16. 1996 EV1
The 1996 GM EV1 was a genuine leap into the future as the world’s first mass-produced electric car.
Its sleek, aerodynamic design and zero-emission powertrain arrived decades before the mainstream EV revolution.
Despite impressive performance and cult-like enthusiasm among drivers, the EV1 was ultimately doomed by limited charging infrastructure and a market not yet ready for electric mobility.
As Smithsonian Magazine notes, the EV1 was a visionary milestone that came far too soon for its own good.