Electrosport
Encyclopedia
The Electrosport was a compact electric vehicle
built by the Electric Fuel Propulsion Company (EFP) of Ferndale, Michigan
.
s were made using American Motors
(AMC) Hornet
sedans and “Sportabout” station wagons from 1971
to 1974.
The Electrosport was designed to be a supplementary vehicle for commuting or daily chores and to be recharged at home using household current as well as at Charge Stations away from home to replenish power in 45 minutes.
The company also established the “World’s First Electric Car Expressway” between Detroit
and Chicago
(a distance of about 300 miles (483 km)) that consisted of Interstate 94
, but with six 50 kW charging stations that were located at Holiday Inn
hotels near the highway. Additional charging stations were planned.
An EFP designed 20 hp direct current
series-wound traction motor
(the size of a one-gallon paint can) was bolted through an aluminum
adapter plate to the car’s standard clutch
and 3-speed manual transmission
. The motor was similar to that offered to teams in the Great Electric Race and capable of speeds up to 90 miles per hour (40 m/s). A total of 24 six-volt “TriPolar” cobalt
-lead
storage batteries
were mounted under the hood
and under a plywood
floor in the trunk
. These improved lead-cobalt batteries recharge fast and can go as many as 250 miles (402.3 km) between charges. The company, and its president, president, Robert R. Aronson, was awarded several patents including the "Fifth
Generation Lead Cobalt Battery". One 12-volt battery was provided for the car's lights and accessories. The solid-state, stopless controller was a modified unit from a forklift truck
. An auxiliary gasoline heater
with a one-gallon tank provided heat and defrosting. The system was called "Thunderbolt" by EFP, and was billed as potentially installable in many different standard production Detroit automobiles.
The exterior of the Electrosport was differentiated from a regular Hornet by a one-piece solid fiberglass
body-colored panel in place of the AMC's silver and black plastic grille
. Additional gauges were added to the instrument panel. The Hornet’s gas cap covered the three-prong plug mounted in the former fuel tank filler hole to which an extension cord connected to 220-volt AC power
.
While reviewing a prototype, Motor Trend
magazine indicated that cruising in second gear keeps the motor close to its 7000 revolutions per minute
maximum will draw the least amount of electric current
from the batteries, thus achieving further range between recharges. The non-assisted brakes required a lot of pressure on the pedal because of the heavy weight of the car with its batteries – a total of 5500 pounds (2,495 kg) in a chassis designed for 3000 lb (1,360.8 kg) creates problems. Acceleration
from 0 to 60 mph
was described as rather slow at 30 seconds, but flooring the accelerator in third gear produced the same sensation as in a large-sized car with a V8 engine
and automatic transmission, clocking 12.5 seconds to go from 50 to 70 mph (80.5 to 112.7 km/h).
An Electrosport was used by the Golden Valley Electric Association of Fairbanks, Alaska
, as a test to help deal with the increasing ice fog
in the city. This thick, choking fog is caused when water vapor
from automobile exhaust and other sources meets an air mass that is too cold to disperse it, as well as cold enough to crystallize
it. The 5-passenger vehicle was capable of reaching 60 miles per hour (27 m/s) in below freezing
weather, and after 50 to 100 mi (80.5 to 160.9 km) of driving, its on-board fast-charger could replenish the batteries in less than 60 minutes.
The Electrosport was also tested and analyzed in a report about the impact of future use of electric cars in the Los Angeles
region" in 1974, as well as in a technical report on the performance of the Electrosport electric vehicle in 1975 by the United States Department of Energy
.
The Electrosport was marketed as "a unique addition to the premium car market" and this was reflected in the station wagon's delivered price of UD$
11,900 (state and local taxes
not included). The company's target sales for the all-electric car were the New York City
, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, Florida
markets. In 1971, the average price for 1 gallons (3.8 l) of gasoline
was 36 cents (in the United States). For comparison, the original suggested retail price
(MSRP) of a standard gasoline-powered Hornet Sportabout wagon was only $2,587. Popular Science
magazine noted that "you'll have to be a true idealist to place an order..."
