EV History

The First EVs

In 1899 and 1900, electric vehicles outsold all other types of cars. In fact, 28 percent of all 4,192 cars produced in the US in 1900 were electric, and by the early 1900’s 38% of cars produced were electric power.  

Hawaii’s history with EV’s dates back to 1899, when his honor, H.P. Baldwin imported the first EV into the state, which created quite a public stir, no so much that his new car was powered by electricity, but that is was an “automobile”, as reported in the October 10th 1899 edition of the Hawaiian Gazette. 

The Gazette reported …”As to the motive power of automobiles, France has a preference for gasoline, England for steam, and America for electricity. “The advantages of the (electric) automobile are its safety, its noiseless movement, its freedom from odor and vibrations. Its disadvantages are its heavy weight, owning to storage batteries, its cost, and the fact that is can run only a limited distance without being recharged.”     

The Rise of the ICE (internal-combustion engine)

After enjoying success at the beginning of the 20th century, the electric car began to lose its position in the automobile market. A number of developments contributed to this situation. 

By the 1920s an improved road infrastructure required vehicles with a greater range than that offered by electric cars. Worldwide discoveries of large petroleum reserves led to the wide availability of affordable gasoline, making gas-powered cars cheaper to operate over long distances. 

The Modern EV

Fast forward from the early 20th century to the 1990s, California’s Air Resources Board (CARB), representing the largest car market in North America, mandated more fuel-efficient, lower-emissions vehicles.  The agency’s ultimate goal, auto manufacturers would produce and sell in large numbers zero-emissions (ZEV) vehicles, e.g., electric vehicles.

In response the CARB mandate, GM produced and delivered the EV1 (to California customers) the first commercial modern re-introduction of the electric a vehicle.  Motor Trend called GM’s 1997 EV1, “The First Consumer Ready Electric Vehicle”.

Before Tesla and the widespread popularity of electric cars, General Motors had its own thing going on.

The EV-1 - the First Consumer Ready Electric Vehicle 

The GM EV1 was the car that first brought enthusiasm and excitement to the modern world of electric cars in America.  Though it was only available for six years through GM-direct leasing programs, the EV-1 grew a relatively massive following during its time on the road. 

At the time, there wasn't really anything else like the EV1 on the market. Like the first Tesla luxury models S and X introduced, GM used an aluminum frame, aluminum for suspension parts to minimize weight.  The production EV1 had a crazy low drag coefficient of .19 Cd.

GM claimed the EV-1 would deliver a driving range of 70 to 90 miles on a full charge.

Without the 80 mph speed limiter on the street version of the EV-1, the electric drive motor goes from 0-to-13,500 rpm without the need to shift gears, there are none.  On March 11, 1994, Clive Roberts, with the help of GM engineering team, drove a modified EV-1 into the records books, establishing the world’s electric car land-speed record of 183 mph – a feat that not even Tesla has yet to surpass. 

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to read the original EV-1 sales brochure, a rare find if you can still find one, in the middle of book-like brochure, there is the following statement written 25 years ago, which by any measurement today can only be called … prophetic.  

“Imagine looking back at today, a generation from now. Say around 2020. You’d probably conclude that the future is electric, and that gasoline powered automobiles were just a long detour. In fact, thinking electric is more a homecoming than a departure.” - GM EV-1 Sales Brochure

EV-1 Post Mortem

GM blamed high build costs and a small customer base as their reasons for discontinuing the EV1. However, the true reason for the EV-1’s short life was much more complex.   Chrysler, Toyota, and a group of GM dealers sued CARB in Federal court, leading to the eventual neutering of CARB's ZEV Mandate. 

With the regulatory mandate for electric vehicles in California no longer a mandate, GM, exercised the closed end lease-only terms and forced owners to return their vehicles. Thereafter, GM had nearly of their EV-1 fleet collected and destroyed. And the few museum pieces have survived, and except for the one given to the Smithsonian, the few other surviving EV’s had their drivetrains disabled.  

Many EV-1 drivers sent checks into GM in a disparate effort to get their leases extended -- it didn't work. It took more than decade and more CARB regulation, before GM introduced their next generation EV, the Chevy Volt.