Another EV startup surfaces, but for how long?
Yet another electric vehicle start-up has popped up on the ABG radar, this time with a home base in Parker, CO. Electric City Motors has created a four seat, four door hatchback called, surprisingly enough, the Current. We spoke to company owner Satyenvra Gripatia, who lays claim to the design of the Current. The Current appears to be the same car produced by Zhangjiagang Elecars Manufacturer Co in China. Service/R&D technician Ron (he declined to give his last name) said the car was being assembled in the U.S. Make of that what you will. According to the Electric City Motors website, the Current is electronically limited to 65 mph and has a range of 65-200 miles depending on which size of lithium polymer battery pack is installed.
For $28,995, your commuting distance will be limited to the lower end of that range. An extra $15,000 will buy you enough battery to, theoretically, at least, approach that magical 200-mile barrier. The company site says the car has been crash test rated. However, that does not actually mean that the car has been physically crash tested. According to Gripatia, they have done computer crash simulations which the design has passed. The site also claims a 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds with the 40kW motor. Even with a weight of only 1,600lbs, and the torque of an electric motor, 53hp just doesn't seem like quite enough to actually approach that kind of acceleration. The weight also doesn't seem to go hand-in-hand with meeting safety standards, especially when you factor in the weight of batteries. Gripatia claims they will be ready to start delivering cars in about 3-4 months. At least unlike Zap's conveyances, this one has four wheels. All I can say is caveat emptor.
[Source: Electric City Motors, thanks to Zerothlaw for the tip]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jake 10:04PM (3/28/2008)
Sounds a little fishy to me. If I was a prospective EV buyer with the $30k/$45k cash and didn't need a new car immediately, I would wait a couple of years (and maybe earn interest on the money) b/c there's a lot of possible choices coming up in the near future from major automanufacturers (iMIEV, R1e, or if PHEVs will do: Prius PHEV, Volt, Volvo Recharge). We just have to get them to make the cars in significant enough numbers and sell them in the US.
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brainiacmike 12:32PM (7/24/2009)
Well, I am actually friends with Ron, who builds these cars with ST. I would agree, without knowing details that these cars might seem "fishy". I am integrally familiar with the ENTIRE production process, and EVERY component. I am AMAZED and impressed with the quality and the range and acceleration of these vehicles. Remember the EV1? Well, these cars, in my opinion, have outperformed anything that the EV world has produced thus far, at a VERY reasonable cost. I am sure the Rockefellers, and the Oil company scoundrals would not want a viable competing EV, but, here it is... I, for one, would not hesitate to buy these cars, or invest in the company, since these are truly remarkable people, and a remarkable product. I have seen these vehicles traveling at 70mph, and with GREAT battery life... Is it safe? ...I would put these cars up against a smart-car, or Geo-Chevy Metro, any day of the week. Good luck, ST, and Ron -- You have accomplished a remarkable feat. Keep up the GREAT work. ....Michael K. --Littleton, CO --their website is http://coloradoautoconnection.com or http://electriccitymotors.com.....
Yanquetino 10:36PM (3/28/2008)
Hmmm. Given what Google searches can reveal about the characters at Zap, Spark EV, and Hybrid Technologies, it makes sense to issue a caveat emptor --at least for now.
I suspect that Satyenvra Gripatia is actually Satyedvra (S.T.) Tripathi in Parker, Colorado, who two years ago was the owner of "Elizabeth RV and Automotive Center," but a year ago opened the "Colorado Auto Connection." Just two months ago he announced the Current via that company (http://denver.yourhub.com/Denver/Stories/News/General-News/Story~425390.aspx). Perhaps he has since established a subsidiary with the name "Electric City Motors" to exclusively handle the EV business...?
A Denver Post story shows Tripathi next to a ZENN in his showroom (http://origin.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6172612), yet his business doesn't appear in ZENN's map of retailers. Maybe they haven't updated it...?
Most interesting of all, however, is that Colorado Auto Connection's web page about the Current claims that "It's here! Come and test drive one today!" (http://www.coloradoautoconnection.com/the_current.asp).
So... all you Green Autobloggers in the Denver, Colorado, area should tootle right over there and let the rest of us know how well it drives! We'll be waiting to read your reports!
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Wave54 11:26PM (3/28/2008)
Hmm... something smells fishy here. Up to a 200-mile range with a charge time of no more than 2 hours and 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. How did they manage to outperform every other company developing EVs?
