The Long Beach Grand Welcomes Electric Vehicles, Part II

Alternatives At The Long Beach Grand Prix

With Commuter Cars showing off their Tango, the green lap around the track and the Ford Fusion hybrid and the up and coming Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, PHEV, the Grand Prix had much to offer.

Commuter Cars, With A Twist.  I had time to talk with Rick Woodbury from the famous Tango cars and his Commuter Cars company.  Why famous?  If George Clooney bought a Tango is becomes a de facto famous EV, doesn't it?  

What can you say about the Tango car?  Interesting?  Different?  One thing is for certain, it doesn’t leave anyone feeling neutral, as most moderns cars do.  What was interesting was to see the reaction people had, from the blatant: “It’s going to tip over.” to the: "Wows".  As far as tipping over, Rick reminds us that with 2,200lbs of batteries and lead in the sub-frame, the car handles as well as a Porsche 911.  And as far as power?  It’s there with a Corvette Z06.

And for those who think the car is too small, the gentleman behind this lady is over 6 foot 3!

Technically speaking, the Tango in its biggest version can accelerate through the standing 1/4 mile in 12 seconds at over 120 mph and do a 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds.

Last but not least, two mainstream car makers were there showing their latest hybrids, HEV and a look at the Green lap around the race track.  Grand Prix are the best places to show off new technologies for car makers, as well as startups.

Ford Fusion Hybrid.  If the Ford Fusion HEV didn’t stand out at the Los Angeles Auto Show, I will blame it on the dark green color that just didn’t do it justice.  But in white, the car has a fresher look.  Judge for yourself.  What impressed me was the qulity on the interior.  It looked much better than what Ford has done in the past and looked on par with nice European sedans.  I say, bravo there.

And as far as the famous dash that has been winning “awards”, there it is.

Toyota, Showing Off The Revised Current Fleet.  The Long Beach Grand Prix is the Toyota GP and of course and Toyota cars were prominently displayed.  The 2010 Prius took center stage with some facelifts.  Strangely enough, the PHEV version of the Prius was shuffled back, hidden away next to the even more hidden fuel cell project.  Considering the acclamation the PHEV received I was puizzled as to why the company wouldn't want to give it a second stage showing.

The Green Lap.  One of the most interesting part of the weekend were the green cars that showed up for a lap around the course.  A Tesla Roadster, a Commuter Cars Tango, an Aptera as well as Michael Kadie’s electric Daytona Coupe took part of the green lap around the GP track.  I spoke with with Tom Reichenback, the Aptera Chief Engineer and got to test the seating position of the car.  Low, reclined and very comfortable.  It reminded me of my 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider.

The result of this green lap showed EVs have enough power to rival their gas counterparts and brought them to the public's attention.  It will be intersting to see what next year brings.

Grand Prix Scoops.  I talked to the LMP1 team Acura Patron about technology and asked them if they had any plans to go hybrid or full electric.  I didn’t get a no for an answer.  It was more along the lines of depending on budget.  In fact, the new Acura Patron LMP1 was designed to take into consideration new technologies, such as a hybrid, HEV system.  I also found out to expect by next year an electric Sports Prototype.  Zytec is also working on an HEV prototype racer.  It makes perfect sense since Sports Prototypes are much more technical than other races and it would be a good introduction.

Conclusion Of This Weekend.  This race is different from others as it draw your usual Indy Car spectators and opens them to the virtues of the electric drive.  It is refreshing to see electric cars and the sports prototype teams working on hybrids and electric systems.  I feel this will push the technology as wel as make it a valuable alternative in the eye of the public.  It was fun and I will be there next year.

For more info: Electricnick part II and III, Commuter Cars, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Plug-In Hybrid.