World's Fastest Electric Car??

[RAN]

From Autobloggreen:

"Shelby SuperCars, the American company behind the Ultimate Aero, the worlds fastest gas-powered production car, has announced they will unveil the worlds fastest electric car, the Ultimate Aero EV in February of 2009. They say they won't wait years to release it to a salivating public either, giving Q4 2009 as a delivery date. They say it will have an "exotic Supercar exterior" but all engineering details are being closely held for now. The little bit they did say about the drivetrain makes us question whether or not the whole project is some sort of joke. Perhaps its just a typo. SSC claims it will feature twin 500 hp electric motors powered by a battery that won't need a charge for 6 years."

The full article is here: Autobloggreen-Shelby SuperCars (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/16/shelby-supercars-building-worlds-fastest-electric-car/)

Also included in the article is a link to the fantastic Eliica Super EV that can smoke a Turbo Porsche from 0-100 MPH and has run over 230 MPH.

Considering some of Shelby's shenanigans in the recent past, this has to go in the "believe it when I see it" file for now, but the optimist in me keeps hoping that someone will step up to the plate and hit the 4-run homer in electricity storage/production that will truly propel us into the 21st century. Nikola Tesla supposedly did it 80 years ago, and still nobody can figure it out?

[Bulldog]

Shoot, if it goes 80 and no charge for 6 years, send me one!

[MVRacing]

RAN,
Nice find.
Thanks

[tugboatwilly]

Did the 1280# G.T. thing in the 60's and I am over it. I don't bend that well any more so sitting upright and just cruising fits me better.

[Mike kZ]

They already changed the battery charge time:

"Correction: Changed six years to several years"

[RAN]

They already changed the battery charge time:

"Correction: Changed six years to several years"

On the SSC site http://www.shelbysupercars.com/news-071208.php they allude to a "revolutionary power source allowing for extended time between charging intervals with the possibility of several years between charging."

It sounds to me like they may be using a "Revolutionary Power Cell" (see eVionyx's site: http://www.evionyx.com/vision.htm ). If so, I can't wait to see this prototype, although i don't see how it could generate power for years without recharging.

[Miracleman89]

If this is true then leave it to Carroll Shelby to come up with it! The man has always been ahead of his time when it came to producing cars that really performed!

[RAN]

Actually, the company was founded by Jerod Shelby... no relation to Carroll (which actually makes me feel better about the company and the car).

[Miracleman89]

oops!!! Well in that case it probably is a hoax!

[RAN]

oops!!! Well in that case it probably is a hoax!

I dunno... their first "wild claim" was that they'd build the fastest production car in the world... and they did.

Ultimate Aero (http://www.shelbysupercars.com/ultimate-aero.php)

[tugboatwilly]

It's a matter of timing.When they get caught doing 190 in the 45 zone they will be in the slammer for two or more years so they can't recharge untill they get out.

[RAN]

It's a matter of timing.When they get caught doing 190 in the 45 zone they will be in the slammer for two or more years so they can't recharge untill they get out.

Unless the warden lets them trickle charge it for the duration. j:o"k'e)

[RAN]

I still think these guys are the ones to watch. They weren't kidding when they said they'd build the fastest production car in the world... and thus far, there's no reason to believe they're kidding now.

They expect to have a prototype in Feb '09. Will they get theirs finished before VV???

[RAN]

SSC Announces Electric Powertrain and Ultimate Aero EV Specifications

WEST RICHLAND, WA (01/22/2009)
http://www.shelbysupercars.com/images/2009-ultimate-aero.jpg

Shelby SuperCars (SSC) released today the details of its revolutionary All-Electric Scalable Powertrain, the AESP. SSC will incorporate its AESP into thecurrent Ultimate Aero to create the Ultimate Aero EV. Being the "World's Fastest Production Car," SSC decided the Ultimate Aero to be the perfect high visibility outlet to demonstrate the capabilities of its new Green powertrain. Directly following the debut of the Ultimate Aero EV, SSC will conduct a live media event to showcase the capabilities of its revolutionary Green powertrain.
SSC will display its AESP in the Ultimate Aero EV in order to prove that electric-powered vehicles will not only match but also provide more linear power (electric motors have 100% torque at 0 RPM) and overall performance than internal combustion cars. The Ultimate Aero EV utilizes a twin motor AESP producing an astounding 1,000 HP and 800 lb-ft of torque enabling it to rocket to 60 mph in a mere 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 208 mph. Not only does the Ultimate Aero EV have a range of 150-200 miles on a single charge, but SSC's "Charge on the RunTM" onboard charging system allows for full battery recharges in as little as 10 minutes. SSC's 3-speed automatic transmission transfers the Ultimate Aero EV's power to its wheels and achieves electronically controlled shift times of .24 s. The entire AESP is liquid cooled allowing it to run for extended periods of time at peak performance with no overheating issues.
SSC's Green division, SSC Green, Inc., will provide packaged solutions of its AESP to a wide variety of applications ranging from 200 horsepower for economy and midsize cars, to 500 horsepower for light trucks and SUVs, and up to 1,200 horsepower for delivery trucks, heavy-duty equipment, buses and military vehicles.
SSC expects to roll out its first full-scale, pre-production Ultimate Aero EV in second quarter 2009. Ultimate Aero EV deliveries will start as early as fourth quarter 2009. SSC will pursue the title of "World's Fastest Production Electric Car" and conduct a marketing campaign consisting of international motor shows, magazine articles, TV appearances and live media events. Most importantly, SSC will conduct a live media event at one of America's superspeedways to prove its claims. During this event SSC Founder and Lead Designer, Jerod Shelby, and notable guests will drive laps at high speed pitting only to demonstrate the quick recharge times.

