World’s fastest production car goes electric | Hybrid/Electric

Home

World’s fastest production car goes electric

Written by Christian Wurfel

Thursday, 17 July 2008

American supercar manufacturer Shelby Supercars, or SSC, isn’t as well known as the likes of Bugatti, Ferrari or Lamborghini, but it’s a special company for several reasons. In addition to holding the world record for the fastest production car, the company has just announced it’s developing an all-electric version of its Ultimate Aero supercar (pictured) that it hopes will become the world’s fastest electric vehicle (EV).

The Ultimate Aero EV, one of the first ‘green’ supercars, will begin testing in February next year and is expected to be in full production by the fourth quarter of 2009. “I think we can do it faster, leaner and cleaner than any other manufacturer,” said SSC founder Jerod Shelby, who incidentally bears no relation to legendary race driver and sports car developer Carroll Shelby.

Company claims huge power and years between recharges
While final specifications are yet to be fully disclosed, the company claims the drive train under development employs a revolutionary new technology that will allow the car to travel for extended periods - years, in some cases - without needing to be recharged.

Power will come from a single 373kW electric motor, which should enable the Ultimate Aero EV to at least provide impressive acceleration and top-speed figures, if still short of matching the performance of its internal combustion powered sibling. A high-performance twin-motor version using two of the 373kW powerplants for a total of 746kW in either a two or four-wheel drive configuration is also being considered.

More world records targeted
The SSC Ultimate Aero TT, a twin-turbocharged 882kW V8-powered production version of the Ultimate Aero, which shares the same basic chassis as the Ultimate Aero EV, is the current world speed record holder for all production cars. Many think the Bugatti Veyron is the record holder, but the Bugatti’s mark of 406.75km/h was surpassed by the SSC supercar in September of last year, when it averaged 411.76km/h over two passes on a closed stretch of highway in the U.S. state of Washington.

The actual one-way top speed achieved was 413.83km/h, but to qualify for world-record certification, the run had to be repeated in the opposite direction and averaged to arrive at a final number.

SSC, in its imitable fashion, plans to set a new record with the car by making it the fastest electric car in the world.

Related Stories

Comments (2) Add Comment

Osman, July 21, 2008 | 03:29

Your " World's Fastest Production Car Goes Electric", article, written by Christian Wurfel, has an unbelievable claim: "Huge power and years between recharges"

It only is hoped, or whished that it is true. On the other hand, if you do not drive your vehicle, then you do not have to fill it up, or recharge it. I hope that is not what you meant when you claimed years in between recharges for the electric car.

I do hope that you mean, we are not going to buy power for the car, but maybe a part, like a capacitor, when it goes bad????

On the other hand, there are some rumors about zero point energy. Right or wrong, your article reminds me of that rumor. Is that true.

If true, I do hope that big powers will let you produce such a car, since by claiming years in between fill ups, may mean that you may cut into some other big shut's bread basket, and as long as he is a big shut, he may not let you do it.

Well, I do wish you my best, and hope you do deliver on your promise. I am certainly looking for such a new technology, if I can only buy it.

Os

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +1

Timmoty, July 23, 2008 | 18:45

The Guinnes book of records recognizes this car as teh fastest in the world, but I believe that FIA? i don't remeber for sure, but basically different places will give you different numbers. bugatti is on top of one list, SSC on the other.
report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0