General Motors EV1 electric car commercial

This 90 sec commercial aired only once on NBC’s “ER“ on December 6, 1996 That same day, General Motors began leasing the world’s first practical electric car, the EV1. The EV1 was the first and only vehicle release with a GM nameplate and was offered in California and Arizona through Saturn dealers. Wildly popular among those lucky enough to lease one, the EV1 had a sad demise when GM discontinued the program and crushed most of the cars. GM has redeemed itself with the incredible extended range electric car, the Chevrolet Volt. First deliveries of the Volt to customers took place in December 2010. The commercial was produced by Industrial Light and Magic and was nominated for an Emmy Award in the “best commercial“ category. A shorter 60 second version aired other times, but this 90 second version aired only once. I was a lucky EV1 “owner“ lessee from 1996 until 2003. The EV1 I drove was one of very few that survived, and is on permanent display at the prestigious Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.