Electrosport

Last updated

Electrosport
ElectosportLogo.svg
Overview
ManufacturerElectric Fuel Propulsion Company
Production1971 – 1974
Assembly Detroit, Michigan, United States
Body and chassis
Class Compact
Body style 4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine DC series traction
Transmission 3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 108 in (2,743 mm)
Length181 in (4,597 mm)
Width70.6 in (1,793 mm)
Curb weight 5,500 lb (2,500 kg)

The Electrosport (also described as "Electric-sport" [1] ) was a compact-sized electric vehicle based on the AMC Hornet that were converted by the Electric Fuel Propulsion Company (EFP) of Ferndale, Michigan.

Contents

Design

The zero-emission Electrosport concept cars were made using American Motors Corporation (AMC) Hornet sedans and “Sportabout” station wagons from 1971 until 1974. [2]

The Electrosport was designed to be a supplementary vehicle for commuting or daily chores and to be recharged at home using household electric current as well as at Charge Stations when away from home to replenish power in 45 minutes. [3] [4]

The company also established the “World's First Electric Car Expressway” between Detroit and Chicago - a distance of about 300 miles (483 km) - that consisted of Interstate 94, but with six 50 kW charging stations that were located at Holiday Inn hotels near the highway. [5] Additional charging stations were planned. [3]

An EFP designed 20 hp (15 kW; 20 PS) direct current series-wound traction motor (the size of a one-gallon paint can) was bolted through an aluminum adapter plate to the car's standard clutch and 3-speed manual transmission. The motor was similar to that offered to teams in the Great Electric Race and capable of speeds up to 90 miles per hour (145 km/h). [6] A total of 24 six-volt “TriPolar” cobalt-lead storage batteries were mounted under the hood and under a plywood floor in the trunk. These improved lead-cobalt batteries recharge fast and can go as many as 250 miles (400 km) between charges. [6]

The company, and its president, Robert R. Aronson, were awarded several patents including the "Fifth Generation Lead Cobalt Battery". [7] One 12-volt battery was provided for the car's lights and accessories. The solid-state, stopless controller was a modified unit from a forklift truck. An auxiliary gasoline heater with a one-gallon tank provided heat and defrosting. The system was called "Thunderbolt" by EFP and was billed as potentially installable in many different standard production Detroit automobiles.

The exterior of the Electrosport was differentiated from regular production Hornets by a one-piece solid fiberglass body-colored panel in place of the AMC's silver and black plastic grille. [8] Additional gauges were added to the instrument panel. The Hornet's gas cap covered the three-prong plug mounted in the former fuel tank filler hole to which an extension cord connected to 220-volt AC power.

While reviewing a prototype, Motor Trend magazine indicated that cruising in second gear keeps the motor close to its 7000 revolutions per minute maximum will draw the least amount of electric current from the batteries, thus achieving a further range between recharges. The non-assisted brakes required a lot of pressure on the pedal because of the heavy weight of the car with its batteries – a total of 5,500 pounds (2,495 kg) in a chassis designed for 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) created problems. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph was described as rather slow at 30 seconds, but flooring the accelerator in third gear produced the same sensation as in a large-sized car with a V8 engine and automatic transmission, clocking 12.5 seconds to go from 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 113 km/h).

An Electrosport was used by the Golden Valley Electric Association of Fairbanks, Alaska, as a test to help deal with the increasing ice fog in the city. [9] This thick, choking fog is caused when water vapor from automobile exhaust and other sources meets an air mass that is too cold to disperse it, as well as cold enough to crystallize it. [9] The 5-passenger vehicle was capable of reaching 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in below freezing weather, and after 50 to 100 miles (80 to 161 km) of driving, its onboard fast-charger could replenish the batteries in less than 60 minutes. [9]

The Electrosport was also tested and analyzed in a report about the impact of future use of electric cars in the Los Angeles region in 1974, [10] as well as in a technical report on the performance of the Electrosport electric vehicle in 1975 by the United States Department of Energy. [11] [12]

The Electrosport was marketed as "a unique addition to the premium car market" and this was reflected in the station wagon's delivered price of UD$11,900 (state and local taxes not included). [3] The company's target sales for the all-electric car were the New York City, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, Florida markets. [13] The plan was for EFP to be the first (modern) mass producer of electric autos with an expected order of 400 station wagons for the Electric Vehicle Council of the Edison Electric Institute. [14]

In 1971, the average price for 1 US gallon (3.8 L; 0.8 imp gal) of gasoline was 36 cents (in the United States). [15] For comparison, the original list price (manufacturers suggested retail price) of a standard gasoline-powered 1972 Hornet Sportabout station wagon was $2,587. [16] Popular Science magazine noted that "you'll have to be a true idealist to place an order..." [17]

