The History of the Electric Car

2007 Chevrolet Volt

After killing the EV1, GM has a long way to go to earn back the trust of electric-car lovers. But the Volt just might do it. Introduced as a concept car in early 2007, the Volt is a next-generation hybrid, a plug-in. It can travel up to 40 miles on its electric motor — long enough for most daily commutes — and an additional gas engine can extend that range up to 640 miles, with fuel efficiency that's equivalent to 50 m.p.g. That extra engine can be configured to run on ethanol or biodiesel, further reducing carbon emissions. It's a dream car, but the best part about the Volt is that it's no dream — GM expects to begin production of the Volt, at less than $30,000, within a few years.