Shelby SuperCars

Shelby SuperCars produces the Ultimate Aero EV, powered by two 500 hp electric motors for 1000 hp and 800 ft\lbs of torque. SSC claims the Aero EV reaches 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 208 mph. Using their All-Electric Scalable Powertrain (AESP), the Aero EV has a range of 150- 200 miles and the battery pack can be recharged in 10 minutes. The AESP is liquid cooled to cope with heating issues.

This is not Carroll Shelby's company, Shelby Automobiles Inc, inventor of the Shelby Cobra, but a Richland, WA company founded by Jerod Shelby.

SSC says, "SSC's Nanotechnology Rechargeable Lithium Battery pack is rechargeable in only 10 minutes on a standard 110 outlet and has a 150-200 mile range on a single charge. This means that in a typical 8 hour day, the car using this technology could go 200 miles, charge for 10 minutes (the time it typically takes to fill up a tank of gas), then drive 200 more miles, charge for 10 minutes and continue on." This "Charge on the Run" onboard charging system contrasts with other charging systems where the car is tethered to a charging station, typically overnight.

The AESP is composed of a lightweight, efficient electric motor, weighing 175 lbs, with an output of between 100 and 500 hp, and a controller that scales the power output. Two motors can be configured together in the AESP to produce the motive power for heavy lifting such as trucking, or high performance sports cars.

"The current AESP was designed to meet the manufacturing and quality requirements of major automotive manufacturers, transportation operators and the military. SSC will wholesale the AESP to mass production car companies, governments, and to public, private, and niche businesses. Costs for mass-produced units are $5K-$6K per unit for 1000 to 10,000 units (with further reduction in unit cost for increased production.)" says SSC in a grant submitted to the Department of Energy.

Supercars are not the only application the company envisions; configured for 200 hp, the AESP might power midsize sedans or vans; configured for more horsepower, the powertrain might power light trucks or heavier sedans. Configured for maximum horsepower, the powertrain might be used in 18 wheelers, or heavy construction equipment.

There is skepticism in the press and elsewhere, so it is very much up to SSC to back up their claims. One bit of hard data that speaks to their abilities is they own the Guinness World Record for "World’s Fastest Production Car" with a verified speed of 256.18 mph. Speaking of the challenge facing the company, "I think we can do it faster, leaner and cleaner than any other manufacturer," says Jerod Shelby, SSC Founder.

Shelby SuperCars expects to roll out its first full-scale, pre-production Ultimate Aero EV in second quarter 2009. Ultimate Aero EV deliveries will start as early as fourth quarter 2009.

The Aero EV and the other cars in this series are important for the R&D that goes into them and the "halo" effect they produce.  GM failed with their first electric vehicle, in part, because no one was interested. Cars such as the Aero EV, the Ronn Scorpion, the Tesla Roadster and the Dodge Circuit are hard to ignore, and bring interest, R&D, investment, and attention to further the development of the next generation of automobiles.