[MVRacing]

Hi RAN,
Thanks. I had read about this vehicle and company last year and lost track of them. Could you tell me the source of this latest?
Thanks

[RAN]

Yes, sorry. It's from their website, under News and Events: http://www.shelbysupercars.com/news-012209.php

[RAN]

from the SSC website (http://www.shelbysupercars.com/news-061809.php)

---------------------------------------------------------------


SSC GREEN, INC. SUBMITS GRANT TO EXPAND PRODUCTION LINE

WEST RICHLAND, WA (06/18/2009)
SSC Green, Inc. Submits Grant to Expand Production Line, Produce Enough Electric Powertrains to Satisfy 26% of President Obama's Goal to have One Million EV's on the Road by 2015.
SSC Green today announced it has submitted plans for approximately $30 million to the Department of Energy's Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative (FOA DE-FOA-0000026) to fund its current manufacturing facilities expansion plan. SSC Green and its partners would contribute half the funds with the Department of Energy contributing the remaining funds. The expansion would produce enough All-Electric Scalable Powertrains (AESP) to power 260,000 vehicles, 26% of President Obama's goal to have one million EV's on the road by 2015.
SSC Green's AESP is the final product of a revolutionary concept; a cost effective, mass-producible powertrain compact and power dense enough to fit a wide variety of applications. Each electric motor is power dense, weighing only 175 lbs, less than 1 cubic foot in volume with output of up to 500 hp, and scalable in single motor (100 hp – 500 hp) and twin motor (501 hp – 1000 hp) configurations. The physical size of the motor and controller remain the same for every application allowing for cost effective mass-production and ease of implementation. Computer programming alone, instead of costly re-tooling, scales the power output of the electric motors.
"A unique mindset and approach to innovating groundbreaking technology is a fundamental necessity in order to be a viable entity in the supercar market. Being the producer of the world's benchmark supercar it was logical to broaden SSC's scope to developing cutting edge Green technologies," said Jerod Shelby, President/CEO of SSC Green. "The philosophical and problem solving synergies between the Green and supercar markets are strikingly identical and have led us to the next breakthrough in automotive technology."
Major outcomes of the expansion to mass produce SSC Green's All-Electric Scalable Powertrain (AESP) include the creation of domestic jobs (70 immediate construction, 203 direct, and 12,000 indirect) and rapidly bringing to market a revolutionary technology to combat the downfalls of petroleum-based fuels (cost, foreign dependency, environmental impact). Additionally, SSC Green is sourcing raw materials and sub components for its exclusively US based AESP production from American suppliers, further stimulating all relevant industries. SSC Green's approach allows mass production of the AESP to begin 18 months from the project start date. By 2015, SSC Green will produce enough AESPs to power 260,000 vehicles, 26% of President Obama's goal to have one million EV's on the road by 2015. Additionally, SSC Green has received an overwhelming amount of broad bipartisan senate and congressional support from DC.
Another visionary concept is SSC's approach to utilizing battery technology. Battery technology is constantly changing, and to date manufacturers design their EVs around a specific battery technology. In this accelerated field, sooner than later, battery technology changes and EVs dependent on their technology along with their powertrains become dated. Engineered and designed to incorporate batteries as the technology evolves allows the AESP's design to remain effective and cutting edge over a long period.
SSC's electric powertrain does not require a new platform; it allows for simple implementation into current vehicles and applications. The logical and adaptable design allows mass manufacturers to cost effectively implement the AESP into multiple assembly lines and produce efficient electric vehicles immediately, without the long-term development of new models.
Overwhelming domestic and international response has recognized SSC Green's AESP as a revolutionary innovation. Inquiries for AESP purchase range from major US manufactures of various vehicles (RVs to SUVs). Equally important, SSC already has contracts to export the AESP to Japanese auto manufacturers, Chinese auto manufacturers, national and international government subsidized mass transit, and Hong Kong manufacturing plants, helping to draw foreign money back into the US.
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I still think these guys are the ones to watch. While all the OEMs drag their feet, these guys roll up their sleeves.