Currently, there are many electric cars that have emerged and are already available in the market for purchase, especially in developed countries. Speaking of the history of electric cars, do you know which electric car was invented by humans? Many people believe that it is a Tesla or Nissan Leaf. However, as Interesting Engineering reports, the General Motors EV1 was the first modern-day electric car launched in 1996.
The history of electric vehicles is quite complex and spans several decades. It might surprise you to know but electric cars came before fuel-powered cars. In 1834, Professor Sibrandus Stratingh from the Netherlands, together with his assistant, Christopher Becker, made the first electric car. It’s just a four-wheeled cart powered by a non-rechargeable battery cell.
In the following years, many people tried their hand at making electric cars. According to Donut Media, in 1891, William Morrison of Iowa finally made the first successful electric car in the United States. According to Wikipedia, it has a top speed of 23 km/h. Since then, many automakers and scientists have come up with several inventions related to electric vehicles. However, the first modern electric car was made by General Motors (GM).
The General Motors EV1 is the modern world’s first mass-produced electric car. Launched in 1996, it was a two-door subcompact coupe with an electric drivetrain.
The GM EV1 is based on the ‘Impact’ electric concept car shown at the LA Auto Show in 1990 by the company. After receiving praise and positive feedback from experts, the company decided to mass-produce an electric concept car.
Finally, GM’s first electric car model EV1 hit the market in 1996. But three years later, production of this electric car was discontinued by the company in 1999.
Technical Specifications of the First Modern Electric Car
GM EV1 . Battery Configuration
Unlike current electric cars, which use Lithium-ion battery packs, the first-generation GM EV1 was powered by a 16.5 kWh lead acid battery supplied by GM’s Delco Remy division. As per the source, this electric battery provided a range of 60 miles per charge as per EPA norms at the time.
Then in 1999, the second-generation EV1 adopted the Panasonic-branded 18.7 kWh lead-acid battery. Panasonic batteries increase the electric range to 100 miles.
Immediately after adopting the second batch of batteries, the automaker decided to go with the new 26.7 kWh NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries. NiMH batteries not only increase the range but also reduce the overall weight of the vehicle. With the new NiMH battery, the vehicle weight is reduced to 1,319 kg from 1,400 kg (with Lead Acid battery).
In addition, these NiMH batteries have a higher energy density, providing a power range of 160 miles. In fact, the company also has plans to use lithium-ion batteries. But at that time, Li-ion batteries were in the development stage.
Dimensions And Aerodynamics
As previously mentioned, the EV1 is a two-door coupe-style closed-door vehicle. It measures 4310 mm, is 1770 mm wide, and has a height of 1,280 mm. The GM EV1 was not only the first electric vehicle of modern times, but was also among the first to use aluminum for its chassis.
Additionally, GM uses plastic instead of metal for the body panel construction, and magnesium alloy wheels to reduce overall weight. The GM EV1 also has a very low drag coefficient of just 0.19 which contributes to its increased efficiency.
Powertrain
The GM EV1 is a front-wheel drive electric car with a single-speed reduction transmission system. Similar to electric cars in 2022, the first “modern” electric cars also have three-phase AC induction motors. The electric motor can produce around 137 BHP and a peak torque of 149 Nm.
Security
Considering the time period, GM equipped the EV1 with all the necessary safety features. The EV1 has modern features such as Anti-lock braking system (ABS), traction control system, low rolling tires, and more. In addition, the EV1 also received an NHTSA safety rating (three stars).
The Fall of the First Modern Electric Car
In 2003, the company officially ended the EV1 program. However, production had stopped in 1999 because the car was a commercial failure. The electric car was not as successful as other conventional vehicles from the company.
After this, Tesla appeared in 2003. Five years later, Tesla launched its first electric car, the Tesla Roadster, which was powered by a lithium-ion battery. Tesla is a company that has given new life to electric cars. On June 22, 2012, Tesla changed the EV market with the launch of the Tesla Model S.