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stevefazek 1:13AM (3/29/2008)
anyone else notice it has first gen ford focus head lights?
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jake 1:38AM (3/29/2008)
@stevefazek
I'm quite sure those don't look even remotely like first gen focus headlights because I'm a focus fan:
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2000/ford/focus/11751/photos.html#
The focus's headlights are triangular while this one's is more of a trapezoid.
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Kevin 2:14AM (3/29/2008)
Yes i agree with all post above me . It does sound to good to be true . How can they outperform everybody else with piratically developing their batteries in their back yard.Unless there is something they are not telling us (such as the battery manufacturer) then i will believe it when i see i !
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sai sankar 1:07AM (3/30/2008)
The clip below is from their website:
February 2007: Electric City Motors becomes a U.S. distributor of the Current by Quanxing Transport Equipment Company.
December 2007: Electric City Motors receives the first shipment of the Current. Now available for purchase!
The cars seem to be the same old Chinese NEV.
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Niralisherni 4:59AM (3/29/2008)
Sound a bit pie-in-the-sky to me, believe it when i see it.
Meanwhile ZAP, even though some of their vehicles, and not all have three wheels is the only viable EV on the roads today. Take a look at all their EV options at http://www.zapworld.com (you WILL find four wheels there, since there appears to be an aversion to three wheels)
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Yanquetino 12:04PM (3/29/2008)
Niralisherni:
Huh??? ZAP has "the only viable EV on the roads today"? I thought that the only ZAPs available were NEVs (the Xebra that they import from China). And if I were in the market for an NEV, I would rather have a ZENN (http://www.zenncars.com/): they are MUCH more "viable" than Xebras, believe me!
All the other vehicles ZAP touts in its web pages and press releases, all those four-wheeled, highway-capable EVS, are only vaporware at this point. I suggest that you read this article at Wired: http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-04/ff_zapped.
If you know anybody, ANYBODY, who actually possesses a ZAP Obvio 828 or Zap-X or Alias... hey, let us know!!!
In the meantime, I think that the Tesla Roadster and AC Propulsion's eBox are both "viable" EVs, aren't they? And in Europe the Th!nk City is already rolling off the production line.
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Henry 1:39PM (3/29/2008)
Sam,
Either this guy is BSing or your chinese is no so good.
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dmw183 4:28PM (4/04/2008)
I have contacted Electric Motor Company and they said that are ready to roll within 90 days. They have the inventory and they are currently looking for dealers.
The have an attractive offer for potential dealers only $25,000 investment. I send an email to them for more information about this and I got a phone call within an hour!!! While the conversation went pretty well I need to do some more research.
I'd hate to investment my money, quit my job, and venture out into an industry that I know nothing about only to find out it was all a sham! So, if anyone has any more information on these guys (either about their vehicles or their business practices) please let me know. I'm VERY interested.
-Derrick Williams
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Yanquetino 10:07AM (4/05/2008)
Derrick: I would advise a generous helping of prudence, garnished with a sprinkling of skepticism. A con man is just as capable as a legitimate distributor (nay, moreso) of calling you back within the hour (consider Zap or Spark EV or Hybrid Technologies, for example).
On the other hand, this might very well be a bona fide startup. Were I in your shoes, I would want the following reassurances before investing anything:
* Ready to roll "in 90 days" doesn't cut it for me: the distributor has to already be rolling.
* I would have to see that EV with my own eyes, and thoroughly test drive it.
* I would also want to verify that this outfit has several of those vehicles on the lot --not just one. WHERE is that so-called "inventory" that they claim to already "have"?
* I would want to make sure that the DOT has approved of the EV as safe and meeting all federal requirements.
* I would want to know the EV's specs. If it doesn't have lithium power (but rather something like lead-acid), if the motor isn't at least as powerful as those in an RAV4-EV, if it doesn't have regenerative braking, etc.... I'd pass, thanks. The point is, quite a few EVs that meet those standards will start appearing within the next 1-2 years (Th!nk City, Subaru R1e, Mitsubishi iMiEV, Phoenix, Aptera, etc.); you don't want to end up trying to sell an inferior product.
Good luck! Just PLEASE keep us posted about what you find out.
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dmw183 5:11PM (4/06/2008)
Thanks for the response. Yes I am approaching this thing with some skepticism. Both as a consumer and as a possible business man. After putting some thought into it I am drafting up a list of questions for my friends out in Colorado. That's the first step. But before anything, I believe the best thing for me to do is wait until these vehicles hit the market. And see how well they do as far as their reliability and performance.
