Motorola’s Secret C4 Corvette EV Prototype Has Been Found

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Not much is known about this mysterious C4 Corvette EV, including why it was built in the first place.

It’s no secret that a Corvette EV is in development, as General Motors itself has hinted that such a machine will arrive at some point in the near future. When that happens, it will mark a monumental shift for the long-running sports car, and not one that’s terribly popular with a lot of folks. Regardless, it certainly won’t be the first all-electric Corvette ever made, as quite a few shadetree mechanics have already converted a variety of cars in that manner. However, many may not even be aware that smartphone maker Motorola built its own C4 Corvette EV way back in the 1990s.

The company purchased a 1987 Corvette convertible many years ago that wasn’t just transformed into a fully-functioning EV, but it was also apparently just as quick as a regular ICE-powered version from the same era. However, virtually no information exists on this build, even in today’s world, which is particularly strange and disappointing. Regardless, The Drive was able to not only dig up some details on the Corvette EV recently, but they also discovered that it’s still alive and kicking.

This wild electrified Corvette is currently in the possession of Larry Brosten from Auto Parts City that’s located near Chicago, Illinois. Sadly, the previous owner left the car sitting outside in the winter, which messed up the batteries to the point where it doesn’t currently run. In virtually every way, few would even notice that there’s something different going on here, aside from the EV plate and Motorola badges everywhere, until you pop the hood and notice all the high voltage cables and associated gear.

The Corvette EV features deep-cycle batteries located in the trunk, under the floor, and beneath the hood, and the car even sports a manual transmission. It’s unclear how much power it makes, what sort of range it offered, or how fast it charges, but given the decades-old tech here, those numbers probably aren’t going to impress anyone. However, paperwork included with the car notes that at 320 volts and 1,000 amps, it should theoretically make around 428 horsepower.

 

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It’s unclear why, exactly Motorola built this thing, though it could have been exploring the idea of getting into making cars – even electric ones – decades ago. Regardless, information on this project is hard to come by, aside from some internal memos and various pieces of paperwork that were clearly drawn up by engineers. With any luck, someone with more knowledge on this bizarre, secretive project will turn up and fill in those holes at some point in the future.

Photos: Kevin Williams for The Drive

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