Shelby's amazing Aero EV: 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds, 10 minute recharge

Man juices in a boil? No shame, that's Shelby Super Cars' Aero EV in pursuit of the "world's fastest production electric car" title. SSC just came clean with the details behind its All-Electric Scalable Powertrain (AESP) producing 1,000 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque that rips the Aero EV through 0 to 60 in just 2.5 seconds at a 208mph top speed. Compare that to the Tesla Roadster's 0-60 in 3.9 seconds (or 3.7 for the 2009 sport model) and you'll understand all the hubbub, bub. Better yet, the 150-220 mile battery can be refilled in just 10 minutes (Tesla takes 3.5 hours) from a 220V service thanks to what SSC calls its "Charge on the Run" onboard charging system -- something that nearly eliminates (or at least minimizes) the need for a battery swapping infrastructure. The first full-scale, pre-production Ultimate Aero EV should be on the streets before June with production deliveries expected in the fourth quarter. Now we just need a price.

Gallery: Shelby's amazing Aero EV: 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds, 10 minute recharge

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[Via inhabitat]

[loopyoyo @ Jan 27th 2009 6:56AM]

holy shat..i think i just shat myself twice over

[Nelson @ Jan 27th 2009 6:57AM]

Two number twos, huh?

[smartphonezen @ Jan 27th 2009 8:01AM]

I want to cry

[Bobby @ Jan 27th 2009 8:05AM]

LOL and manufacturing takes more oil than "legacy" version would burn in 100 years. Somebody stupid here

[MM @ Jan 27th 2009 9:04AM]

Power(P) = V*I (220V * 13A) = 2860 W @ Resistivity of 16.92 Ohms.
Energy(E) = P*t (2862W*10*60s) = 1716000 Joules.

So literally taken, energy of 171600 is supposed to 1,000 hp and drive this thing for 150 miles? I don't think so
Either the recharge current is so frigging high or these guys are lying...

[Phil @ Jan 27th 2009 10:45AM]

First off, 1,716 kJ is alot of energy... and then you have to remember that with their estimates you aren't going to be going full speed, constantly accelerating to 60 off stoplights, and using all 1000 horses and torque. I do believe the the U.S. guidelines mean the estimates are made off of an average of 30 mph with the air conditioning on (not sure what settings) and the radio on for 1/4 of the time to give consumers realistic expectations.

But still, I would like a little more mileage to go with a beast like this... 10 minutes is awesome, but in real life another 10 minutes isn't going to matter. Give me a little more mileage so I don't have to worry about showing off on the highway... cause don't lie, thats pretty much a top 3 reason for getting this baby

[James @ Jan 27th 2009 9:25AM]

@MM: Most people won't be driving at 1000HP very often. It's likely that just like any other vehicle, running it at max rev/HP will eat the fuel very quickly. The 150-220 mile quote is probably for standard city/highway driving, at which a small light car like that will be using well under 200hp. (Except for those times when you zoom down the onramp at full throttle)

[Shinigami @ Jan 27th 2009 9:56AM]

Change your pants before looking at the price of this thing... when its available.

If it sells for $20.000, I'll buy one xD

[Mike Smith @ Jan 27th 2009 10:22AM]

@James: 200 hp? More like 25-30. Think about it - a car like the VW GTI has 200 hp, and a top speed of 130 mi/hr (and that's governed - would be more like 140-145 mi/hr without the governor) - obviously it must not need all 200 hp to just go 50-60 mi/hr. And the Aero EV is clearly even more aerodynamic and so probably needs even less power for highway driving.

[Cagrino @ Jan 27th 2009 10:20AM]

@Shinigami

I think the price is going to be... One miiiilliiiooon dollars.

*insert evil laugh*

[Chuckles McGee @ Jan 27th 2009 10:26AM]

If this can debut for under $200k, you're looking at everyone's new favorite supercar.

