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Factory First EV? 1991 GMC Electric G-Van

As a long-time fan of unusual EVs, both factory and conversions, I couldn’t pass up this 1991 GMC Electric G-Van. This odd, factory creation can be found on Craigslist, or here on the CL archive, in beautiful, warm, dry Tucson, Arizona where I should have moved after high school (not bitter). The seller is asking $4,700 or best offer for this silent hauler. Thanks to the eagle-eyed Rocco B. for sending in this super cool tip. Nice find, Rocco!

The first thing you know is there shouldn’t be a spec of rust on the van, or VanDura, since it’s from Tucson. If I lived there I’d have much more rust on me than this van does. This van looks like it just now silently glided out of the GM factory where it was made, and with a mere 18,382 miles on it, it should look like new. This isn’t an EV conversion like so many of these older (pre-modern era) battery-powered vehicles were. This is one of around 200 vans made by GM and the bottom-mounted battery packs and possibly the 60-mile range was deemed not enough for realistic use. But, then again maybe it was the $57,000 price and the fact that battery technology just wouldn’t be advanced enough until the last few years. Supposedly, these vans were to be the first “American made, modern electric vehicles to be produced in volume and distributed through a nationwide network”.

The interior also looks like new and with the battery packs being mounted under the van there’s still the same interior space as a gas or diesel-powered van. Other than the graphics on the side of the van and the black battery packs mounted underneath, there really isn’t a cue or a clue that this is anything but a regular internal-combustion-powered van. The driver’s position and view looks pretty much the same and there is still the whole rear section to load up with cargo or humans. This is, if nobody has to go more than 60 miles or faster than 55 mph. Maybe with new battery technology and a 120+ mile range it would be better. Have any of you heard of a GMC Electric G-Van?

Comments

  1. Avatar Rock On

    Pretty good price for a rust free van. Would be ideal for someone that drives less than 60 miles a day round trip.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Kirk

      Rock on,
      This van should easily double the range if given lithium batteries

      Like 2
  2. Avatar Suttree

    Could today’s batteries be retrofitted to this van giving more range and a weight savings?

    Like 8
    • Avatar JamestownMike

      Yes, but at what cost?? The old batteries and tray are said to weigh 2,000 pounds!

      Like 0
      • Avatar Kirk

        JamestownMike,
        Yes, the old lead / acid batteries weighed about 2175 pounds, add the battery mounting tray and you have about 2500 lbs of dead weight. With a lithium ion conversion that could be reduced to around 775 lbs.

        Like 2
  3. Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

    Wow, I’m surprised at there being only two comments on this one, and both of them are positive! Nice work, you two!

    Like 4
  4. Avatar Rock On

    Only true automotive fanatics like us can truly appreciate this find Scotty!

    Like 4
  5. Avatar Kenneth Carney

    Now here’s something I could really use
    living here in Florida. After hurricane Irma,
    gas was almost impossible to get. Add some solar panels to roof–
    the flexible types would be best as they can be
    cemented to the metal surface to aid in charging the batteries while the van is
    in motion or parked at the market. Add
    a plug in so that you can charge it using
    the solar power that you make with the
    solar generator that’s powering your
    house immediately after the storm
    passes. After all, other than OJ, sunshine
    is something we have the most of so why
    not use it. I could see my SIL driving me
    to our local car show in this thing, then
    opening it up and selling my artwork
    from it. And…I can guarantee that you’ll
    never see another one like it anywhere.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar JamestownMike

    I can’t find ANTHING online regarding this van. Can anyone else find ANYTHING?? It would be nice to hear some history and specs of this van from someone other than the seller.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar JamestownMike

    I found another person that has an electric powered 92 GMC Vandura………
    http://www.evalbum.com/1102

    Seems like there’s very limited information out there on these!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar JamestownMike

    I found another person that HAD an electric powered 89 GMC “Conceptor Electric” G-van……..
    http://www.evalbum.com/1413

    This previous owner also posted a link to a 1989 NY Times article showing this van sold for $32k new………..
    https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/15/business/at-last-a-practical-electric-vehicle.html?exprod=permalink&partner=permalink

    These van are said to use a GMC G35 1 ton “glider” chassis with no engine from GM. The electric conversion wasn’t done in-house by GM!

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Suttree

    It seems this van has a heater powered by diesel. This is great as an electric heater dramaticly decreases range. I understand the Nissan Leaf (& others) tries to overcome this with heated seats and steering wheel. Good luck on that.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Kirk

      Suttree,
      Yes you are right, the van has a small diesel powered heater much like that found on an over the road trucker would have.

      Like 0
    • Avatar James Curtis

      Yes, that van has a small 4 gallon tank that is filled with the normal gas door. When I first saw the fuel cap, filler neck and tank I thought to myself ??? This is supposed to be electric. It works great, just like the old heaters that the over-the-road truckers used.

      Like 0
  10. Avatar John

    Who can work on this can if it brakes down? Does it have AC?

    Like 0
    • Avatar Kirk

      John,
      It is in every way a standard GMC van other than the electric motor and batteries. Yes, it has A/C driven by a separate small electric motor.

      Like 0
  11. Avatar Kirk

    OMG, By chance I was googling G vans and was so surprisd t see my van featured here on barn finds. Thank you Rocco and Scotty ! Very happy to discover other people that understand the true nature of this vehicle. Please see my replies to comments below.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Todd Born

    I just bought a 1992 G Van. No batteries. Am towing home. Excited to get this all.running again. Has 12k miles on it. Like brand new. Garaged a decade. Sunny AZ. NEED MORE INFO

    Like 1
    • Avatar Phy

      How is your van coming along?

      Like 0
  13. Avatar James Curtis

    You can find free batteries for your G-Van at your local hospital, they are required to replace their deep cell emergency backup power supply every year regardless of the condition. These batteries are always kept in climate controlled condition and are often like new. Hope this helps you

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Derek

    I just got a 91 gmc electric van in AZ for 1200. Wirh 12k miles on it. No batteries. But has been in storage for 12 years. Looks nearly new

    Like 1

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