AC Propulsion converts stock Scion xB into fully electric "eBox" car

Ever since we saw "Who Killed the Electric Car?" we've wondered when even more companies would get inspired to bring back this fantastic ride. Enter AC Propulsion, a California-based company that just debuted its eBox, a converted Toyota Scion xB with an electric engine. After you bring your own Scion, AC Propulsion will do the deed for $55,000. So what're the specs on the eBox? We're glad you asked: 180 mile range, top speed of 95 mph, and you can get a full charge in five hours right from your garage's wall outlet. Sure, that sounds like a lot for a car that's ordinarily pretty freakin' cheap (~ $18,000), but when you think that you'll never have to buy gas again over the life of the car, it just might be worth it.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2006 8:59PM]

Miles automotive will soon be selling the XS200 car: http://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html. From the website "Powered by breakthrough Chinese Lithium-Ion technology, the Miles XS200 has an anticipated speed of up to 80 miles per hour and a range of 200 miles.
Projected MSRP: $28,500". That has about the same specs as the eBox, and cost significantly less.

[mezzb Posted Dec 13th 2006 9:43AM]

Alternative energy is a must - even if you don't care a whit about global warming. Everyone must realize that fossil fuels are a finite resource. We need to find replenishable resources. Steps like electric cars and increased efficiency buy us TIME in this race. Every ounce of fossil fuel we can save by this (it's not a money savings yet, but it seems to be a significant miles per fuel/coal savings) is a good thing.

A utopian future involves centralized power sources running on renewable sources and hardwired fixtures and battery-powered vehicles. My utopia also has all electrical wires moved UNDERGROUND - man they're ugly when you take a good look at them, and when a tree falls on them. The remaining fossil fuels should be for airplanes & rockets.

A distopia is where we wait for corporate America to make the energy choices for us, bleeding the consumer dry, then scrambling for an alternative at the 11th hour. With energy costs super high, we'll divide in two classes: Juiced and Dark. Obviously I'm auditioning a scifi novel or something here, but my point is the same:

I'm annoyed at every single person who responded to this thread without at least a little admiration for the spirit behind the idea.

OK then, thanks

[Gadget4Rudy Posted Dec 13th 2006 8:31PM]

I want to try this again. Assume we buy both electric and non-electric cars, and that we will keep them for a "lifetime" of 6 years at 20,000 miles per year, or 120,000 miles total. In CA, gas average for this year was about $3.00/gallon. Now let's assume we get 30 miles/gallon. 120,000/30=4000*3=$12,000. This is the amount we must pay for gas for the lifetime of the car. Oil and air filter changes average about $30 per 3000 miles, or $1200 during the lifetime (120,000/3000=40*30). Major tune-ups every 60,000 miles at $600 would cost $1200 (120,000/60,000=2*600). Finally, smog tests every other year at $60 would cost $180 for the lifetime. So the total cost of the gasoline car for the lifetime of 6 years and 120,000 miles would cost $18,000+$12,000+$1200+1200+$180 = $32,580. So, if we can get our electric car for under $32,000 and charge it for FREE (work, solar panels, rebates), then it becomes feasible- at least in California. Quite frankly, the electric car should be much cheaper to make then a gasoline one when mass production gets on the way.