[OneLove @ Jan 27th 2009 1:01PM]

oh snap! I was going to order an OQO+, but I decided to get this instead. Just ordered! :)

[Eric @ Jan 27th 2009 4:47PM]

Guys, did you not understand basic physics? They are lying or leaving something out, its as simple as that. With what they are saying you would need some major amps, like 300 or so, to do this. Last time I checked my house it's pegged at 15 (like every other house in America). So, maybe you just drive up to your local sub-station and jack in there, then I guess it would work. With your 110v you may get a sustained 100 hp for a few miles with a 10 minute charge. I don't care what kind of battery they have you can't get more than you put in.

[antonolsen @ Jan 27th 2009 6:43PM]

@Eric

Most wall outlets in my house are 15 amps. The breaker panel has an incoming breaker rated at 200 amps and my dryer circuit is wired for 220V @30 Amps. Besides, they didn't claim that you could plug it into wall. I'm sure that upgraded service and special plugs will be needed.

[Romesh @ Jan 27th 2009 6:58AM]

I'd be interested in how much current is required to charge it in 10 minutes at 220V- I imagine it would be quite a bit more than a typical power point could safely provide (just like how ovens etc. require special high-current wiring)

[dale1v @ Jan 27th 2009 7:08AM]

UNLESS you're here in the UK, where standard mains voltage is 220V-240V ^_^

[Eric @ Jan 27th 2009 7:30AM]

@dale - except that most of that wiring will melt under the sort of current draw that will be necessary, 220V or not.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Jan 27th 2009 7:38AM]

I'm also guessing extra wiring is going to be necessary given that most people won't be charging their Shelby in their kitchen.

Plus once you've popped for however much this thing is going to cost, tossing $500 at an electrician is gonna be nothing.

[Ryback @ Jan 27th 2009 7:50AM]

My kitchen doesn't have a special high voltage circuit for the stove. It does however have a special high amperage outlet.

[yumekobo @ Jan 27th 2009 8:24AM]

Dale, that's Japanese use 110V...

[LondonConsultant @ Jan 27th 2009 9:21AM]

Lights in the UK are gonna go out every time an American charges this car...

[a ham sandwich @ Jan 27th 2009 1:32PM]

yeah im pretty skeptical about that whole 10 min charge deal...

[Dekstar @ Jan 27th 2009 6:59AM]

Wow that's incredible. Immense range too, I wonder what the technology's like in that thing. Alien, methinks.

[Samboini @ Jan 27th 2009 1:54PM]

10 Bugatti's were killed in the making of this car.

[B3nM4n @ Jan 27th 2009 7:00AM]

Bugatti Veyron, anyone??

[Like_A_Glove @ Jan 27th 2009 7:36AM]

Forget Veyron, this is the shit.

[Like_A_Glove @ Jan 27th 2009 7:37AM]

And it's a Shelby, may I add.

[Dave Chappelle @ Jan 27th 2009 9:36AM]

More like Mclared F1 Road car my friend forget the Veyron.

This car is proof that without having Exxon's design crew working on your car you can churn out cool looking electric cars

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 27th 2009 12:26PM]

SSC, Shelby Supercars, and Carrol Shelby who makes a version of the Cobra, are not the same. Both are American companies, however, they are completely unrelated.

[thedesolate1 @ Jan 27th 2009 11:35PM]

WTF is a Veyron?
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/noframes/24169.shtml

[gylman @ Jan 27th 2009 7:03AM]

I dunno - those numbers don't seem realistic. It just makes no sense that this thing charges up an order of magnitude faster than the next best competitor.

Free lunches. Free rides... no such thing as either.

[Vianney @ Jan 27th 2009 8:07AM]

That's totally realistic, 10 minutes charge gives you 2.5 seconds autonomy... Wait... Did I get that wrong?

[Only a Passerby @ Jan 27th 2009 8:31AM]

No the article definitely says that there is no life sized version of the concept at this time.
So I guess, that's the very real dust and dirt on your Pc screen, good sir.

[Shinigami @ Jan 27th 2009 9:55AM]

The only unrealistic number here is price... will be when you see it.

