What was the history of electric cars before the EV1?

Electric cars actually predated gasoline-powered cars, dominating city streets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to their quiet operation and smooth ride. However, advancements in internal combustion engines and oil discoveries led to their decline.

What led to the revival of electric cars in the 1990s?

In the early 1990s, severe pollution in Los Angeles prompted politicians and environmental departments to push for lower-emission vehicles, creating an environment where electric cars saw a revival.

Why did California have a zero-emission vehicle mandate?

The California Air Resources Board established a mandate requiring automakers to sell a percentage of zero-emission vehicles to combat dangerous levels of pollution caused by gasoline-powered cars.

Who opposed the EV mandate and why?

The EV mandate was opposed by consumer groups, allegedly backed by the oil and automotive industries, who argued against charging infrastructure costs and the environmental impact of electricity generation. Automakers also faced pressure to alter the mandate.

Did General Motors intentionally sabotage the EV1?

Evidence suggests General Motors may have intentionally planned for the EV1 to fail by discouraging public interest, manipulating waiting lists, and ultimately destroying the vehicles, potentially to protect profits from traditional car sales and oil consumption.

What happened to the GM EV1s after they were recalled?

After leases ended, General Motors reclaimed nearly all EV1s, shipped them to the desert, and destroyed them, even refusing offers from enthusiasts to purchase them. Other manufacturers like Honda and Toyota also destroyed their early EVs.

Why were electric cars less profitable for manufacturers?

Traditional gasoline cars require expensive maintenance and parts replacement, which are significant profit centers for manufacturers. EVs, with their simpler mechanics and less need for ongoing service, were seen as a threat to these profit streams.

How General Motors Killed the First Modern Electric Car

ColdFusion

Science & Technology4 min read21 min video

Jan 21, 2023|637,638 views|27,259|3,412

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Key Moments

TL;DR

GM's EV1, the first modern electric car, was crushed despite its success, sabotaged by industry interests.

Key Insights

Electric vehicles have a long history, predating gasoline cars and dominating city streets in the early 1900s.

General Motors' EV1, launched in 1996, was a successful and critically acclaimed electric car that was leased to the public.

The EV1's demise was influenced by a combination of factors, including lobbying by the oil and automotive industries against California's zero-emission vehicle mandates.

Automakers allegedly manipulated demand and suppressed interest in the EV1 to justify its discontinuation and the mandate's removal.

The destruction of the EV1s and other early EVs represented a missed opportunity for accelerated EV development and adoption.

Profit motives, particularly the loss of revenue from maintenance and parts for internal combustion engines, played a significant role in the pushback against EVs.

EARLY ELECTRIC VEHICLE PIONEERING

Electric vehicles boast a surprisingly long history, predating gasoline-powered automobiles. Early electric wagons emerged as early as 1884, with notable innovations like Andreas Flocken's true EV in 1888. For a time, EVS were preferred for their smooth, quiet operation, contrasting sharply with the loud, smoky, and difficult-to-start gasoline cars. By the late 1890s, electric taxis were common in American cities, heralding a period of significant EV innovation. Baker, for instance, offered electric trucks and multiple electric car models, showcasing the industry's early dominance and potential for clean transport.

THE RISE OF GASOLINE AND THE ELECTIC DECLINE

The early 20th century marked a turning point for electric vehicles. Innovations like the muffler and electric starter significantly reduced the drawbacks of gasoline engines, making them more appealing. Coupled with global discoveries of crude oil that lowered gasoline prices and improvements in road infrastructure favoring higher speeds, gasoline cars gained a decisive advantage. Consequently, the EV industry largely faded into obscurity, undergoing only minor revivals, such as a brief surge in environmental interest during the 1960s and 70s, before the true modern EV revolution began in the 1990s.

THE 1990S MANDATE AND THE BIRTH OF THE EV1

In the early 1990s, severe air pollution in Los Angeles prompted California policymakers to push for lower-emission vehicles. This led to the passage of a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, requiring automakers to sell a certain percentage of EVs, with this quota increasing annually. This mandate spurred innovation, with companies like Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Chevrolet, and Ford releasing various EV models. General Motors, building on its "Impact" concept car, unveiled the EV1 in 1996. This sleek, modern electric car was leased to the public, receiving critical acclaim for its performance and technology, reminiscent of later Tesla hype.

CHALLENGES TO THE ELECTRIC REVOLUTION

Despite the EV1's success and the growing interest in EVs, significant skepticism persisted. Concerns about towing capacity, reliance on new technology, and the availability of charging infrastructure were common. Consumer groups emerged, some allegedly backed by the oil and automotive industries, to protest the ZEV mandate and lobbying against charging station installations, claiming they were a waste of taxpayer money. Investigations revealed these groups were not grassroots movements but orchestrated campaigns to undermine EV adoption.

