With just over a thousand models produced over the span of three years until the pilot project was shuttered in 1999, General Motors’ subcompact car (available for leasing only) was the first mass-produced battery electric vehicle for the US market, introduced in response to a mandate by the California Air Resources Board stipulating that automakers must offer zero-emissions alternatives to keep access to the state’s market. The innovative plug-in pioneered many of the technologies found in electric cars today a quarter of a century ago, but despite being (mostly, its limited charge gave rise to the phenomenon that still haunts the industry of range anxiety) well received by drivers and critics, GM halted production—after California eased its standards due to industry pushback, and citing safety concerns over the lack of availability of replacement parts for the EV1’s specialised components, decided to scrap the entire fleet. Due to restrictions on outright ownership, only a very few examples remain but the small car that could make short trips has an outsized legacy. More from NPR at the link above.
synchronoptica
one year ago: assorted links worth revisiting (with synchronoptica)
seven years ago: the Japanese wrapping art of furoshki
nine years ago: more links to enjoy
ten years ago: internet browsers as fashion models plus a list of French phrases that ought to be reintroduced to common-parlance
twelve years ago: a double-standard for secessionist movements plus decorating the office for Christmas