GM Launches The EVI Electric Car

LA February 2, 1996; On January 4 in Los Angeles, General Motors made two big announcement. First, they unveiled the automobile that will carry America into a new era of driving - EVI, the electric car. The first from the ground up, built from scratch, true electric car. And the first electric passenger vehicle ever to be brought to market by a major automaker.

GM then announced that they have selected the ideal company to launch EVI. A company with the people, philosophy, and now-how to propel the electric car on the road to success --Saturn. (We must admit, we're all pretty darn excited about the opportunity. Not to mention the compliment.)

So starting this fall, Saturn retailers in Southern California and Arizona will be the first in the country to display and market EVI.

Here are just a few remarkable EVI facts:

• Accelerates from 0 to 60 in less than 9 seconds
• Maximum speed of 80 mph (electronically regulated
• Prototype set land-speed record for electric cars: 183 mph
• 137 horsepower, three-phase AC induction motor
• 0.19 drag coefficient -- 30% less than any production car
• Driving range: 70 miles city, 90 miles highway
• 3-hour charge time using 220-volt, 6.6 kW charger
• Regenerative brakes that help charge the batteries
• World's lightest and stiffest spaceframe for any vehicle its size

We will be updating the EVI page often, so stop by again soon. In the meantime, if you'd like even more information call 1-800-25ELECTRIC.