INDUSTRY SABOTAGE AND MARKET MANIPULATION

The backlash intensified as major oil companies like Mobil ran advertisements questioning the environmental benefits of EVs, arguing that electricity generation from coal plants offset the gains. Facing pressure from both oil companies and car manufacturers themselves, California authorities renegotiated the mandate. The revised terms made EV production contingent on customer demand, effectively shifting the onus onto automakers to build EVs or discourage consumers. Despite strong public interest evidenced by waiting lists, GM allegedly suppressed demand for the EV1, ensuring low sales figures to justify its phase-out.

THE UNTIMELY DEMISE OF THE EV1

In 2001, General Motors ceased EV1 production and disbanded its EV team. Other manufacturers also shifted focus, notably towards hybrid technology. In a significant blow to the nascent EV movement, the Bush administration, influenced by former auto industry lobbyists, supported the dismantling of California's ZEV mandate. This effectively ended the EV1's existence, despite passionate protests and owner demands to continue leasing or purchasing the vehicles. In a controversial move, GM refused to renew leases or sell the cars outright, opting instead to reclaim and destroy nearly all EV1s.

THE DESTRUCTION OF A POTENTIAL FUTURE

The destruction of the EV1s and other functional EVs by manufacturers like GM, Honda, and Toyota represented a profound loss for technological advancement. EV enthusiasts even raised funds to buy the remaining EV1s, but GM denied the offers. The primary alleged reason behind this self-sabotage was the threat EVS posed to the traditional automotive business model. Internal combustion engines generate substantial profits through regular maintenance, repairs, and parts sales. EVS, with their simpler mechanics and fewer moving parts, threatened these revenue streams and also impacted the oil industry, making them a difficult proposition for existing power structures.

LESSONS LEARNED AND THE MODERN EV LANDSCAPE

The history of the EV1 serves as a stark reminder of how powerful industry interests can stifle innovation. While the circumstances surrounding the EV1's demise were complex, involving lobbying, market manipulation, and profit concerns, the outcome significantly delayed the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Today, the EV landscape is vastly different, with improved technology, growing consumer choice, and increasing affordability. However, knowing the story of the EV1 underscores the potential for what could have been achieved a decade earlier had the first modern EV revolution not been so dramatically curtailed.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Companies

●Organizations

●People Referenced

Common Questions

The EV1 was widely considered the first true commercial electric car produced by General Motors in the mid-1990s. It was a critical and commercial success, demonstrating the potential of EVs, but was controversially discontinued and destroyed.

Topics

EV1 General Motors Automotive History Emissions Standards California EV Mandate Oil Industry Lobbying Corporate Profit Motive Vehicle Manufacturing Zero Emission Vehicles

Mentioned in this video

productImpact (concept car)

General Motors' electric concept car, unveiled in 1990, which paved the way for the EV1.

productRAV4 EV

Toyota's electric vehicle model released during the 1990s EV push.

personCarl Benz

Invented the motor wagon, which became the basis for the automotive industry, and is mentioned in contrast to early electric vehicles.

productUltra EV

Nissan's electric vehicle model from the 1990s.

organizationCalifornia Air Resources Board

This board pushed for lower emission vehicles and played a key role in implementing the zero-emission vehicle mandate in California.

companyChevrolet

Put out the S10 electric pickup truck in the 1990s.

organizationCalifornians Against Utility Company Abuse

A consumer group that, along with local businesses, lobbied against the EV mandate and charging station installations, allegedly backed by the oil and automotive industry.

companyMorris and Salem electric carriage and wagon company

Founded in 1894, this was the first American electric vehicle company.

productEV Plus

Honda's electric vehicle model introduced in the 1990s.

companyMobil

A major oil company that took out ads to contest the effectiveness of EVs, arguing that coal-powered electricity generation was more damaging.

companyTexaco

A subsidiary of Chevron that purchased the battery manufacturer for the EV1 after its production ended.

organizationAmerican Automobile Manufacturers Association

An association of Ford, Chrysler, and GM representatives that hired a PR firm to campaign against California's EV mandate.

companySoul Electrica

An early 90s EV company that released the Sole Electrical Force, a converted Suzuki Cultus.

personThomas Parker

Credited with a patent for what was more of a hybrid steam-powered car in 1884, considered an early precursor to electric vehicles.

productEV1

The first true commercial electric car released by General Motors in the mid-1990s, which became a critical and commercial success but was later discontinued and destroyed.

personBob Purcell

Executive Director of General Motors' Advanced Technology Vehicles, who welcomed participants to the EV1 launch.

productRanger EV

Ford's electric vehicle model from the 1990s.

personSean McNamara

Supervisor of GM's 'Preview' program for the Impact concept car, who claimed the program was a failure despite overwhelming positive driver responses.

productSuzuki Cultus

A car model that was converted into an electric vehicle by Soul Electrica in the early 1990s.

personAndrew H. Card Jr.

President Bush's Chief of Staff, who had previously served as the chief lobbyist for GM and led the Auto industry trade association in opposing EV mandates.

conceptSaturn

toolChevron