1990s-2000s

The modern electric vehicle era began in the 1990s, with the introduction of the Toyota RAV4 EV and the General Motors EV1. The Toyota RAV4 EV, introduced in 1997, was a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that had a range of about 100 miles (160 km) on a single charge. The General Motors EV1, introduced in 1996, was a battery electric vehicle that could travel up to 80 miles (130 km) on a single charge.

The EV1 was a significant step forward for electric vehicles, but it was not without controversy. GM leased the EV1 to customers, but it eventually recalled the vehicle due to concerns about its performance and range.