By Roland Piquepaille
In this review, Forbes.com looks at the fastest electric vehicle in the world, the tzero roadster built by AC Propulsion Inc.The tzero does 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, according to the company, and it does it on only 200 horsepower because of its light weight and torque.
The San Dimas, Calif.-based company says the tzero (pronounced "tee-zero," not "chair-o") has compared favorably in acceleration tests to Corvettes, Porsche 911s--and even a Ferrari F355, which it claims to have "out-accelerated...by eight car lengths" in one-eighth-mile drag races.
So it's fast. But how far can it go?
The tzero can only go 280 to 300 miles at 60 mph without recharging--even if it can recharge on any 120- or 240-V power socket. And if you accelerate it like an Italian exotic, or even take it on a hilly route, that range can decrease by up to about 20%.
You're certainly wondering what this car looks like. Here is a small rendering of the car (Credit: AC Propulsion Inc.). It's actually an old image from the time when the car had only a 100 miles range.
For more images of the Tzero, here are links to a larger rendering and to a photo gallery.
And what about the price? Forbes says it carries a $220,000 sticker price. However, if you visit the how to get a tzero page, you'll see that no delivery date has been set yet. The company gives some precisions.
Pricing for the tzero will be set once production begins. We expect a price somewhere between a Porsche and a Ferrari.
Limited production capacity may create long waiting periods for early production vehicles. To secure a position on the delivery schedule, a deposit of $2,000 is required. Deposits are refundable if you wish to cancel your position in line. When a firm delivery date is set, a formal purchase contract will be required along with an additional deposit of $18,000.
So, are you ready to buy one?
Sources: Dan Lienert, Forbes.com, October 21, 2003; AC Propulsion Inc. website
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