And if it means that I have to fly out to Colorado (from Pennsylvania) to see verify this myself then, I might just have to do that. I'd much rather spend a couple hundred dollars for a plane ticket verses paying in the $1000's for a vehicle that doesn't live up to it's billing or, worse yet, spend even more money in a business venture that is doomed to failure.
So definitely, I'll kAeep you guys posted. Thanks for your input.
-Derrick Williams
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Travis 3:08AM (6/12/2008)
I'm just down the road from The Colorado Auto Connection (I live in Littleton, CO). I've been meaning for months to get out there to give one of these a good hard test drive.
With gas averaging $4/gallon nationwide, it would seem to me that the market is ripe for a decent, affordable full-speed EV dealership. There's one other dealer in the Denver Metro area that used to sell EVs (the only thing on their lot now is a couple of E-Ride NEVs).
I'll stop by the Colorado Auto Connection and give the Current a run-down and let you know how it goes. I wish I had the money to invest as a dealer... anyone interested in spotting me? ;o)
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chknbone45 1:07PM (1/21/2010)
i have driven and work for 'S,T,' he is not to be trusted.he hasn't paid his employees in over 6 mths.and hes company is in the tiolet run from this man he is not to be trusted with 2 cents!
Cody 12:13PM (2/03/2010)
Travis-
Did S.T. really get all of his cars seized? Do you know if they were assembled? Do you know what he has left at his shop? What was the seizure for?
gregg stachacz 7:54PM (6/17/2008)
Travis or for that matter,anyone else who wants to know about the current electric car,e-mail me at roaddriver@live.com. I have been involved with the current electric car for 3 years.By the way,it should be ready within 90 days.I am a major investor in this project. chicago,gregg
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set4qwc 2:31AM (11/02/2008)
FYI guys .... this car supposedly used their electrolyte tech ... http://www.microbubbletech.com/CNTbattery.html
From this site ...
"First 400 mile, 5 minute full recharge car
The Current From www.electriccitymotors.com
will utilize lead acid battery with the CNT(Carbon
Nano Tube)Technology. CNT Technology with
most batteries will provide 800% increase in
the reserve capacity, and will decrease recharge
time to 5-10 minutes" ... hmmmm ... eestor-like ...
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Travis 11:31AM (2/07/2009)
My apologies for not getting back to here sooner, but I have had little to report.
I had an opportunity to stop in on Colorado Auto Connection one fine Saturday morning late in September 2008. The only person in the shop was ST himself and he graciously gave my two sons and I a tour of the facility. The green car pictured in this article and the vehicle offered to be available for test drives was out of state when I stopped by, but he did have three vehicles recently in from shipping that were being assembled in the shop. Apparently, the vehicles were designed by ST himself and are manufactured in China (for obvious cost savings reasons alone. According to ST to reach this stage of development and production in the US would have cost approximately $1B whereas by doing it overseas it was done for approximately $3M).
I got my hands on one of the production vehicles (I believe it was the red one now picturd on their website) and must say I was dutifully impressed. The vehicle has the solid feel of any compact car on the road today, e.g., the Kia Rio, Honda Civic or Ford Focus. In fact, it looks similar to the four-door Ford Focus hatchback and according to ST is actually a little larger than the Focus. ST proudly showed me the vehicles crumple zones and the crash bar hidden behind the bumper that he explained is not a standard safety feature on many vehicles of similar size (like the ones I sited as examples).
What impressed me most (beyond seeing an actual vehicle work in progress that has a real chance of competing with the average ICE) is that among the dealers that have signed up to sell the Current is one of Colorado's major ICE dealerships with six locations in Colorado. I won't mention them by name as I'm not certain what their agreement entails, but it was my understanding that they plan to put these vehicles on the showroom floors alongside their own models as an alternative.
When I was there in September, ST said the three vehicles in the shop would be ready for demo use during the first week of October. I haven't had an opportunity to head back out to Colorado Auto Connection, but intend to soon. Gas prices may have dropped since last summer when they reached record highs, but I still believe in these vehicles and their place on our roads. When I get out there, I'll be sure to take my camera and get some excellent snaps.
[I am in no way related to or associated with Colorado Auto Connection, Electric City Motors or S.T. Tripathi. I am an EV enthusiast that deserately wants to see them succeed.]
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