Shelby Supercars makes some incredible claims about its upcoming EV
In mid-2008, Shelby Supercars announced that it would follow up its 254 mph Ultimate Aero with an all-electric version. Unfortunately the company was sparse on details, with little more than the claim that it would have a pair of 500 hp electric motors. A new press release today yields a few more details, but unlike the initial specs these are far less believable. The 150-200 mile range might be plausible were it not for that 1,000 hp output. That's three times the output of a Tesla Roadster.
From there things really go off the rails. The car will reportedly use some kind of lithium ion battery pack with some sort of indeterminate nanotechnology. The company claims it will be rechargeable in only ten minutes. If SSC were using Altairnano batteries, that claim might possible. However, they claim it can be done in 10 minutes from a 110V outlet. For the sake of argument, with a 50 kWh pack (a conservative estimate to get anywhere near 200 miles) a 10 minute charge with only 110V would require over 2,700 A of current, something you will not get from any existing 110V outlet. Hopefully next time Shelby opens up, they will provide some real details that are actually credible. Thanks to Amy for the tip!
[Source: Shelby SuperCars]
PRESS RELEASE:
Shelby SuperCars Announces Green/EV Technology Details
WEST RICHLAND, WA : January 21, 2009 - Shelby SuperCars (SSC) released the details today of the revolutionary electric vehicle technology to be unveiled in the second quarter of this year. SSC will reveal its innovative all-electric powertrain in the current Ultimate Aero, the Guinness Certified "Fastest Production Car in the World," to create the Ultimate Aero EV and will reinforce the company as a benchmark in the auto industry. But unlike other auto manufacturers, SSC's new technology will set a new standard in the electric car industry - one of 10 minute recharges, super horsepower and ranges of up to 200 miles per charge.While other auto manufacturers focus on producing Green technology for specific cars, SSC's focus is on producing Green technologies for a wide range of applications for an even wider range of vehicles. SSC's electric powertrain package, named AESP (All-Electric Scalable Powertrain) is unique due to its scalable horsepower, light weight, compact size, quick recharge time and liquid cooling.
SSC's Nanotechnology Rechargeable Lithium Battery pack is rechargeable in only 10 minutes on a standard 110 outlet and has a 150-200 mile range on a single charge. This means that in a typical 8 hour day, the car using this technology could go 200 miles, charge for 10 minutes (the time it typically takes to fill up a tank of gas), then drive 200 more miles, charge for 10 minutes and continue on. Some other EV technologies necessitate an overnight charge creating a class of "commuter electric cars" and are not practical alternatives to gas combustion automobiles.
The AESP's main feature is its scalability. The all-electric SUV or delivery truck is now a reality in the not-so-distant future. The AESP is scalable from 200 horsepower for economy and midsize cars, to 500 horsepower for light trucks and SUVs, and up to 1200 horsepower for delivery trucks, heavy duty equipment, buses and military vehicles. The revolutionary design proves electric-powered vehicles not only match, but also provide more linear power (electric motors have 100% torque at 0 RPM) and overall performance than internal combustion vehicles.
SSC Electric Powertrain Technology
* All-electric. No gasoline.
* Light weight. Just a fraction of the weight of a standard combustion engine (less than 200lbs.)
* Extended performance. Internal cooling systems are built into the motors.
* Compact size. 1/18 the space of a standard engine; significant increase in cargo room.
* Scalable horsepower. From 200 horsepower (one motor) to 1200 horsepower (two motors "piggy backed").
* Quick recharges. Only 10 minutes on standard 110 outlet.
The current AESP was designed to meet the manufacturing and quality requirements of major automotive manufacturers, transportation operators and the military. SSC will wholesale the AESP to mass production car companies, governments, and to public, private, and niche businesses. Costs for mass-produced units are $5K-$6K per unit for 1000 to 10,000 units (with further reduction in unit cost for increased production.)
SSC's next milestone will be the pursuit of the "World's Fastest Electric Car" with the Ultimate Aero EV later this year.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mirko 11:21AM (1/22/2009)
At least they innovate... who cares if they brake the laws of physics in the process.
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jharlan 11:42AM (1/22/2009)
Wow! Bring it on! I'm skeptical but hopeful. These guys have something, let's see what it is.
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GoodCheer 12:03PM (1/22/2009)
Don't forget, Sam, that peak power and efficiency are only at odds in ICE engines. Power electronics and electric motors capable of 1000hp will likely be MORE efficient at any given power output than components designed for lower power.
Of course the 10 minute charge claim is bunk... or maybe they mean a 110 Amp plug, at 2.8kV.... that would do it.
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meme 12:17PM (1/22/2009)
If you'll recall, they screwed up their last press release as well, claiming that the vehicle only needs to be recharged once every (ten?) years. When contacted about that, they corrected the record, stating that the battery pack had to be replaced that often. So it's possible that they simply have an ignorant PR person who's mixing up claims yet again.
