Featured An EV1 Goes Private

In fact, GM has decided to support their effort for restoration. This is a story that continues.

 

After 25 years, battery and power switching technology has moved way forward. It would make more sense to get a salvage, recent EV or EV kit. Then they can add a J1772, CSS-1, or even NACS.

keep the shell but make it practical again.

Bob Wilson

 

Other than a couple of Uber low production concept cars - or a model S equipped with an aero kit - EV1 is pretty much the crown for low drag CD (0.19). So yea - keep that body config!
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I can't think that they will end up using the old battery tech in the rebuild. I guess we will find out soon.

 

My understanding is they were planning to use NiMH chemistry cells when the EV1 project was aborted. Projections were double the range and faster performance. Thank you Bob Lutz and Rick Wagner.

There are rumors killing the EV1 helped start Tesla.

Bob Wilson

 

Of course they won't. Gen 1 ev1 and S10 pickups used lead acid. Gen 2 / both vehicles used nickel metal hydride, a rather expensive technology and not near as efficient as modern chemistries.

 

I am beginning to think they will actually use the original battery tech. Every effort seen so far is to use original parts of as close to original as possible. Their S10 pickup was seen in the latest two videos with lead acid batteries only. I think that might be a test for the EV1.

 

CdA is the key factor. ev-1 was 0.37 m2, while current Tesla model 3 is 0.49 m2, you can of course fit a much larger battery in a model 3. I would think the only reason to get an ev-1 vs a used model 3 is for nostalgia and uniqueness value. That may be hurt if you change much, but I would think a modern lfp battery could extend range and reduce weight while costing less than an original type battery. It would be a good swat to do that and change the bms and iverter to modern electronics.