6 While the automobile industry waged an all-out war against CARB's 
mandate, GM announced in 1990 that it would build an electric car.Although GM justified ending the program due to high production 
costs and lack of economic viability, there is some speculation that GM caved in 
to pressure from the automobile and oil industries and that the electric
car was doomed from the get-goIn 
December 1996, the lightweight, aerodynamic, snappy EV1 was introduced for 
lease only in test markets in California and Arizona.Powered by nickel-metal 
hydride batteries, EV1s had a driving range of 100 to 120 miles.