SSC Ultimate Aero EV- 6 years without a charge.....???

[danny]

SSC Announces Green Ultimate Aero EV Supercar

6 years without a charge.......
SSC Announces Green Ultimate Aero EV Supercar

Fastest electric car in the world

July 15, 2008 11:00 PM by Brian Potter
Filed Under: Green Specialty Marques


Earlier today we reported the newest webisode of Jay Leno's Garage guest starring the SSC Ultimate Aero. It was there that SSC owner, Jerod Shelby (no relation), revealed SSC was planning to diversify the brand with additional models such as a 220 mph luxury sedan and green supercar. Prompting further investigation, we discovered an SSC media report was released two days ago announcing, “the first 100% Green Supercar to achieve speeds never before seen.”

SSC plans to roll out the first Ultimate Aero based prototype, named the Ultimate Aero EV (Electric Vehicle), in February 2009 with deliveries starting towards the end of the year. With the fastest production car world record under their belt, SSC plans to do the same and break the world record for the fastest electric car.

Scoffing at other manufacturers who have jumped on the “green hysteria” bandwagon, SSC states they will “deliver a pollution-free, engineering marvel with an exotic Supercar exterior.” In addition they make an unbelievable claim that the Ultimate Aero EV, “will not require a charge for six years and will power two 500 horsepower electric motors producing 1000 horsepower and provide supercar performance.”

If this proves to be true, SSC “will soon break the engineering challenge of our time.” If not, they risk their reputation and business. Additionally, the world record certificate on the wall will be meaningless.

Found on WorldCarFans

 

[TEG]

Maybe someone misconstrued after someone might have said "the battery pack will last 6 years".

 

[doug]

Maybe someone misconstrued after someone might have said "the battery pack will last 6 years".

Yes, most likely the PR guy that wrote the press release misunderstood an engineer.

I find the name SSC interesting. For me, SSC stands for Superconducting Super Collider. A project that the cancellation of which meant the end of US dominance in particle physics.

 

[TEG]

I find the name SSC interesting. For me, SSC stands for Superconducting Super Collider.

It made me think of ThrustSSC.

The vehicle with the fastest land speed record (763 mph).

 

[doug]

Shelby sets out to build Ultimate Aero EV, the world's fastest electric car - Engadget

 

[dpeilow]

World’s fastest production car goes electric | Hybrid/Electric | Carcentral.com.au

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.

I can see this one running and running.

 

[doug]

The claims are pretty ridiculous, but I like where this is going. I'd like to see lots of companies try to get into the high performance EV game. Just as long as they don't confuse the public with outlandish promises.

 

[Finkenbusch]

SSC's claim regarding charging once in a year may be modest...

The claims are pretty ridiculous, ...

Isn't it ironic that these Shelby guys are in West Richland WA,
Nearby the Hanford Nuclear Site, and Land of the Glowing Jackrabbit?

SSC could (theoretically not unfeasible) continuously 24/7 charge the batteries from a tiny nuclear atomic reactor.

Going with a tiny reactors as loader for a battery in a car would neither be technical miracle neither (if you look close) nor a big hazardous unknown.
All the satellites have such mini-nuclear- power-supplies (radioisotope thermoelectric generators) since the sputnik thought.

The technology is well understood since decenniums-
besides the fact that a satellite do not crash on a crammed highway releasing possibly hazardous rays- at least not often.

Funnily - a radioisotope thermoelectric generator is compared to a half empty gas tank a much safer option.

The alpha radiation from both isotopes emitted in case of a leakage will not penetrate the skin, but can irradiate internal organs if plutonium is inhaled or ingested. Thats prevented by inserting the material into ceramics.

More from wikipedia - quote

To minimize the risk of the radioactive material being released, the fuel is stored in individual modular units with their own heat shielding. They are surrounded by a layer of iridium metal and encased in high-strength graphite blocks. These two materials are corrosion and heat-resistant. Surrounding the graphite blocks is an aeroshell, designed to protect the entire assembly against the heat of reentering the earth's atmosphere. The plutonium fuel is also stored in a ceramic form that is heat-resistant, minimising the risk of vaporization and aerosolization. The ceramic is also highly insoluble.

---unquote

It may be pretty hard to get the ok & sign from the regulator but its not unfeasible to bring a nuclear driven steam-turbine-battery-loader into a car.
When the Gallon hits 10$ and above a lot of things will be possible never thought of.

AND that would make SSC's claim of years without recharging the battery from the grid / connector not ridiculous but modest.

Because 23 years after production, such an RTG would still produce 83.4% of its starting capacity....

 

[GSP]

Doug - SSC remindes me of the Superconducting Super Collider also. May it RIP. At least we can look forward to some interesting results from the LHC.

Finkenbusch - Thanks for the RTG info. I suspect they work better in outer space where the extreme cold provides a greater temperature gradient for the thermocouple. It is fun to dream of 23 years without refueling however!

GSP

 

[doug]

Introducing the World's Fastest EV | Autopia from Wired.com

Details are scarce, but SSC says an Ultimate Aero EV prototype will be ready by February and it plans to roll out four production models by December. The company describes the Tesla destroyer as a "pollution-free, engineering marvel with an exotic supercar exterior."
"I think we can do it faster, leaner and cleaner than any other manufacturer," says company founder Jerod Shelby.

