GM EV1 electric car (here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1)

... and it looks like a good thing. An electric car that I would actually like to own. Does anyone know anything more about them than is in this article?

I never saw the film "Who killed the electric car" - did anyone else here see it?


Oli.

[Fittster]

There's a good article on GM's electric cars in Intersection this month.

[Twincam16]

IIRC the film basically shows that GM received some funding and a nudge in the ribs by a big oil company, who basically told them to cancel the Chevrolet Impact (as it would have been called) as it threatened their business interests.

This probably did happen, but no-one's particularly said the car was any good to drive, or indeed any good at all. Add to that the fact that electric cars aren't 'green' unless they literally have a solar panel on the roof.

[Embedder]

Simply put, GM showed an electric concept car at the LA auto show. Everyone jumped up and down and said we want one. GM spend $1B to bring it to market expecting to be making 100k a year. The vehicles were only available to be leased (don't know why) and something like 2,000 where leased over the life of the product. GM lost a f*** load and cut the project loose. Greenies went nuts etc.

Edited by Embedder on Thursday 26th July 06:46

[bga]

Twincam16 said:

Add to that the fact that electric cars aren't 'green' unless they literally have a solar panel on the roof.

Not yet but chances after a few generations of the technology it could be.
I doubt that 15 years ago, many car fans would think that diesel technology would be where it is now.

[Seany88]

Bump because I just watched the documentary and I'm shocked but then again not so surprised that the EV1 got suppressed by Big Oil all those years ago