Legacy

Apollo Energy Systems later made other electric car models, including the 1972 X-144 Electric Car (based on an AMC Gremlin, the 1974 Santa Fe Luxury Sedan (based on an AMC Matador, and the 1978-2000 Silver Volt I. [1] The technology developed by EFP has since been taken over by Apollo Energy Systems (AES). [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMC Gremlin</span> Compact car produced by American Motors Corporation

]]

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid vehicle</span> Vehicle using two or more power sources

A hybrid vehicle is one that uses two or more distinct types of power, such as submarines that use diesel when surfaced and batteries when submerged. Other means to store energy include pressurized fluid in hydraulic hybrids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric vehicle</span> Vehicle propelled by one or more electric motors

An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. It can be powered by a collector system, with electricity from extravehicular sources, or it can be powered autonomously by a battery. EVs include, but are not limited to, road and rail vehicles, surface and underwater vessels, electric aircraft, and electric spacecraft. For road vehicles, together with other emerging automotive technologies such as autonomous driving, connected vehicles, and shared mobility, EVs form a future mobility vision called Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric (CASE) Mobility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMC Hornet</span> Compact car produced by American Motors Corporation

The AMC Hornet is a compact automobile manufactured and marketed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) and made from 1970 through 1977 — in two- and four-door sedan, station wagon, and hatchback coupe configurations. The Hornet replaced the compact Rambler American line, marking the end of the Rambler marque in the American and Canadian markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMC Concord</span> Compact cars produced by American Motors Corporation

The AMC Concord is a compact car manufactured and marketed by the American Motors Corporation for model years 1978–1983. The Concord was essentially a revision of the AMC Hornet that was discontinued after 1977, but better equipped, quieter, and smoother-riding than the series it replaced. It was offered in four-door sedan, two-door coupé, three-door hatchback, and five-door station wagon configurations. The Concord was AMC's volume seller from the time it appeared until the introduction of the Renault Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive engine</span> Car and truck technology

There are a wide variety of propulsion systems available or potentially available for automobiles and other vehicles. Options included internal combustion engines fueled by petrol, diesel, propane, or natural gas; hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrids, fuel cell vehicles fueled by hydrogen and all electric cars. Fueled vehicles seem to have the advantage due to the limited range and high cost of batteries. Some options required construction of a network of fueling or charging stations. With no compelling advantage for any particular option, car makers pursued parallel development tracks using a variety of options. Reducing the weight of vehicles was one strategy being employed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Volt</span> Range extended electric automobile

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid manufactured by General Motors, also marketed in rebadged variants as the Holden Volt in Australia and New Zealand and the Buick Velite 5 in China, and with a different fascia as the Vauxhall Ampera in the United Kingdom and as the Opel Ampera in the remainder of Europe. Volt production ended in February 2019.

All-electric range (AER) is the maximum driving range of an electric vehicle using only power from its on-board battery pack to traverse a given driving cycle. In the case of a Battery electric vehicle (BEV), it means the maximum range per recharge, typically between 150 and 400 miles. For a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), it means the maximum range in charge-depleting mode, typically between 20 and 40 miles. PHEVs can travel considerably further in charge-sustaining mode which utilizes both fuel combustion and the on-board battery pack like a conventional hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric vehicle battery</span> Battery used to power the electric motors of a battery electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle

An electric vehicle battery is a rechargeable battery used to power the electric motors of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric car</span> Car propelled by an electric motor using energy stored in batteries

An electric car or electric vehicle (EV) is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric traction motors, using only energy stored in batteries. Compared to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric cars are quieter, more responsive, have superior energy conversion efficiency and no exhaust emissions and lower overall vehicle emissions. The term "electric car" normally refers to battery electric vehicle (BEV), but broadly may also include plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battery electric vehicle</span> Type of electric vehicle

A battery electric vehicle (BEV), pure electric vehicle, only-electric vehicle, fully electric vehicle or all-electric vehicle is a type of electric vehicle (EV) that exclusively uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs, with no secondary source of propulsion. BEVs use electric motors and motor controllers instead of internal combustion engines (ICEs) for propulsion. They derive all power from battery packs and thus have no internal combustion engine, fuel cell, or fuel tank. BEVs include – but are not limited to – motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, railcars, watercraft, forklifts, buses, trucks, and cars.

The BugE is a one-passenger, three-wheeled battery electric vehicle designed by Mark Murphy of Blue Sky Design in 2007. It can reach up to 40 mph in standard form, and can run for 30 miles on a full charge. The BugE is licensed as a motorcycle and can run on all major streets in the United States of America. A fully completed BugE vehicle is as of May 2015 is listed at $5,732.30 USD.

