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Who killed the electric car?

4359 Views 33 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  2015 volt
https://youtu.be/-sc-NxP6mmI

After watching this, I became very saddened to have purchased a GM hybrid car. The Gen 1 Volt doesn't even compare favorably to EV1 especially considering that car is 20 years old now. What's your next car going to be? Being in Texas, the Bolt still is not available. Is the bolt the next EV1 or will GM actually put resources into mass manufacturing it?
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To judge the EV1 I would recommend going to a museum and seeing one in the flesh. I did when I toured the Henry Ford Museum, and if there was ever a niche vehicle, that is it.

I'm saddened that the Chrysler Turbine Car never made it commercial. That was an incredible piece of design and engineering.
There is a part II sequal: Revenge of the electric car; but even that movie is out if date.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_of_the_Electric_Car
I am saddened to see thay an alleged Gen 1 Volt owner thinks the Volt is just a hybrid, and that the EV1 is a better vehicle.

OTOH, I am happy that GM pioneered with the EV1, realized it was not ready for prime time, went back to the drawing boards and came up with the much superior, practical and technically advanced Volt.
https://youtu.be/-sc-NxP6mmI

After watching this, I became very saddened to have purchased a GM hybrid car.
Why? Both the Chevy Bolt and the Volt make the EV1 look like a Model T in comparison. Lessons learned on the EV1 were incorporated into the Volt and the knowlwdge gained from the Volt informed the Bolt EV. I chose to reward GM for doing good (Volr) by buying one.
The Gen 1 Volt doesn't even compare favorably to EV1 especially considering that car is 20 years old now.
What's your criteria? Lack of fender skirts and no lead batteries?

What's your next car going to be? Being in Texas, the Bolt still is not available. Is the bolt the next EV1 or will GM actually put resources into mass manufacturing it?
I'm looking at adding a Bolt to the Volt already in the garage. GM recently opened up Bolt sales nationwide. Now it's up to the dealers. There are Bolt's available in Chicago and they can also be ordered. Have you asked a local dealer to place an order for you?

The Bolt has been in mass production since end of 2016, with initial orders going to California and a few other states. Thousands have been produced and are still coming out the factory door.

You do realize that you can actually buy a Bolt rather than lease, right? Given that, how exactly would GM make the Bolt the next EV1? The EV1 was an experimental car, available leased only, no opportunity to buy upfront or at end of lease. With the Nolt, you can buy the car upfront or at the end of the lease, so again, how would GM be able to reclaim ownership of a Bolt or a Volt?
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After reading 'Unsafe at Any Speed' I'm always amazed that people are still buying Volkswagens fifty years later.
The Gen 1 Volt doesn't even compare favorably to EV1 especially considering that car is 20 years old now.
I beg to differ. As a former lease holder of two EV1's (drove the first for 2 years and the second for 3 years) and two Gen 1 Volts (3 years each), it my considered opinion the Gen 1 Volt is, by at least an order of magnitude, a better automobile. One is free to compare a Volt to an EV1, but they are completely different animals. Better to compare the EV1 to a Bolt and I'd go out on a limb here and suggest the Bolt also bests the EV1 by at least an order of magnitude.
Either OP is going for some sort of record for stupid and misinformed comments or is trolling.
IIRC, Honda killed their EVs at the end of that movie, too. ;)
I would like the Voltec platform in an EV1 aluminum body
I would like the Voltec platform in an EV1 aluminum body
It's called a Bolt EV... Yes, I know not a Volt. But it is an EV and in an aluminum body. :)
Are you high or something ? The Volt blows away the EV1. There was never a contest to begin with.
I'm proud to own a Volt. EV1 was a science project. GM has brought us two generations of Volts, Spark EV, ELR, Bolt EV, and now CT6. I've also been watching for Bolts in TX, and if I wanted one bad enough, looks like I could buy one today from a TX dealer (although not Austin yet).

BTW, I've been visiting Boulder CO the last few days, saw my first Bolt "in the wild" yesterday.
I like my bolt and looking back the ev1 was bleeding edge and not ready for the masses. I know about that time California had a mandate that 10%(?) of all new vehicles had to be electric. That of course was repealed since the battery technology was not there yet. Even now ev's are a way from being 10% of new vehicle sales, maybe 3% in ca.
I'm happy and proud to have bought the Volt, even though in my current situation it was purchased USED I'd gladly get another Volt or Bolt EV. I'm looking forward the Model 3 but having a Volt for long distance emergency cross states is still faster then the Supercharger network if needed. GM has done a great job and will continue in the future.
No 20-yr-old car, imho, is in any way "better" than a 2017 model. Rose-colored glasses are not practical.
I would like the Voltec platform in an EV1 aluminum body
I would like the Voltec or Boltec platform in a Corvette AND Suburban body.
The EV1 was a little POS 2 seater. Not sporty, heavy for the size, basically a science project. It never had a chance of getting any real sales, ruined EVs for the masses (reinforced the idea that all ectric cars are compact ugly useless things for wealthy people).

The original Honda insight was a much more interesting car, still a science project, but more than 1000 lbs lighter and way cheaper. Due to the much lower cost the Insight 2 seater would be a better choice.

Have I watched the documentary? No, because I avoid them in general, they almost always present 1 sided information to get you to side with the writer.
The EV1 was a little POS 2 seater. Not sporty, heavy for the size, basically a science project. It never had a chance of getting any real sales, ruined EVs for the masses (reinforced the idea that all ectric cars are compact ugly useless things for wealthy people).

The original Honda insight was a much more interesting car, still a science project, but more than 1000 lbs lighter and way cheaper. Due to the much lower cost the Insight 2 seater would be a better choice.

Have I watched the documentary? No, because I avoid them in general, they almost always present 1 sided information to get you to side with the writer.
My ferrier bought an Insight. She ended up blowing the engine driving it 50k miles without an oil change. She balked at the $79 price of an oil change and guessed wrong that the car really needed oil changes as often as the manual stated. Ruined crankshaft was it's premature demise. She'll never make that mistake again as she ended up making payments for many years for a car that wasn't running. Supposedly, she sold it to ricer boys who were planning to drop a V8 into it for the ultimate sleeper. 'M glad I got to drive it around tough. I like the concept of a hybrid with a stick shift.

Agreed, the Ev1 was a science experiment. I thought it was fugly, but then it seems like a bunch of car companies have decided by committee to make their EVs fugly (Prius, murai, i3, MiEV, Leaf).
Agreed, the Ev1 was a science experiment. I thought it was fugly, but then it seems like a bunch of car companies have decided by committee to make their EVs fugly (Prius, murai, i3, MiEV, Leaf).
Aerodynamics. It turns out that at city speeds an egg shape is the most aerodynamic shape for a car. At highway speeds a flattened egg (not as tall) is the most aerodynamic shape. What you're trying to avoid in these shapes is air flow separation from the rear slopes of the vehicle, which creates turbulence and increases drag. This is why a lot of cars have small rear lip spoilers. The spoiler, if done properly, reduces turbulence.
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