In 2025, we have become used to seeing electric vehicles everywhere we go. In the last 15 years, with the advance of battery capacity and charging technology, we have made significant advances with EV’s.
As revolutionary as the Corvair was in so many ways, did you know that engineers and designers at GM made TWO electric prototype Corvairs?
Not a lot is known about the first Electrovair, a 1964 Monza. GM did, however, share much more about the Electrovair II, a 1966 Monza Sports Sedan.
Unlike today’s EV’s; dual motored, lithium-ion battery celled with console computer navigation, long range, brake regeneration and available charging stations, the Electrovair was powered by one 115hp single induction AC motor and crammed full of silver-zinc batteries. 532 volts worth, to be exact. It had a top speed of 80mph and a range of approximately 60-80 miles per charge. “Ludicrous mode” for 1966!
On the proving ground, the Electrovair held its ground with its ICE counterparts with a respectable 0-60 time of 16 seconds. This while carrying an additional 1,300lbs in battery weight.
At the time, GM’s intentions on this project were not for mass production. They suspected, correctly, that practical battery power for a commuter car was still decades away. Silver-zinc batteries were heavy, expensive and wore out after about 100 charges. With a battery pack costing the equivalent of $160,000 2025 dollars and a range of 60-80 miles on a charge, the Electrovair never left the concept stage. What the car DID do was prove that battery power was achievable and could be used for mass production once science caught up.
The Electrovair is currently on display at the GM Heritage Museum in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
It’s curious to wonder how much ‘ol Elon and the movers and shakers at Tesla leaned on the Electrovair when it came to imagination, design and engineering.
If you want to learn more about the Electrovair, there is quite a bit of good information out there. Below are a couple of really good in-depth articles that we borrowed from for this brief show and tell.
Hotcars: This was the worlds fastest electric car in the 1960’s by Angel Sergeev
SFBA CORSA 
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