General Motors 'EV1' To Receive First CALSTART 'Blue Sky Award'

First of New Awards Given for Outstanding Contributions to Clean Air and Advanced Transportation Industry

Washington, D.C.-- May 15, 1996 -- General Motors' world-leading electric car, the EV1, and the company's plans to bring it to market this fall, have been selected to receive the inaugural CALSTART Blue Sky Award, given for outstanding contributions to clean air and the advanced transportation industry.

The Blue Sky Award is a newly instituted international designation created by CALSTART, California's advanced transportation consortium. It formally recognizes significant efforts not only to develop clean vehicles and technologies, but to actively bring them to the marketplace, thereby creating jobs and cleaning the air. The award announcement came at a Washington, D.C. reception honoring General Motors. The formal presentation will come at a California ceremony.

"We are honored to be selected for the first Blue Sky Award because of all this award represents," commented Robert Purcell, executive director of General Motors Advanced Technology Vehicles, which developed the EV1. "General Motors intends to make a business of advanced technology vehicles. This is not just a show car. The EV1 is bound for consumers this fall, and the Blue Sky Award recognizes that commitment."

"GM's actions with its EV1 are outstanding and should be recognized as such. We are proud to share a friendly podium to honor actions we both support," said Michael J. Gage, president and CEO of CALSTART, the California-based consortium. "GM's launch of the EV1 has helped a new industry in California, Michigan and globally. Other automakers cannot afford to let GM get too far ahead, so this creates competition and drives market opportunities. The car is great, but moving to the market took guts and we recognize that commitment."

The EV1 electric car incorporates 23 new technology patents in its design and is billed as the world's most energy-efficient vehicle. Renamed from the famous "Impact" prototype, which has logged over 370,000 consumer test miles in 9 cities nationwide, the EV1 will be sold by Saturn retailers in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson starting Fall of 1996.

Bringing clean cars to market creates jobs and helps clean the air – that's why the Blue Sky Award is oriented toward significant market actions. However, a potential award recipient can be a manufacturer, developer or user of an advanced transportation product or service. Blue Sky Award winners can be selected for bringing new vehicles or vehicle technologies to market; for significant implementation of clean transportation options; for significant technological breakthroughs that affect the marketplace, or for a combination.

"GM's action represents the epitome of what we want to recognize," noted CALSTART's Gage. "It will place an advanced clean vehicle on the road, creating jobs in California, Michigan and elsewhere. The vehicle creates zero emissions and is the most energy efficient in the world. The Blue Sky Award will honor real actions like these to bring new, clean and efficient advanced transportation to consumers."

The Blue Sky Award selection committee includes as its inaugural members CALSTART and its industry partners, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Coalition for Clean Air.

CALSTART and its more than 185 participants state and nationwide are dedicated to the creation of an advanced transportation industry, with the dual goals of creating quality jobs and cleaning the air. Participants in this unique partnership include defense, aerospace and electronic technology firms, vehicle manufacturers, transit and government agencies, labor and environmental groups, and all the state's major utilities.