The sole GM EV1 that was legally sold is currently undergoing restoration.

      Electrek Garage via YouTube

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      Almost a month ago, a General Motors EV1 was auctioned for $104,000 at Peak Auto Auctions in Georgia. This EV1 had a tumultuous history; it was leased to an owner in Boulder, Colorado, who had to send it to GM for service several times a year. Eventually, GM refused to return it, decommissioned it, and donated it to Clark Atlanta University, where it remained neglected for a long time. However, that is about to change, as the YouTube channel Electrek Garage has announced its plans to restore this EV1 to its original condition with the full support of its new owner.

      This is a thrilling development because, as my friend Caleb Jacobs noted when the auction news broke in late October, EV1s don’t change hands frequently—or at all, considering GM destroyed most of them and that each was initially leased, not sold.

      Thanks to Declan from Electrek Garage, we can now examine this unique EV1 in more detail than the grainy auction site photos. This specific model from 1997 is a "Gen 1" vehicle, meaning it is equipped with a lead-acid battery instead of a nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) one. Due to the difference in battery chemistry and the larger size of Gen 2 batteries, those later models were estimated to achieve a range of up to 142 miles on a full charge, based on the EPA testing standards from 26 years ago. That's quite impressive for the '90s, whereas Gen 1 cars were only rated for 78 miles.

      Declan isn’t just aiming for that level of performance; he plans to surpass it with a new custom lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack expected to provide around 200 miles of range. However, the restoration of this EV1 involves more than just upgrading its powertrain. The vehicle is missing a large section of its windshield, has a significant hole in the fiberglass composite trunk due to a suspected break-in attempt, and its paint is in rough shape. This damaged windshield has allowed moisture to enter, causing metal corrosion and mold growth on soft surfaces.

      Additionally, GM's self-sabotage must be acknowledged. During the "decommissioning" process, the EV1's battery and several electronic control modules were removed. It's worth noting that nearly all of the EV1s that GM did not crush were left in this compromised state and were given to owners under the condition that they were legally prohibited from making the cars functional again. (Fortunately, this restriction has not carried over to subsequent owners.) It’s typical of GM to not only neglect but actively dismantle its most innovative creations at least once.

      Declan is preparing to integrate the replacement charging system from a Chevy S10 Electric. Electrek Garage via YouTube

      In any case, Declan and his team are off to a solid start. They've already replaced the missing driveline control module and have a suitable inductive charging system from a Chevy S10 Electric ready to install, which is convenient since both the S10 and EV1 utilize the same component. They've also pinpointed which circuit boards need repair or replacement.

      If all goes well, Declan aims to have this EV1 operational again within a year—exactly 30 years after GM delivered the very first EV1 to the lessee they later reclaimed it from. In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for updates. If you’re interested in a comprehensive history of this specific vehicle, take a look at Brian Silvestro’s article over at The Autopian.

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