, the 1974 Santa Fe Luxury Sedan (based on an AMC Matador
, and the 1978-2000 Silver Volt I. The technology developed by EFP has since been taken over by Apollo Energy Systems
(AES).
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...
built by the Electric Fuel Propulsion Company (EFP) of Ferndale, Michigan
Ferndale, Michigan
Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
.
Design
The zero-emission Electrosport concept carConcept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
s were made using American Motors
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
(AMC) Hornet
AMC Hornet
The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation in one generation beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. The Hornet replaced the compact Rambler American marking the end of the Rambler marque in the American and Canadian markets...
sedans and “Sportabout” station wagons from 1971
to 1974.
The Electrosport was designed to be a supplementary vehicle for commuting or daily chores and to be recharged at home using household current as well as at Charge Stations away from home to replenish power in 45 minutes.
The company also established the “World’s First Electric Car Expressway” between Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
(a distance of about 300 miles (483 km)) that consisted of Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
, but with six 50 kW charging stations that were located at Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
hotels near the highway. Additional charging stations were planned.
An EFP designed 20 hp direct current
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
series-wound traction motor
Traction motor
Traction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
(the size of a one-gallon paint can) was bolted through an aluminum
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
adapter plate to the car’s standard clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
and 3-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. The motor was similar to that offered to teams in the Great Electric Race and capable of speeds up to 90 miles per hour (40 m/s). A total of 24 six-volt “TriPolar” cobalt
Cobalt
Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found naturally only in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal....
-lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
storage batteries
Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery or storage battery is a group of one or more electrochemical cells. They are known as secondary cells because their electrochemical reactions are electrically reversible. Rechargeable batteries come in many different shapes and sizes, ranging anything from a button cell to...
were mounted under the hood
Hood (vehicle)
The hood or bonnet is the hinged cover over the engine of motor vehicles that allows access to the engine compartment for maintenance and repair. In British terminology, hood refers to a fabric cover over the passenger compartment of the car...
and under a plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
floor in the trunk
Trunk (automobile)
The trunk or boot of an automobile or car is the vehicle's main storage, luggage, or cargo compartment. Trunk is used in North American English and Jamaican English; boot is used elsewhere in the English speaking world. Trunk is also primarily used in many non-English speaking regions, such as...
. These improved lead-cobalt batteries recharge fast and can go as many as 250 miles (402.3 km) between charges. The company, and its president, president, Robert R. Aronson, was awarded several patents including the "Fifth
Generation Lead Cobalt Battery". One 12-volt battery was provided for the car's lights and accessories. The solid-state, stopless controller was a modified unit from a forklift truck
Forklift truck
A forklift is a powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials. The modern forklift was developed in the 1920s by various companies including the transmission manufacturing company Clark and the hoist company Yale & Towne Manufacturing...
. An auxiliary gasoline heater
Gasoline heater
A gasoline heater is a small, mounted or portable, gasoline-fueled, space-heating device.In the United States they were used mainly for supplemental heat for the passenger compartments of automobiles and aircraft. Some aircraft continue to use gasoline heaters.-Operation:First, fuel is brought to...
with a one-gallon tank provided heat and defrosting. The system was called "Thunderbolt" by EFP, and was billed as potentially installable in many different standard production Detroit automobiles.
The exterior of the Electrosport was differentiated from a regular Hornet by a one-piece solid fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
body-colored panel in place of the AMC's silver and black plastic grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
. Additional gauges were added to the instrument panel. The Hornet’s gas cap covered the three-prong plug mounted in the former fuel tank filler hole to which an extension cord connected to 220-volt AC power
AC power
Power in an electric circuit is the rate of flow of energy past a given point of the circuit. In alternating current circuits, energy storage elements such as inductance and capacitance may result in periodic reversals of the direction of energy flow...
.
