AMP test drives all-electric Saturn Sky on video

Remember that Ohio-based firm that planned on converting 300 or so Saturn Skys into all-electric roadsters? Advanced Mechanical Products ring a bell? At any rate, said outfit has just hosted up a video of its fourth test drive of a prototype, which is shown sporting an "Electric" badge on the front fender and a whole mess of batteries and wires underneath the hood. Oh, and then there's that unmistakable whizzing sound as it cruises on by. Check out the video after the jump.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

[zx3junglist Posted Aug 5th 2008 3:54AM]

There hasn't been anything particularly mind-blowing about converting a car to an all-electric. People/companies have been doing this for years. It's relatively easy to do, just quite expensive. The notable thing here is that they are mass-converting a car that is low cost and generally desirable.

I'd suggest anyone take a look at the Wikipedia page for Electric Conversions if you want more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle_conversion

[WUlery Posted Aug 4th 2008 6:03PM]

Watch the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" GM had a great electric car in the 90's, but killed it off despite demand.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 6:08PM]

That's a load of bullshit. The EV1 cost way too much to be produced and it was not practical. That crapumentary was the product of a few people who stirred up controversy to serve their own agenda.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 6th 2008 9:48AM]

OK...so 25K for the upgrade. Lets do the math shall we class?

The Saturn Sky is advertised getting 19 city and 24 Highway MPG. Even though these numbers are almost always inflated a bit, we can use a median average of 21.5MPG.

The average consumer drives around 12K miles a year. At 21.5MPG they would have to buy 558 gallons of fuel in a year.

558 gallons * $3.85/gallon (current national average)=$2148 a year spent on gas

You would have to drive the Upgraded version of the Sky; that cost you 25K more than a gasoline production version; (WAIT FOR IT)

11.6 YEARS BEFORE YOU WOULD ACTUALLY START TO SEE POSITIVE SAVINGS!

If you want to do it to save money...don't
If you want to do it to make the earth greener...take your 25K and plant some trees or start a recycling program in your neighborhood or convert your house to solar power.