I certainly hope that's the case :P
Sean 9:17PM (1/22/2009)
Yeah, maybe they mean "...is capable of being charged in 10 minutes OR from a standard 110V plug for convenience."
Matt 12:09PM (1/22/2009)
"Compact size. 1/18 the space of a standard engine; significant increase in cargo room."
Umm where do they plan to put the battery? On the roof?
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Jeff 12:20PM (1/22/2009)
Didn't you read the article? These are Nanotechnology Rechargeable Lithium Batteries™, magically tiny and delicious.
megan 3:46PM (1/22/2009)
is it wrong that part of the reason i have doubts is that Shelbyville is the town next door to Springfield in the Simpsons??
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Wes 12:20PM (1/22/2009)
They probably mean that it can be recharged from a 110V outlet, and that it can be recharged in 10 minutes, and didn't intend to suggest that the two were related. That would leave the confusion just around the issue that the 10 minute feat can't be accomplished from the 110V outlet.
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Mike!!ekiM 1:41PM (1/22/2009)
- Great about the modular design
- But, even better that the Nano-Tech batteries are Already Here. Version 2.0 is ready before version 1.0 has hit the road. These will be interesting times.
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JacobH 1:57PM (1/22/2009)
Maybe they are going to use some of those super-capacitor based ideas.
http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/01/ultrabattery-combines-supercapacitor.html
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10/20/biodiesel-turbine-super-capacitor-series-hybrid-hummer-60/
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/jun2006/bw20060628_655501.htm
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charlie 3:49PM (1/22/2009)
As goodcheer said, electric motors don't work the same way as gasoline motors in terms of energy use compared to percentage of peak output. Its going to be pretty close to a straight line, so using 20% of output is going to require something around 20% of peak energy... and so running the car through the EPA mileage cycle at what, 50 mph with no wind resistance? Not going to use that much energy.
As for the charging claims... I dont understand that one.
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Tim 3:58PM (1/22/2009)
Stanford's nanowire battery leapfrogs Li-ion
http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/19/stanfords-nanowire-battery-leapfrogs-li-ion/
Super-Charging Lithium Batteries
Nanowire electrodes could improve the performance of electric vehicles.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/20000/
There are NEWER and BETTER batteries on the near horrizon.
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Chris M 5:15PM (1/22/2009)
Um, Tim, that Stanford nanowire battery IS a type of lithium ion battery! Granted, it will be a great improvement in LiIon battery technology, once they figure out how to mass produce them reliably.
Zeph 4:24PM (1/22/2009)
The "laws of physics" zealots out there need to study the history of science, and indeed human history as a whole, to see if they can persuade themselves into an open mindset.
Just because people say it cannot be done, no matter what their authority, does not mean there is not a way. History tells us where there is a will there is a way. And there is clear bias in ivory tower academics, a clear self interest in their preferred worldview. I can't bring myself to trust them fully.
Now, I have no idea if the SSC electric missile will live up to hype, I just refuse to a priori tank it based on a scientific establishment which at best has a sketchy history and that dosen't even know if a photon is a particle or a wave.
Science is usefull as a framework for human endeavour and technology, it is useless in establishing what is possible or not, as only creativity and work will show us the latter. I have seen one man move a barn with nothing more than leverage and muscle power, so my mind is open to possibility.
Bring it on SSC.
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GoodCheer 5:18PM (1/22/2009)
"I just refuse to a priori tank it based on a scientific establishment which at best has a sketchy history and that dosen't even know if a photon is a particle or a wave."
Doesn't the fact that you know to ask this question mean that you do trust them?
Chris M 5:25PM (1/22/2009)
Sounds like a marketing exec who misunderstood the engineers, and didn't know enough about science and technology to realize he had misunderstood. That is a problem that has plagued many tech companies, GM had similar problems with their Volt press releases.
I'm betting that this car could be recharged in 10 minutes or less by using a special high voltage/high amperage power connection, OR could be charged in several hours using a standard 110 volt outlet. Just not both at once.
Some EVs are designed with built-in charge controllers that can work with a wide range of voltages and amperages, the Tesla Roadster is one, and this car may well be another.
I noticed that the press release gushed over the small size and light weight of the motors, but didn't mention the size or weight or capacity of the battery pack.
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Jeff 11:39PM (1/22/2009)
lol, the 10 minute 110V claim is awesome, it's like somebody who claims they made a perpetual motion device and will sell it to you for 2000$.... If this were true you'd be telling us on the front page of every newspaper, not on some infomercial, or a Shelby press release! They'd be quickly establishing a Nation-wide network of road-side coin-operated 110V sockets. EVs would have leapfrogged the fossil fueled engine in terms of practicality, with a quick refill never farther than your closest lamp.
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Bill 8:00AM (1/23/2009)
I just read this on the web site:
"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 10 minute full battery recharges on a 220 outlet."
http://www.shelbysupercars.com/news-012209.php
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Drumbum420 9:53AM (1/25/2009)
its called nanophosphate technology. been out now for bout a year and a half to generral pub. Fantasic cells for RC to :)
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