![Paul Scott and Barbara with Zero electric motorcycle [photo: Charles Ryan-Barber]](https://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/paul-scott-and-barbara-with-zero-electric-motorcycle-photo-charles-ryan-barber_100644912_t.gif)
Most of the U.S. was unaware that modern electric cars got their start in California between 1996 and 2002. Many of the earliest owners and EV advocates from those days remain involved 20 years later, though their names may be familiar only to a small group of activists. One of those people is Paul Scott, who's been part of several important... Electric-car pioneer Paul Scott looks back on 15 years of plugging in
Most of the U.S. was unaware that modern electric cars got their start in California between 1996 and 2002. Many of the earliest owners and EV advocates from those days remain involved 20 years later, though their names may be familiar only to a small group of activists. One of those people is Paul Scott, who's been part of several important... ![Bill Nye in new 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, Jan 2017 [photo: Oskar Liners, Community Chevrolet, Burbank]](http://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/bill-nye-in-new-2017-chevrolet-bolt-ev-jan-2017-photo-oskar-liners-community-chevrolet-burbank_100590950_t.gif)
Bill Nye, better known as "The Science Guy" on the popular PBS children's series that bears his name, loves electric cars. He drove one of only a few hundred original GM EV1 two-seat electric cars almost 20 years ago. Three weeks ago, he took delivery of a brand-new "Kinetic Blue" 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV—and he says he couldn't be happier... 
Twenty years ago today, the very first GM EV1 electric cars were delivered to 40 lessees in California in a blaze of publicity. Since then, plug-in electric vehicles have seen more than their share of ups and downs. That first EV1 was a high-tech two-seater created specifically to meet California's then-current zero-emission vehicle rules...