Apollo Energy Systems is a U.S. multinational alternative energy corporation headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida, that develops, produces, and markets fuel cell power plants, electric propulsion systems, and alternative energy generation equipment. The company was founded by Robert R. Aronson in 1966 as the Electric Fuel Propulsion Corporation (EFP) in New Orleans, Louisiana. It later became known as the Electric Auto Corporation (EAC), and in 2001 changed to Apollo Energy Systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac ELR</span> Motor vehicle

The Cadillac ELR is a two-door, four-passenger luxury plug-in hybrid compact coupé manufactured and marketed by Cadillac for model years (MY) 2014 and 2016 – with a hiatus for MY 2015. Using a retuned version of the Chevrolet Volt's Voltec EREV drivetrain, the ELR's lithium-ion battery pack delivers an all-electric range of 37–39 miles (60–63 km) and a top speed of 106 mph (171 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan Hypermini</span> Car model

The Hypermini is a two-seater electric microcar by Nissan Motors, which produced 219 of the cars in 1999–2001 for the Japanese market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Range anxiety</span> Fear of insufficient vehicle range, especially in electric vehicles

Range anxiety is the driver's fear that a vehicle has insufficient energy storage to cover the road distance needed to reach its intended destination, and would thus strand the vehicle's occupants mid-way. The term, which is now primarily used in reference to the practical driving range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), is considered to be one of the major psychological barriers to large-scale public adoption of electric cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Focus Electric</span> 5-door hatchback electric car produced by Ford

The Ford Focus Electric is a 5-door hatchback electric car that was produced by Ford. The Focus Electric is Ford's second production all-electric vehicle, and was made from December 2011 to May 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Volt (second generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The second generation Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid electric compact car produced by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand. It debuted at the 2015 North American International Auto Show to replace the original Volt, on sale since 2010. Retail deliveries as a 2016 model year began in October 2015 in the U.S. and Canada, and it was released in Mexico in December 2015. Availability of the 2016 model was limited to California and the other 10 states that follow California's zero emission vehicle regulations. It went on sale as a 2017 model year in the rest of the U.S. in February 2016. Volt production ended on February 15, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Bolt</span> Electric hatchback marketed by Chevrolet

}}

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultium</span> EV battery and motor architecture

Ultium is an electric vehicle battery and motor architecture developed by General Motors. It is being deployed for battery electric vehicles from General Motors portfolio brands along with vehicles from Honda and Acura.

References

  1. 1 2 "Series I models". Apollo Energy Systems. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  2. ↑ Anderson, Curtis D.; Anderson, Judy (2004). Electric and Hybrid Cars: A History. McFarland. p.  47. ISBN   9780786418725 . Retrieved 9 February 2023– via archive.org.
  3. 1 2 3 Electrosport (sales brochure), Electric Fuel Propulsion Company of Detroit, Michigan, 1971
  4. ↑ Packard, Chris (August 1971). "The Next Sound You Hear Will Your Electric Car B-Z-Z-Z-Z". Motor Trend. Vol. 23, no. 8.
  5. ↑ "Electric Car Expressway". Apollo Energy Systems. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Cambridge or Bust, Pasadena or Bust" (PDF). Engineering and Science. Vol. 32, no. 1. October 1968. p. 17. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Patents and Trade Marks (PDF), Apollo Energy Systems, archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2012, retrieved 9 February 2023
  8. ↑ "Electric-Sport Station Wagon 1971". Apollo Energy Systems. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 "Alaskans Nominate Electric Car to Defeat Ice Fog". Machine Design. 1971. p. 6.
  10. ↑ Hamilton, W. (1975). Impact of future use of electric cars in the Los Angeles region. Santa Barbara, California: General Research.
  11. ↑ Technical Information Center (1977). Energy research abstracts. Oak Ridge, Tenn.: U.S. Department of Energy.
  12. ↑ Hamilton, W.F.; Eisenhut, E.J.; Houser, G.M.; Sojvold, A.R. (October 1974). Impact of future use of electric cars in the Los Angeles region. Vol. 2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. p. 75. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Artman, James, ed. (1972). "Fleet Car News - all-electric Hornet from Detroit". The Commercial Car Journal. 123: 19. Retrieved 9 January 2023– via Google Books.
  14. ↑ "Transportation Facts and Trends". What's Happening in Transportation. Transportation Association of America. 1971. p. 11. Retrieved 9 February 2023– via Google Books.
  15. ↑ "1971 Economy/Prices". 1970s Flashback. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Price guide: 1972 American Motors Hornet Prices and Values 4 Door Station Wagon". NADA guides. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  17. ↑ Norbye, Jan P. (June 1972). "A view down the road". Popular Science. Vol. 200, no. 6. p. 22. Retrieved 9 February 2023– via Google Books.
  18. ↑ "History". Apollo Energy Systems. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.