Bringing EV tech from the moon to earth

Forty-five years after the first Lunar Rover trip, electric vehicle engineers continue to innovate. In July 1971, Apollo 15 astronauts explored the moon in the first electric-powered $38 million Lunar Rover, with some assistance from General Motors engineers.

The Rover was a textbook example of pushing the envelope of creativity. Working at light speed, GM, in cooperation with partner companies, developed, designed and tested the Lunar Rover. Engineers from GM helped create a revolutionary electric motor drive system, suspension, mesh wire wheels and a unique drive controller adapted for lunar gloves.

Project chief engineer Ferenc Pavlics and his team thought outside the box to solve challenges for both for astronauts and future EV customers. Almost 50 years after the project, Pavlics still remembers the innovation and commitment required to build an electric vehicle with unprecedented performance.

“When our team began engineering for the Lunar Rover, there were so many unknowns, including varied terrain, extreme temperatures and the effect of reduced gravity,” said Pavlics, now retired. “We pushed the boundaries of automotive technology and worked hand in hand with the astronauts on the vehicle’s design.”

Pavlics sees a connective thread between his work then and Chevrolet’s contemporary electric vehicles like the Bolt.

“The Bolt EV required a new architecture to upend the status quo on electric driving,” said Michael Lelli, vehicle chief engineer. “We drew on our deep electrification expertise to provide Chevrolet customers the first long-range, affordable electric car.”

The same innovative spirit helped engineer an electric vehicle like the Bolt. Except today’s EV drivers don’t have to wear space suits.

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