Shelby Supercars promises breakthrough EV, delivers a lot of hyperbole
Shelby Supercars has just issued its second release this week about its miraculous new project, the Ultimate Aero EV. As we read the announcement, it was obvious that it was exactly the same release from just a few days ago and the hyperbole was in no way toned down. They are promising to deliver a working prototype by February of next year, followed by full production examples by the fourth quarter of 2009. That, in and of itself, is highly improbable, but it just gets better from there. The performance the company is promising is insanely impressive and about as likely to come to fruition as airborne swine or your fairy godmother.
SSC promises two, 500hp electric motors equipped with a triple disc clutch and a six-speed gearbox. As Tesla found out the hard way, making a gearbox last with an electric motor is tough, even with half as much power. But it gets better. SSC promises a power source with extended times between charges, perhaps as long as several years. We're still confused, but we don't think it's a coincidence that the company is making this announcement in the same week it announced its hopes of securing new venture funding.
Building a car powered by an internal combustion engine to go 250 mph is less of a big deal in this day and age. You just need an engine with enough power and a slippery shape. Building the kind of electric car that SSC is promising involves invalidating the most fundamental laws of physics. So for the time being, we remain comfortable skeptical.
Gallery: 2007 SSC Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo
[Source: Shelby Supercars]
West Richland, WA (July 18, 2008)
Shrouded in mystery and secrecy, SSC (www.shelbysupercars.com) has announced plans to unveil the next historical milestone, codenamed – the Ultimate Aero EV (Electric Vehicle), the first 100% Green Supercar to achieve speeds never before seen. Engineering details are yet undisclosed while development continues at an uninterrupted pace. Despite months of speculation, SSC expects to roll out its first prototype in February 2009.
"I think we can do it faster, leaner and cleaner than any other manufacturer," says Jerod Shelby, SSC Founder.
Unlike other manufacturers' models slated for delivery in the next decade, Shelby's latest brainchild expects to be delivered as early as fourth quarter 2009. Other automakers have sacrificed aesthetics and performance in exchange for hybrid power plants, but the Ultimate Aero EV will deliver a pollution-free, engineering marvel with an exotic Supercar exterior. 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. Powered by a 500 horsepower electric motor, the Ultimate Aero EV will have true supercar performance. All 500 horses will be put to use via SSC's 6-speed manual transmission and triple disc carbon/carbon Tilton clutch. 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.
Having already broken the record for the "Fastest Production Car" SSC will soon break the engineering challenge of our time. Says Jay Leno of SSC's first accomplishment, "The coolest thing about this car is they said they were going to do something and then they did it."
While other manufacturers scramble to capture the Green hysteria of late, SSC will leap over the barrier with a fraction of the Big Three's budget. To that end, the company recently contracted with Investor Relations Group, Sheffield International Finance Corporation initiating the Company's first acceptance of outside capital since its inception. In a press release dated July 11, 2008, the American automaker announced that much of the private capital will be dedicated to achieve the historical milestone. The invitation-based offering includes an A-list of invitees
including celebrities and notable financiers from around the world.
Consistent with its company philosophy of being the benchmark, SSC plans next to break the record for the fastest electric car in the world.
Stay tuned...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
F22C Eric 4:41PM (7/18/2008)
Several years between chargers??? So, does Doc Brown steal the plutonium for you, or do you have to get it yourself?
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xpolarx 8:10PM (7/18/2008)
I was just about to say...while we're at it, SSC ought to drop a f***ing time machine this year, as well.
haas 4:43PM (7/18/2008)
To me it sounds the time between extended charges means that if you don't charge it for a long long time the batteries won't poop out on you. I don't expect someone who buys this sort of car to drive it around all the time so I am sure it will be sitting around for long durations. But I could very well just be reading this entirely wrong.
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jjpg2000 4:52PM (7/18/2008)
Where the hell are they going to get a gear box that will hold enough power for one 500HP electric motor?
"revolutionary power source allowing for extended time between charging intervals with the possibility of several years between charging"
Working on some sort of Hydrogen generator?
Is Confused.
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hotcams 5:03PM (7/18/2008)
Option 1
"extended time between charging intervals" Read - better than average time between the need for recharging the battery. "with the possibility of several years between charging" - Read - the battery can possibly last years if you charge it.
Or
Option 2
"extended time between charging intervals" Read - the battery will hold it's charge for years. "with the possibility of several years between charging" - Read - the battery will hold it's charge for years.
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TJ 5:03PM (7/18/2008)
all you doubters. It's a shame you know. I, for one, will DEFINITELY be trading in my leprechaun chauffeured unicorns for one of these... laughing all the way to Atlantis.
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Yar 5:05PM (7/18/2008)
I'm a skeptic, and I don't believe this is possible within a year, but I would love nothing more than to be proven wrong.
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MGBYG 5:07PM (7/18/2008)
If it's Shelby, and it isn't chili, its bullsh*t.
That Tall Texan has told a few tall tales before...
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adrenalnjunky 5:14PM (7/18/2008)
You realize that SSC (Shelby SuperCars) isn't related to Carroll Shelby in any way?
The owner's name is Jerrod Shelby - and the bio on SSC's site says he was raised in Washington.
Taloras 5:15PM (7/18/2008)
Hmmmm, I wonder where they put the ZPM and the photon torpedoes...
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Taloras 5:18PM (7/18/2008)
Hmmmmm, I wonder where they put the ZPM and the photon torpedoes...
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Bungle 8:36PM (7/18/2008)
To this article's author:
The words "expects" and "exploring the potential" are not the equivalent of "promising," so maybe you should revise your article to reflect that. Nowhere in the press release do they make any promises about twin motors, multi-year charging intervals, or prototype/production dates. Lofty goals, yes - promises, no.
Anyway, it sounds far-fetched to me, but no one ever secured venture capital by saying "maybe."
All they've actually committed to is an attempt to release a prototype and reach production within a certain timeframe, "extended time between charging intervals" (read: extended beyond... oh, wait, I guess there's no benchmark to compare against!), and a 500 horsepower motor using their 6-speed drivetrain.
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someEEguy 10:34PM (7/18/2008)
Transmission + Electric motor = bad news, it’s better to design the motor & power electronics to meet the specs rather then trying to achieve it via a complicated transmission. Given the background of the company, it’s not surprising they chose this route but it will only end in nightmares.
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Erik 10:57AM (7/19/2008)
Can someone explain to me why the gearbox in Ultimate Aero EV will not work
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IMF 6:33AM (7/20/2008)
Basically, an electric motor has tremendous torque at any given rev. Making a cluth to cope with that is almost impossible.