AC Propulsion joins the current trend of exotic, electric-powered vehicles with its converted Scion xB, or ebox.
AC Propulsion joins the current trend of exotic, electric-powered vehicles with its converted Scion xB, or ebox.
The SUV uses lithium-ion batteries found in laptop computers. Interestingly, while the batteries can be fully charged within 2 hours when connected to a 240-volt, 80-amp powersource, the system is “bidirectional”. That means that if the batteries can send back any excess juice to the power grid while it’s sitting in your garage.
So what do you get for a $55,000 engine? (That’s right; the Scion is separate.) The customized xB delivers 160 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 6 in seconds. It has a driving range between 140 to 180 miles before the next recharge.
Worth the price? The Tesla Motors Roadster, which costs nearly a $100,000, can travel from 0-60 in less than 5 seconds and has a range up to 250 miles before its next 3.5 hour recharge. Oh, and it looks like a Porsche Carrera.
I think I’d save my pennies for the latter….
1 comment so far
I’m sure each of these oddball electrics has its fans, but I think for mass-market appeal, they’ve got to make them look like real cars, like the Tesla. Not that the xB isn’t a “real” car, it’s just that I don’t know if anyone dreams about owning one at night, other than a 16-year-old about to get his driver’s license. The Tesla, on the other hand…that’s the stuff that eco-friendly dreams are made of!
December 13th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
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