1996, The EV1
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With the launch of the EV1 in the U.S., GM became the first automaker in modern times to market a car designed and engineered to run on electric power.
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Based on the Impact concept vehicle, the EV1 was marketed through Saturn retailers from 1996 through 1999. Customers could only lease, not buy the car. It was only offered in California and Arizona.
In 2003, GM decided to reclaim all EV1 vehicles that were in service at the time and destroyed most of them. According to Green Car Journal GM needed to do this because of liability and parts availability issues. However, some suspected GM of ulterior motives and produced a film about the subject called Who Killed the Electric Car.
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