5 Classic EVs You’ve Probably Never Heard Of [Video]

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When thinking of electric cars, Tesla is likely the first brand that comes to mind. But long before Musk’s overhaul of the EV industry, many companies had a stab at building EVs. Many were unsuccessful due to financial or logistical constraints at the time and went on to be demolished. But some left a significant mark in the EV industry, acting as a source of inspiration for the models we see today.

The reasons why companies were pushing out electric vehicles as early as the ’90s weren’t solely experimental. Environmental concerns were growing, and several regulations were instituted to combat the issue of air pollution. A significant example was the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program set forth by the California Air Resources Board in 1990. The program required 5% of vehicles to be zero-emission vehicles in 2001, raising it to 10% in 2003. This, …