Shelby SuperCars to Build World's Fastest Electric Car, the Ultimate Aero EV
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 07.18.08
Introducing the Ultimate Aero Electric Car
Shelby SuperCars makes the kind of cars that have over a 1,000 hp and can reach 250 mph. Not what you'd immediately associate with "low emissions" and "powered by clean energy", but the times they are a-changin'. Shelby's next hyper-fast car will be an electric vehicle.
Based on the SCC Aero (pictured above), the Ultimate Aero EV should break electric car speed records (as as we've seen in our overview of 17 electric cars, some of them are speed demons). "Powered by a 500 horsepower electric motor, the Ultimate Aero EV will have true supercar performance. Additionally, SSC is exploring the potential of a twin 500 horsepower electric power plant producing 1,000 horsepower in a 2 or 4 wheel drive configuration." We bet the version with 2 motors can turn you into jelly just with the acceleration G force.
Years Between Charges?!
The weirdest thing (which might be a mistake) in Shelby's press release is this sentence:
"The drive train under development will feature a revolutionary power source allowing for extended time between charging intervals with the possibility of several years between charging."
Years? What are they talking about? Unless they mean that the Ultimate Aero EV is going to be a series plug-in hybrid and that you can run it on gasoline via a generator, it's simply not a very believable statement.
What Role Do These Super EVs Play?
We don't expect everybody to start driving Shelbys anytime soon. These cars are important because of the R&D that goes into them, but also because they are 'halo' cars that will inspire generations of young boys and car nuts to look at electric cars. It might even help produce the next generation of engineers that will be more interested by batteries than by cylinders.
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Soon all the fastest cars will be electric. Nice.
My guess it is a typo in the press release.
What they meant to say is:
It can run for years before you need to replace the batteries.
I've been saying that one of the best ways of "selling" the idea of electric cars is to go with muscle cars first. Change the image from "golf cart" to "muscle car". Great to see that it's going that way.
Additionally, due to the massive benefits gained by electric engines during acceleration, I think a major place where electric cars can shine is on drag-racing and tractor-pull events.
Perhaps they're going to power this thing with a minature nuclear reactor. That could take care of the years between charges.
Im sick of hearing about faster than speed limit, $50K - $100K plus cars!!!
I want to hear about a car that carries 4 plus cargo, is fwy legal and under $15K!
Cmon!
500HP electric motor? Wow, that's amazing. Car is gorgeous too.
John said:
I think that every single opportunity an electric car has to prove its worth should be made, and I think that a lot of people in the motoring world put a lot of stock in "muscle" and "performance" vehicles. Proving to them that "electric" can mean "performance" is (again, imho) key in shifting to electric vehicles for all.
I would love having $15k electric vehicles on the road. I look forward to the major design overhauls that can take place with the advent of battery technology (think about a car that doesn't have a front-end taken up by a huge honkin' engine, for example), as well as an increased trend toward developing micro-cars that us single people can use for our commutes.
True,
My friend's cousin has the 'golf cart' idea of electric cars. I keep telling him to check out the NEDRA site - National Electric Drag Racing Association. And also see what amateurs are able to achieve.
He will believe.
vsk
The Tango T600 made by CommuterCars sports two FB1 Advanced DC electric motors. It already does 0-60mph in less than 4 seconds. $3000 in solar panels is all you would need for a lifetime's supply of renewable energy and is already less in price than the annual fuel costs of most cars today.
Not only that, it'll take up significantly less space than this super exotic.
The Tango has been kicking it like this since 2001.
"I want to hear about a car that carries 4 plus cargo, is fwy legal and under $15K!"
@John: So would I. But you're missing the point. 120 years ago it took a LOT of R&D to make ICE cars cheap enough for the masses. And the early adopters paid for it. So it was with computers, and Hi-Def TV, and most other new technologies.
So consider that every expensive electric car or serial hybrid that gets produced is making the next generation cheaper and better. Also realize that electric cars need to maximize their range, and the easiest way to do this is by minimizing weight. Most current batteries simply will not give the range most people would want if you made them move a sedan with 4 passengers plus cargo.
Horsepower is not impressive. Anyone can build a bigger motor. Efficiency, on the other hand, takes true talent.
will we see bigtime car racing go electric one day? Diehard powered NASCAR? An F1 race without multicylinder engine/exhaust noises? Fast battery swaps at Indy?...DB
"Horsepower is not impressive. Anyone can build a bigger motor. Efficiency, on the other hand, takes true talent."
That's the beauty of electric motors. You can have both!
that car is really grate but the hum of an electric motor will never be nearly enjoyable as the snarl of an internal combustion engine at full throttle.
"that car is really grate but the hum of an electric motor will never be nearly enjoyable as the snarl of an internal combustion engine at full throttle."
Maybe not to those who grew up with it, but I bet a new generation will find gas cars crude and noisy and boring.
"I want to hear about a car that carries 4 plus cargo, is fwy legal and under $15K!"
Comments like this seem to be depressingly common on this site, and others looking at cutting edge technology. Anthony's answer pretty much nails it but I think it's a bit sad that whenever something is a step in the right direction lots of people don't see the potential and just complain that it's not a big enough step.
It's easy to criticise from the armchair- "why doesn't someone just invent a car that's just the same as the one I have now but zero emissions?"
Unfortunately making this a reality isn't as easy as just wishing it were so. Cars like this and the Tesla are helping to make it happen.
A 500 hp motor?
This just replaces the ICE and changes little.
What I would prefer is 4 125 hp motors, with each controlling a wheel to the exact torque that will max out the tires road grip. This would be a quantum leap in handling and speed and acceleration.
Meanwhile, for those looking for the electric 15 k family mobile ... BYD Electric car china is half way there with E6, a 30 k production car. The planned F3DM is a lot like a Toyota Corolla, but electric, and going to be cheaper.
250 eh? the bucatti veyron has topped to 252 mph so how the hell has this came about it cant be faster than 252mph unless numbers has went backwards now has it?
also mentioning bucatti has 1082hp not a thousand so unlucky shelby but bucatti has beat you on this one
Danial, I'm prtty sure the bugatti isn't electric. Duh.
don't. Be foolish it will never happen ! Because there is trillions left on the table ! Black gold !
250 eh? the bucatti veyron has topped to 252 mph so how the hell has this came about it cant be faster than 252mph unless numbers has went backwards now has it?
The veyron's top speed is set at 252MPH. The new Shelby has reports of going upwards of 257MPH, making it the new record holder.
The fact that this is an electric car just adds to the this cars ability to put any car fanatic in awe.