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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The 1990s brought a new wave of electric cars to the United States, from GM’s purpose-built EV1 to electric pickups, SUVs and minivans. Not all nine models in this retrospective debuted during the decade: a 2004 International Energy Agency (IEA) survey includes several 2000 model-year entries alongside 1999 cars. Some were limited programs rather than cars broadly available to retail buyers.
Why electric cars returned in the 1990s
Electric cars were not new, but renewed policy pressure helped bring U.S. automakers back to them. The U.S. Department of Energy points to the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment, the 1992 Energy Policy Act and California emissions rules as part of the backdrop. Many EVs of the period moved closer to gasoline cars in performance, while the DOE describes a typical range of about 60 miles across many models—not a rating that applies to every car here. U.S. Department of Energy: History of the Electric Car
Nine electric cars from the era—and just beyond it
The IEA’s 2004 model survey covers entries from 1999 through 2002. It provides a useful snapshot of the period, but its inclusion of a vehicle does not by itself establish when it first went on sale, how many were built or whether ordinary customers could buy one.
1. General Motors EV1
The EV1 was a two-seat car designed from the ground up for electric propulsion, rather than a gasoline model converted to run on batteries. MoMA’s 1999 exhibit describes a lightweight aluminum space frame with composite panels, a 137-horsepower motor and regenerative braking. It also notes that the car required dedicated charging equipment. GM’s earlier Impact concept, a two-seat coupe shown at the 1990 Los Angeles Auto Show with 32 lead-acid batteries, was a precursor—not one of the nine production EVs. MoMA: General Motors EV1 GM Heritage: Impact
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The IEA’s 2004 table lists lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) EV1 variants. Its period rated-range bands are 65–95 miles for lead-acid and 75–140 miles for NiMH. These are reported historical ratings, not modern EPA estimates or a single real-world result.
2. Honda EV Plus
Honda developed the EV Plus as a three-door hatchback with NiMH batteries. Its 1997 announcement described a leasing program in Japan and reported a 210-kilometer range on Japan’s 10.15 test mode, or 350 kilometers when driven steadily at 40 km/h. Honda also listed a maximum speed above 130 km/h. Those range figures belong to different stated test conditions and should not be treated as directly comparable with other cars’ ratings. Honda Motor Co., 1997 EV Plus announcement
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The announcement specified an initial 36-month program for about 20 vehicles in major metropolitan areas in Japan. That describes the program Honda announced, not the car’s availability in every market. Honda’s corporate history records the first production unit’s line-off ceremony in April 1997. EV Plus development leader Kenji Matsumoto recalled, “I can definitely sense that the era of electric vehicles is well on its way.” Honda Global: EV Plus history
3. Toyota RAV4 EV
An electric version of Toyota’s familiar SUV shape, the RAV4 EV used NiMH batteries. The IEA lists a 126-mile rated range in its 2000 model-year portion. The table does not specify a test cycle for that figure, so it is best read as the report’s period value rather than as a directly comparable road-test result.
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4. Nissan Altra
The Altra brought electric propulsion to a station-wagon body and used lithium-ion batteries, according to the IEA’s 1999 entries. The table lists a 75-mph top speed but does not provide a rated range. That missing figure should remain unknown here rather than be filled with an unverified number.
5. Ford Ranger EV
Ford adapted its Ranger pickup format for electric drive, with lead-acid and NiMH versions recorded in the IEA table. One 1999 lead-acid entry lists a 72-mile rated range and a 75-mph top speed; the report also has a later-configuration entry with a range of 50–85 miles. Those figures refer to different table entries, not one universal Ranger EV specification.
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6. Chrysler EPIC
The EPIC was a minivan with NiMH batteries. For its 1999 entries, the IEA lists a 96-mile rated range and an 80-mph top speed. Those are period table values, not results from a present-day road test.
7. Hyundai Accent-EV
The IEA’s survey identifies an electric Hyundai Accent with NiMH batteries and an 87-mph top speed. It does not state a range. Its presence in the survey does not establish how many were built or whether they were broadly available to customers.
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- WORKING FEATURES: Functioning doors that open and close, plus pull-back motor action for interactive play value
- QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Die-cast metal body construction provides durability and authentic feel, enhanced with detailed plastic components
- REALISTIC DETAILS: Features rubber tires for enhanced realism and smooth rolling action on various surfaces
- DISPLAY WORTHY: Perfect size for collectors and enthusiasts, combining playability with showcase appeal
8. Ford Explorer EV
The electric Explorer was an SUV using lead-acid batteries. In its 2000 entries, the IEA lists a 53-mile rated range. The survey records a model; it does not show that this version was widely available to consumers.
9. Ford Th!nk City
The IEA’s 2000 table lists the two-seat Ford Th!nk City with NiMH batteries and a 42-mile rated range. It also gives a 25-mph top speed, an unusually low figure for a city car; because that number appears in the table without further context here, it should be treated cautiously rather than as a settled description of the model’s capability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How far could 1990s electric cars go?
There is no single answer: the surviving figures mix manufacturer test modes, period rated ranges and different model configurations. The DOE’s roughly 60-mile description is useful only as broad context. Among the specific figures above, Honda’s 210-kilometer and 350-kilometer EV Plus numbers come from two distinct conditions, while the IEA’s EV1, RAV4 EV, Ranger EV, EPIC, Explorer EV and Th!nk City values are survey ratings. The Altra and Accent-EV range fields are not stated in that table.
Was the GM EV1 the only electric car back then?
No. It was the best-known purpose-built two-seat example in this group, but the period’s electric vehicles came in many shapes: Honda’s hatchback, Toyota and Ford SUVs, Ford’s pickup and Chrysler’s minivan, as well as Nissan’s wagon and Hyundai’s car. The EV1 stands out for its dedicated design; it was not the only electric vehicle being developed or recorded in the era. The available sources do not establish consistent production totals, retail access or program endings for all nine, so the list is not a ranking of sales or consumer availability.
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