Car History 4U
Home arrow Green Cars arrow 7 : Battery Powered Cars arrow 7.12 United States
Environmentally Friendly / Green Cars: United States (US) Print E-mail
7.12  United States 
  •  7.12.1.  Henney Kilowatt

    • In 1959 an electric car called the Henney Kilowatt was produced for the National Union Electric Company (the producer of Exide Batteries).

    • The 1959 models ran on a 36-volt system that consisted of 18 sequential two-volt batteries. The 36-volt cars had a top speed of 40 mph (64 kph) and a maximum range of about 40 miles (64 km).

    • A 72-volt system was fitted to the 1960 model. It employed 12 sequential six-volt batteries. The 1960 Kilowatt had a top speed of nearly 96 kph (60 mph) with a range of over 96 km (60 miles).

    • It is thought that only 47 cars were built. 24 were sold as 1959 models and 8 as 1960 models. None of the 1960 models being sold to the public due to the high cost of  the 72-volt system.

    • The last cars may have been sold as late as 1962. 

  • 7.12.2.  General Motors

    • In about 1964 General Motors produced an experimental electric car called the Electrovair 1.

    • It was built to prove the feasibility of electric drive for passenger vehicles pending the availability of a practical high energy battery.

    • The electric car was a modified 1964 Corvair and was powered by zinc-air batteries. The drive system consisted of a 120 lb, 12,000 rpm, 3-phase induction motor, capable of producing 115hp.

    • In 1966 GM produced the Electrovair II. Twenty-two years later, in 1988, GM funded research to build a practical consumer electric car.

    • The resulting vehicle became known as EV1 and was based on a prototype vehicle called the Impact.

    • A modified EV1 prototype set an electric vehicle land speed record of 183.8 mph (294 kph) in 1994.

    • Between 1996 and 1999 GM produced 1,117 EV1 cars, which were only leased, never offered for sale.

    • The car had a top speed of 80 mph (128kph) and accelerated from 0 to 30 mph in under 3 seconds and 0 to 60 in under 9 seconds.

    • The EV1 cars were originally fitted with lead acid batteries and had a maximum range of 75 miles (120 km), which later increased to 100 miles (160 km) when fitted with 26 12V Panasonic lead-acid batteries.

    • By 1999 the cars were fitted with 26 13.2V Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries and had a maximum range of  150 miles (240 km).

    • Towards the end of 2003 GM cancelled their EV1 program.
       
  • 7.12.3.  Sebring-Vanguard

    • A two-door, two-seater electric car called the Vanguard Citicar was produced from 1974 to 1976. It had a top speed of 44 mph (70 kph) and a typical warm weather range of 40 miles (64 km). Check the top speed figure.

    • It was fitted with 8 x 6V lead acid batteries. About 2,200 cars were produced.

    • In 1977 the company producing the car was sold and the new owner started to build a new version of the car, whilst maintaining the original shape. The original 3.8hp motor was replaced by a 5hp one.

    • The improved car was called “ComutaCar”. In about 1986 the ComutaCar Company ceased trading.

  • 7.12.4.  Chevrolet

    • About 500 Chevrolet Electric S-10 vehicles were produced between 1997 and 1999. 

    • The S-10 EV was powered by a 114hp, three-phase, AC induction motor. The lead acid power pack consisted of 27 batteries. In 1998, lighter weight NiMH batteries were also available.

    • The car had a max range of  60 miles (96 km) and a top speed of 70mph (112 kph).

  • 7.12.5.  AC Propulsion

    • The Tzero was an electric powered sports car produced by the AC Propulsion Company. Three prototypes were built between 1997 and 2003.

    • The 2003 version was powered by 6,800 lightweight lithium-ion cells. It had a range of 300 miles (480 km) and accelerated from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

    • The car had a top speed of just over 140 mph (225 kph), although it was never run at  greater than 105 mph (169 km/h). 

  • 7.12.6.  Ford

    • The Ford Ranger EV was a battery powered electric vehicle that was produced between 1998 and 2002/3. 1,500 were produced.

    • The vehicle was fitted with NiMH batteries and had a range of about 65 miles (104 km).
       
  • 7.12.7  Solectrica Corporation

    • The Solectria Sunrise was an electric car designed and built in the 1990s. It did not go into production and only a few prototypes were built.

    • In 1996 it achieved a range record of 375 miles (600 km) on a single charge.



     
 
[ Back ]
© copyright - form and function
seasoned web design manchester