While reviewing a prototype, Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
magazine indicated that cruising in second gear keeps the motor close to its 7000 revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
maximum will draw the least amount of electric current
Electric current
Electric current is a flow of electric charge through a medium.This charge is typically carried by moving electrons in a conductor such as wire...
from the batteries, thus achieving further range between recharges. The non-assisted brakes required a lot of pressure on the pedal because of the heavy weight of the car with its batteries – a total of 5500 pounds (2,495 kg) in a chassis designed for 3000 lb (1,360.8 kg) creates problems. Acceleration
Acceleration
In physics, acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. In one dimension, acceleration is the rate at which something speeds up or slows down. However, since velocity is a vector, acceleration describes the rate of change of both the magnitude and the direction of velocity. ...
from 0 to 60 mph
0 to 60 mph
The time it takes to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph is a commonly used performance measure for automotive acceleration in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the rest of the world 0 to 100 km/h is used...
was described as rather slow at 30 seconds, but flooring the accelerator in third gear produced the same sensation as in a large-sized car with a V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
and automatic transmission, clocking 12.5 seconds to go from 50 to 70 mph (80.5 to 112.7 km/h).
An Electrosport was used by the Golden Valley Electric Association of Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
, as a test to help deal with the increasing ice fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
in the city. This thick, choking fog is caused when water vapor
Water vapor
Water vapor or water vapour , also aqueous vapor, is the gas phase of water. It is one state of water within the hydrosphere. Water vapor can be produced from the evaporation or boiling of liquid water or from the sublimation of ice. Under typical atmospheric conditions, water vapor is continuously...
from automobile exhaust and other sources meets an air mass that is too cold to disperse it, as well as cold enough to crystallize
Crystallization
Crystallization is the process of formation of solid crystals precipitating from a solution, melt or more rarely deposited directly from a gas. Crystallization is also a chemical solid–liquid separation technique, in which mass transfer of a solute from the liquid solution to a pure solid...
it. The 5-passenger vehicle was capable of reaching 60 miles per hour (27 m/s) in below freezing
Freezing
Freezing or solidification is a phase change in which a liquid turns into a solid when its temperature is lowered below its freezing point. The reverse process is melting....
weather, and after 50 to 100 mi (80.5 to 160.9 km) of driving, its on-board fast-charger could replenish the batteries in less than 60 minutes.
The Electrosport was also tested and analyzed in a report about the impact of future use of electric cars in the Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
region" in 1974, as well as in a technical report on the performance of the Electrosport electric vehicle in 1975 by the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
.
The Electrosport was marketed as "a unique addition to the premium car market" and this was reflected in the station wagon's delivered price of UD$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
11,900 (state and local taxes
Taxation in the United States
The United States is a federal republic with autonomous state and local governments. Taxes are imposed in the United States at each of these levels. These include taxes on income, property, sales, imports, payroll, estates and gifts, as well as various fees.Taxes are imposed on net income of...
not included). The company's target sales for the all-electric car were the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
markets. In 1971, the average price for 1 gallons (3.8 l) of gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
was 36 cents (in the United States). For comparison, the original suggested retail price
Suggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
(MSRP) of a standard gasoline-powered Hornet Sportabout wagon was only $2,587. Popular Science
Popular Science
Popular Science is an American monthly magazine founded in 1872 carrying articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the ASME awards for its journalistic excellence in both 2003 and 2004...
magazine noted that "you'll have to be a true idealist to place an order..."
Legacy
Apollo Energy Systems later made other electric car models, including the 1972 X-144 Electric Car (based on an AMC GremlinAMC Gremlin
The AMC Gremlin is a two-door subcompact car produced in the United States and Canada by the American Motors Corporation between 1970 and 1978. AMC reduced its development and manufacturing costs by adapting a shortened Hornet platform with a Kammback-type tail...
, the 1974 Santa Fe Luxury Sedan (based on an AMC Matador
AMC Matador
The AMC Matador is a mid-size car that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from 1971 to 1978. The Matador came in two generations: 1971 to 1973 and a major redesign from 1974 to 1978...
, and the 1978-2000 Silver Volt I. The technology developed by EFP has since been taken over by Apollo Energy Systems
Apollo Energy Systems
Apollo Energy Systems, Inc is a US multinational alternative energy corporation headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida that develops, produces and markets fuel cell power plants, electric propulsion systems, and alternative energy generation equipment...
(AES).