http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/ Engadget Comments for Shelby sets out to build Ultimate Aero EV, the world's fastest electric car http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 9:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 11:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 12:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 9:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 3:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
Well, honestly, it doesn't; there have been sleek cars available comparatively affordably. But sleekness can also be one more tool in your price-discrimination scheme. After all, since even rich folk mostly don't drive at 150mph, looks are really a lot of what they gain from there mega-spendy car. As an automaker, you'd hate it if someone who could afford a racecar bought a runaround because it looks just as nice, and he's got fuzz-fear.]]>Jul 18th 2008 7:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 9:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
The expensive vehicles are experiments that allow fine-tuning of concepts that can be used later on. Ferrari, Lambo, Bugatti, they all do it. Some will argue "well, the Bugatti is being sold at a profit loss" which might be true, depending on which development costs you factor in. But it was not a profit driven model: it was a "look what we can do with technology" project. Some small part of the tech from that vehicle will end up in another Volkswagen/Porsche/Audi product, if it hasn't already.

Once they refine the technology and scale it down for affordability, we will have accessible "everyday" cars that are powered by alternative means.

]]>Jul 18th 2008 11:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 11:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
In theory, that's what is supposed to happen, but in reality, automakers are in business to make a quick buck and not necessarily in it to evolve the automobile to it's most efficient form.

The fact is, there are higher profit margins in these types of cars, period. It is more cost-effective for small automakers to produce a high priced automobile, with sex appeal and low volumes, than to produce a more modest automobile with lower price tags and high volumes.

The push toward greater fuel economy (which includes electric vehicles) has more to do with how far/long can you go, and for how much, not how fast and sexy can I do so. The most successful automobiles are the ones that look and feel like those most of us are already driving (ie, Toyota Prius, Ford Escape).]]>Jul 18th 2008 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
You're missing the point, this was an entirely self-centered post, where I cannot afford a $100,000 car, and therefore, this car is not helping me get into a nice EV. Looks like the Aptera for me.]]>Jul 18th 2008 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 7:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/I agree with you entirely. In fact, look at the VW Phaeton. That engine model is based off the one in the Bugatti, at least the best upgrade version is. And by the way, Engadget spelled Bugatti incorrectly; it's not "Buggati" it's Bugatti. But I'll fogive you, Engadget, because you guys are the best and you apologized for the horrid miscalculation that led to the incredibly awesome Bugatti's incorrect classification as second-fastest production car.]]>Jul 19th 2008 10:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 11:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
It's not as bad as it sounds, though. Technology is rapidly improving and coming down in price. Within the next 1-2 years we'll see some legitimate plug-in hybrids, which offer many of the advantages of electric vehicles without abandoning the strengths of the internal combustion engine.

I suspect it'll be 10 years before we see an affordable all electric car with mass market appeal, though, depending largely on fuel prices. ]]>Jul 18th 2008 11:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
i bet its weird driving at those speeds tho with no noise.]]>Jul 18th 2008 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
So true.

It's so fugly I actually feel embarrassed for them. Was it designed by the owners teenage son?]]>Jul 18th 2008 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
Hate the kit-car look.

I don't know what Ferrari's profit margin is, but I often think there's got to be plenty of room in a $300K car for a really sweet battery and loads of electric HP instead of some monkey-made engine.]]>Jul 18th 2008 10:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://buckeyebullet.com/history.htm]]>Jul 18th 2008 11:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
Yeah, we get it. This car probably isn't the best choice for a drive from New York to Los Angeles, but if you can afford this car I'm going to go out on a limb and say you can probably afford alternate transportation. ]]>Jul 18th 2008 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
And to Volker's point (below), this car will be far from green. But then again, that's probably the last thing on the mind of anyone who would buy this vehicle anyway. Saying that the EV is a "green" car is equivalent to following Jeremy Clarkson's recent advice to buy an M3 over a Prius for fuel economy (watch their track run from earlier this season).

Kudos to SSC for their triumph with the Ultimate Aero. One final thought, though. For argument's sake, let's say that the EV is a "green supercar." Do you think that SSC will ever sell enough EVs to have a positive environmental impact on all the carbon-producing waste they will go through in engineering the car in the first place?]]>Jul 18th 2008 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/ Bugatti > Shelby]]>Jul 18th 2008 10:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 10:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
http://www.g-wiz.org.uk/]]>Jul 18th 2008 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
1.) It's "Bugatti" and not "buggati"
2.) "world's faster" should read "world's fastest"]]>Jul 18th 2008 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/
This is a good thing, we'll be seeing lower cost EVs in no time.]]>Jul 18th 2008 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 21st 2008 10:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/A more then great idea in theory. But in reality, it doesn't work so well. Sorry but alternative fuels are the future. The electrical car will always stay a dream.]]>Jul 18th 2008 11:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/shelby-sets-out-to-build-ultimate-aero-ev-the-worlds-fastest-e/Jul 18th 2008 11:57AM