1997 General Motors EV1 Electric Coupe
01
Artifact Overview
This was the most serious attempt to build an all-purpose electric car since the 1920s. General Motors built 1,117 cars between 1996 and 1999, leasing them to a loyal group that willingly adjusted to battery power's limitations. But GM concluded there were too few electric enthusiasts to support large-scale production and recalled all the cars by the end of 2003. EV1 users objected loudly, but to no avail.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1997
Creators
Place of Creation
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America
Object ID
2002.76.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of General Motors Corporation.
Material
Aluminum (Metal)
Glass (Material)
Rubber (Material)
Cloth
Color
Red
Dimensions
Height: 50.5 in
Width: 69.5 in
Length: 169.7 in
Wheelbase: 98 in
Inscriptions
Rear bumper, left: GM
Rear bumper, right: EV1 / ELECTRIC
In chrome, proper right and left front quarter panels: EV1
Center front: GM
Front of 1st gen. charger: EDISON EV / AN EDISON INTERNATIONAL COMPANY / ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER / MAGNE CHARGE
Lower left corner of 2nd gen. charger: MAGNE CHARGE
Specifications
Make & Model: 1997 General Motors EV1 electric coupe
Maker: General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Michigan
Motor: 3-phase inductive AC
Batteries: 26 lead-acid, 312 volts
Height: 50.5 inches
Wheelbase: 99 inches
Width: 69.5 inches
Overall length: 169.5 inches
Weight: 2790 pounds
Horsepower: 137 at 7000 revolutions per minute
Pounds per horsepower: 20.3
Lease price: $399 - $549 per month
Average 1997 wage: $24,578
Percentage of annual income to lease this car: 20 to 27 percent
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