AC Propulsion TZero
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AC_Propulsion_TZero.jpg
The TZero is a hand-made electric sports car produced by the US company AC Propulsion. It is based on the Piontek Sportech kit car. The TZero uses a reinforced steel space frame, double wishbone independent suspension, rack and pinion steering, AC-150 drivetrain, a fiberglass body, and a single overall gear ratio of 9:1.
Because the car recharges its batteries when the throttle is released — slowing sharply as energy is recaptured — it can be driven hard using only the accelerator pedal. Also, if the car detects a turn with more than half a g-force (5 m/s²), it eases the rear-wheel regenerative braking to prevent slides.
The version debuted by AC Propulsion in August 2003 is powered by 6,800 lightweight lithium-ion laptop computer batteries, giving it a 300 mile (480 km) range. Lighter than the original version by 700 pounds (320 kg), the 2003 edition goes from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The single gear ratio limits the car's maximum velocity to just over 100 mph (160 km/h) at 13,000 rpm. The base price of the car is USD $220,000.
The original version of the roadster runs on 28 Optima Yellow Top Lead Acid batteries which produce 200 horsepower (150 kW) and 177 lbf·ft (240 N·m) of torque at 336 volts which rockets the 1040 kg car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.07 seconds. The single gear ratio limits the car's maximum velocity to 90 mph (145 km/h) at 12,000 rpm, although it is said that early prototypes fitted with multiple gear ratios could hit 155 mph (250 km/h). Even still, it is capable of completing a quarter mile (400 m) drag race in 13.24 seconds. The expected range per charge of the TZero with the batteries it comes with is 80 to 100 miles (130 to 160 km) as a result of consuming only 180 watt hours per mile (895 J/km) (DC) on the highway and due to regenerative braking. Within a single hour, the car can be charged from 0-95%. The base price of the car due to low volume production is USD $80,000.
AC Propulsion also has an backtracking range extending gas fueled trailer, making it a gas-electric series hybrid [1] (http://www.acpropulsion.com/Products/Range_extending_trailers.htm). The trailer used a 500cc Kawasaki engine with a 9.5 gallons (40 liter) fuel tank and achieved 30 to 35 mpg over at least 20,000 highway miles. It's rated at 20kW DC output and can maintain 60 to 80 mph. You just have to see the footage of the backtracking feature to understand what it's all about.
The name comes from t0, the mathematical symbol for a starting point in time.
External links
- TZero Homepage (AC Propulsion) (http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/tzero_home.htm)
- Video of TZero racing a 1996 Corvette C5 (http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_movies/tzero_corvette_drag1.mov)
- Video of TZero racing a 1996 Corvette C5 (http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/Ferrari_race/tzero_corvette.mov)
- Video of TZero racing a Porsche Carerra 4 (http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/Porsche_race/tzero_porsche3.mov)
- Video of TZero racing a Ferrari (http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/Ferrari_race/tzero_ferrari.mov)
- Video of TZero at a Drag Strip (http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_movies/tzero_drag_strip.mov)
- Video of the TZero being driven at Considine (http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_movies/Considine.mov)
- Video of the TZero being driven at Mt. Wilson (http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_movies/Mt_Wilson.mov)
- Lots of Zoom, With Batteries (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/19/automobiles/19ELEC.html) The New York Times, September 19, 2003de:hybridantrieb
es:vehículo híbrido et:Hübriidauto ja:ハイブリッドカー ms:Kereta kacukan nl:Hybride auto zh:混合動力車輛