We know that at least one 500-HP electric motor is planned. SSC is exploring a twin-motor configuration that would yield twice the power while still emitting zilch. Rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants also are on the table. Particularly interesting is the power source for the drive train, which is said to allow for extended time between charging. That seems logical and realistic enough, but SSC went on to mention the possibility of several years between charging. Needless to say, several industry pundits think SSC has gone mad.

 

[vfx]

"Tesla Destroyer"

ha ha.

Once again Tesla is the one one to beat.

 

[Finkenbusch]

I suspect they work better in outer space where the extreme cold provides a greater temperature gradient for the thermocouple.

Rays are used and work for good currently on earth on every corner already. This just goes unnoticed. Starting in every hotel room or public building place where nuclear material is incorporated in every fire-alarm system, up to hospital not only in the x-ray section but at many other places in the laboratories, further up the ladder to many nuclear power plants worldwide and the use (US used only) of atomic bombs.
Until the latter - Hiroshima & Nagasaki - not many folks where proven killed by radiation.

Many died in car, airplane accidents where petrol burned them or blow them up.

Think you would ask the regulator today to allow a cars on the streets and airplanes carrying huge totally unprotected tanks with highly flammable and extremely explosive substances (petrol & kerosine), not less then 50 Liter up to a few thousand - becoming more dangerous as more empty they get, you think you will get the signature? today?

Never.

So to use nuclear fission material in cars may be unfeasible to many greens today - but it is not impossible - when the gallon petrol hits the 10$ mark.

 

[Finkenbusch]

"Tesla Destroyer"
ha ha.
Once again Tesla is the one one to beat.

Not so fast.
SSC has proven already once that they keep their promises (most folks by then thought they are mad) and its highly probable they will astonish folks in the car industry again. They enjoy a nice reputation as being honest, hard working folks knowing their job.

Mr. Musk has, if you look closely a mixed reputation & unusual (to say the least) business practices, not proven anything to anybody - besides by remaining as winner hanging as leader at the cliffs edge while the Lemmings march on.
He got accidently very rich by pure clean luck (no problem with that), but most he touched so far went south or went the not so shiny way of Eberhard- given Musk profiteered always personally.

We shall find out soon, very soon, if that luck is here to stay.
With a company he has openly ousted, kicked out the
founder at a late stage of product development

Finally we shall see who stays in the market when the really big bears & elephants with very deep pockets (forget the GM Volt) and very experienced Japanese, Germans & Frenchmen will march in a massive wave the EV ring / market with attractive, elegant and shiny products. - within 12 months from now.

All producing 100 % in (existing) US plants and not adding like Tesla 5% to the car value by stacking in a backdoor garage imported japanese batteries in a box and fitting them to a otherwise 100% pre-produced european car, (shipped by container to the US for refitting only to obtain US production status)

Read the prove here: Roadster Owner Ken Jacobs Tours UK Assembly Plant and Test Track

 

[dpeilow]

All the satellites have such mini-nuclear- power-supplies (radioisotope thermoelectric generators) since the sputnik thought.

Umm, not quite. Many deep-space probes and some spy satellites have RTGs but the vast majority use solar cells. As GSP says, they wouldn't be much use without the cold of space and even then the biggest flown only produces 390W, even with the large temperature difference.

Those terrestrial units that have been built typically weigh more than an entire car: Radioisotope thermoelectric generator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perhaps they have bought the patents for the Ford Nucleon :smile:.

 

[dpeilow]

The claims are pretty ridiculous, but I like where this is going. I'd like to see lots of companies try to get into the high performance EV game. Just as long as they don't confuse the public with outlandish promises.

Definitely agree with the sentiment - the more performance EVs the better. There will be a perception that if it is now possible to build a performance EV, a "normal" one must be easy. It should really embarrass the regular manufacturers into action.

However if it is widely reported that this car has some "magic" power source that can last 6 years and it turns out that is the useful lifetime of some regular Li ion or similar battery, it will not be the journalists that hold their hands up and admit the mistake. They will make the company - and by implication the technology - into a laughing stock.

 

[graham]

This was probably already known by everyone else here, but I am just discovering it. I assumed the "Shelby" of SSC (Shelby SuperCars) had something to do Carroll Shelby or his Shelby-American car company. That doesn't seem to be the case. It was founded by "Jarod Shelby" instead.

Is Jarod related somehow to Carroll, does anyone know?

 

[doug]

This was probably already known by everyone else here, but I am just discovering it. I assumed the "Shelby" of SSC (Shelby SuperCars) had something to do Carroll Shelby or his Shelby-American car company. That doesn't seem to be the case. It was founded by "Jarod Shelby" instead.

Is Jarod related somehow to Carroll, does anyone know?

That's a good question. As pointed out in beginning of that Jay Leno video there is no relation what so ever. But I'm sure SSC benefits from that confusion.

 

[doug]

Originally Posted by GSP
I suspect they work better in outer space where the extreme cold provides a greater temperature gradient for the thermocouple.

Rays are used and work for good currently on earth on every corner already. This just goes unnoticed...

This is another good example of how a little bit of knowledge without any real understanding is a dangerous thing.

 

[SteveF]

This is another good example of how a little bit of knowledge without any real understanding is a dangerous thing.

Now now. Let's not bait the trolls.:wink:

 

[vfx]

Is Jarod related somehow to Carroll, does anyone know?

Is'nt he the Subway guy who lot all the weight?