[jr @ Jan 29th 2009 7:38PM]

10 minutes is probably a bit lofty, depending upon how you drive. If you drive like a normal person for an hour, a 10 minute charge is not unreasonable. But yes, if you drive from Cincinnati to Cleveland, OH, Everyday, then it may take closer to 2 hours to fully charge (although, how many people live that far from work?). This is still completely acceptable. Sure, it may take specialized chargers for the fast charge, and you will most likely charge overnight anyway (again, unless you really are driving from one side of Ohio to the other, or equivalent).

But since 98% or greater of all the people in the united states work within 60 miles of where they work, a 10 or 20 minute charge time would not be impossible. If you could only charge at home (say 120 miles on the round trip), even an hour to do so would not be bad, especially for 1-2c/mile after initial cost (compared to 15-50c/mile in a gas, not including oil changes, air filter, radiator, fuel filter, exhaust system[catalytic converters, anyone?], fuel pumps, alternators, clutches [AC motors can do reverse by reversing polarity], et cetera).

[DJ_HiP @ Jan 27th 2009 7:04AM]

Hmm yeah, 220v at 100amps!

But nice to see they are making them look a little more like sportscars.

[entropy @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:37PM]

why cant we just say power is about 750 kW and torque is about 1000 Nm? im pretty sure everyone learn that at school even here in the US.

[warlun @ Jan 27th 2009 7:04AM]

Those lambo doors are so 80's

[J. Neutron @ Jan 27th 2009 4:08PM]

"Lambo" doors came about in the 70's.
Gullwing doors the 50's

Both were way ahead of their time

[Mr. Ford @ Jan 28th 2009 1:49AM]

Regular doors are so 20's.

[tuaamin13 @ Jan 27th 2009 7:05AM]

That's bad ass.

[Zee @ Jan 27th 2009 7:08AM]

It is possible. There are Li-Ion batteries that recharge in 10 minutes to 90% but they have lower power densities than traditional lithium. Those kind of batteries also don't explode!

[neal @ Jan 27th 2009 7:08AM]

that photo looks like it was took in PGR4, its all the blurr i guess lol!

[Only a Passerby @ Jan 27th 2009 7:25AM]

Possibly there's no physical concept car, yet. At least there seems to be some aliasing going on in the other pics with the car in front of the black backdrop, so they're likely all CAD renderings.

[Only a Passerby @ Jan 27th 2009 7:35AM]

Oops, just reread the last paragraph, there definitely is no real car yet.

[Like_A_Glove @ Jan 27th 2009 8:02AM]

"...... so they're likely all CAD renderings"

Not all, at least the 4th picture looks absolutely real to me. It's nearly impossible for anyone to render with that level of fine detail. The dust, the dirt, the scratches, and not-so-perfect paint job, all in there, so it must be real.

[Only a Passerby @ Jan 27th 2009 8:33AM]

No, the article definitely says that there is no life sized version of the concept at this time.
So it must be the very real dust and dirt on your Pc screen, good sir.
(Sorry, went to the wrong place in the first try)

[Kattleox @ Jan 27th 2009 8:53AM]

SSC makes cars and this is the SSC Ultimate Aero, the fastest car in the world. (Check your Guinness books! It's true!)

This is THAT car, not a CAD rendering. That that is the first thing everyone thought is proof that autoblog and engadget have almost completely different audiences.

[Travis @ Jan 27th 2009 9:09AM]

There *is* a Shelby Aero, just not the electric. Therefore pics are likely of a gas version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSC_Aero

That said, I also call bullshit on the 10 minute charge. A 220 volt circuit at 100 amps is going to be 22,000watts. By my calculations charging for 10 minutes gives you 3,666 kWh. Feeding even a very efficient motor that generates 1000hp isn't going to get you very far on that.

[Only a Passerby @ Jan 27th 2009 9:53AM]

@Kattleox
Ok, the tail pipes make sense, then. But I still think the pictures are renderings, even tough it doesn't really matter wether they are or not.

@Travis
I didn't try to verify your calculations, but likely they are too optimistic since there is probably a fair share of loss when charging the battery, not speak of the losses in conversion from electricity to motion. On the other hand the linked article mentions a range of 150 miles on one charge, but no maximum current of 100 ampere, so basically, if they use some specialized electric installations, the claim could be true, though the whole 220V thing becomes sort of pointless.