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Electrosport

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Electrosport
Overview
ManufacturerElectric Fuel Propulsion Company
Production1971 – 1974
AssemblyDetroit,Michigan,United States
Body and chassis
ClassCompact
Body style4-doorsedan
4-doorstation wagon
Powertrain
EngineDC seriestraction
Transmission3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase108 in (2,743 mm)
Length181 in (4,597 mm)
Width70.6 in (1,793 mm)
Curb weight5,500 lb (2,500 kg)

TheElectrosport(also described as "Electric-sport"[1]) was a compact-sizedelectric vehiclebased on theAMC Hornetthat were converted by the Electric Fuel Propulsion Company (EFP) ofFerndale, Michigan.

Design[edit]

The zero-emission Electrosportconcept carswere made usingAmerican Motors Corporation(AMC)Hornetsedans and “Sportabout” station wagons from 1971 until 1974.[2]

The Electrosport was designed to be a supplementary vehicle for commuting or daily chores and to be recharged at home usinghousehold electric currentas well as at Charge Stations when away from home to replenish power in 45 minutes.[3][4]

The company also established the “World's First Electric Car Expressway” betweenDetroitandChicago- a distance of about 300 miles (483 km) - that consisted ofInterstate 94,but with six 50 kW charging stations that were located atHoliday Innhotels near the highway.[5]Additional charging stations were planned.[3]

An EFP designed 20 hp (15 kW; 20 PS)direct currentseries-woundtraction motor(the size of a one-gallon paint can) was bolted through analuminumadapter plate to the car's standardclutchand 3-speedmanual 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 (145 km/h).[6]A total of 24 six-volt “TriPolar”cobalt-leadstorage batterieswere mounted under thehoodand under aplywoodfloor in thetrunk.These improved lead-cobalt batteries recharge fast and can go as many as 250 miles (400 km) between charges.[6]

The company, and its president, Robert R. Aronson, were awarded several patents including the "Fifth Generation Lead Cobalt Battery".[7]One 12-volt battery was provided for the car's lights and accessories. The solid-state, stopless controller was a modified unit from aforklift truck.An auxiliarygasoline heaterwith 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 regular production Hornets by a one-piece solidfiberglassbody-colored panel in place of the AMC's silver and black plasticgrille.[8]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-voltAC power.

While reviewing a prototype,Motor Trendmagazine indicated that cruising in second gear keeps the motor close to its 7000revolutions per minutemaximum will draw the least amount ofelectric currentfrom the batteries, thus achieving a 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 5,500 pounds (2,495 kg) in a chassis designed for 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) created problems.Accelerationfrom0 to 60 mphwas 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 aV8 engineand automatic transmission, clocking 12.5 seconds to go from 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 113 km/h).

An Electrosport was used by the Golden Valley Electric Association ofFairbanks, Alaska,as a test to help deal with the increasingice fogin the city.[9]This thick, choking fog is caused whenwater vaporfrom automobile exhaust and other sources meets an air mass that is too cold to disperse it, as well as cold enough tocrystallizeit.[9]The 5-passenger vehicle was capable of reaching 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in belowfreezingweather, and after 50 to 100 miles (80 to 161 km) of driving, its onboard fast-charger could replenish the batteries in less than 60 minutes.[9]

The Electrosport was also tested and analyzed in a report about the impact of future use of electric cars in theLos Angelesregion in 1974,[10]as well as in a technical report on the performance of the Electrosport electric vehicle in 1975 by theUnited States Department of Energy.[11][12]

The Electrosport was marketed as "a unique addition to the premium car market" and this was reflected in the station wagon's delivered price ofUD$11,900 (state and local taxesnot included).[3]The company's target sales for the all-electric car were theNew York City,Los Angeles, andPalm Beach, Floridamarkets.[13]The plan was for EFP to be the first (modern) mass producer of electric autos with an expected order of 400 station wagons for the Electric Vehicle Council of theEdison Electric Institute.[14]

In 1971, the average price for 1 US gallon (3.8 L; 0.8 imp gal) ofgasolinewas 36 cents (in the United States).[15]For comparison, the originallist price(manufacturers suggested retail price) of a standard gasoline-powered 1972 Hornet Sportabout station wagon was $2,587.[16]Popular Sciencemagazine noted that "you'll have to be a true idealist to place an order..."[17]

Legacy[edit]

Apollo Energy Systems later made other electric car models, including the 1972X-144 Electric Car(based on anAMC Gremlin,the 1974Santa Fe Luxury Sedan(based on anAMC Matador,and the 1978-2000Silver Volt I.[1]The technology developed by EFP has since been taken over byApollo Energy Systems(AES).[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Series I models".Apollo Energy Systems. Archived fromthe originalon 24 August 2011.Retrieved9 February2023.
  2. ^Anderson, Curtis D.; Anderson, Judy (2004).Electric and Hybrid Cars: A History.McFarland. p.47.ISBN9780786418725.Retrieved9 February2023– via archive.org.
  3. ^abcElectrosport (sales brochure),Electric Fuel Propulsion Company of Detroit, Michigan, 1971
  4. ^Packard, Chris (August 1971). "The Next Sound You Hear Will Your Electric Car B-Z-Z-Z-Z".Motor Trend.Vol. 23, no. 8.
  5. ^"Electric Car Expressway".Apollo Energy Systems. Archived fromthe originalon 24 August 2011.Retrieved9 February2023.
  6. ^ab"Cambridge or Bust, Pasadena or Bust"(PDF).Engineering and Science.Vol. 32, no. 1. October 1968. p. 17.Retrieved9 February2023.
  7. ^Patents and Trade Marks(PDF),Apollo Energy Systems, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 3 March 2012,retrieved9 February2023
  8. ^"Electric-Sport Station Wagon 1971".Apollo Energy Systems. Archived fromthe originalon 15 December 2010.Retrieved9 February2023.
  9. ^abc"Alaskans Nominate Electric Car to Defeat Ice Fog".Machine Design.1971. p. 6.
  10. ^Hamilton, W. (1975).Impact of future use of electric cars in the Los Angeles region.Santa Barbara, California: General Research.
  11. ^Technical Information Center (1977).Energy research abstracts.Oak Ridge, Tenn.: U.S. Department of Energy.
  12. ^Hamilton, W.F.; Eisenhut, E.J.; Houser, G.M.; Sojvold, A.R. (October 1974).Impact of future use of electric cars in the Los Angeles region.Vol. 2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. p. 75.Retrieved9 February2023.
  13. ^Artman, James, ed. (1972)."Fleet Car News - all-electric Hornet from Detroit".The Commercial Car Journal.123:19.Retrieved9 January2023– via Google Books.
  14. ^"Transportation Facts and Trends".What's Happening in Transportation.Transportation Association of America. 1971. p. 11.Retrieved9 February2023– via Google Books.
  15. ^"1971 Economy/Prices".1970s Flashback.Retrieved9 February2023.
  16. ^"Price guide: 1972 American Motors Hornet Prices and Values 4 Door Station Wagon".NADA guides.Retrieved9 February2023.
  17. ^Norbye, Jan P. (June 1972)."A view down the road".Popular Science.Vol. 200, no. 6. p. 22.Retrieved9 February2023– via Google Books.
  18. ^"History".Apollo Energy Systems. Archived fromthe originalon 12 November 2012.Retrieved9 February2023.
  • Performance of the Electrosport Electric Vehicle,Technology Assessment and Evaluation Branch - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 1974, EPA-AA-TAEB 75-3,retrieved9 February2023.Technical tests were conducted from August 1972 through July 1973.
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