General Motors has revisited one of its early experiments in electric mobility by highlighting the XP 512E, a compact electric concept car first unveiled in 1969. Although the model never entered series production, the company is using the reintroduction to emphasize its longstanding involvement in the development of electric drive systems.
The XP 512E, officially named the 512 Electric Experimental, debuted in May 1969 during General Motors’ “Progress of Power” exhibition at the Warren Technical Centre in Michigan. Measuring just 2.19 meters in length and 1.42 meters in width, the fibreglass-bodied vehicle weighed 567 kilograms and featured a removable soft top.
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Equipped with an 84-volt lead-acid battery pack and a DC motor mounted on the rear axle, the vehicle could travel up to 58 miles at 25 miles per hour, or 47 miles at a top speed of 30 miles per hour, according to GM. “This was no speed demon,” the company noted, citing an acceleration of 0-30 mph in 12 seconds.
Charging the XP 512E took approximately seven hours using a standard 115-volt household socket available at the time. The vehicle was also fitted with a secondary 12-volt battery to power basic accessories such as headlights, wipers, a horn, and a heater with defroster. Designed with cab scooter elements, the model featured a swiveling soft top and a front-opening access door, offering seating for two passengers and including a steering wheel, brake and accelerator levers, and an ashtray.
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The XP 512E was one of three 512 city car concepts showcased at the 1969 event, alongside a gasoline-powered roadster and an early plug-in hybrid capable of traveling up to 150 miles on a full charge and tank of fuel. General Motors’ broader efforts in electrification continued into later decades with projects such as the 1996 GM EV1, one of the first mass-produced electric cars by a major automaker, and the 2010 Chevrolet Volt, which the company described as the first commercially available plug-in hybrid in the United States.