Saturn All-Electric Conversions Available Next Year
A small Cincinnati start-up called Advanced Mechanical Products (AMP) has developed, and is taking orders, for Saturn Sky Roadsters converted to run on all-electric power.
The converted cars will be powered by two electric motors and a powerful LI-Ion-Phosphate battery, enabling a top speed of 90mph and 0-60mph acceleration in less than 6 seconds, with a range of around 150 miles on a single charge.
According to AMP CEO Jack Kuntz, a prototype model will be completed in about a month, with an initial production run of 300 units.
The AMP Saturn Sky will be available for around $50,000, which includes the cost of the car and the electric conversion. If you already own a Saturn Sky, AMP will convert any 2007 model or later for $25,000. AMP asserts that the conversion will cost around $0.04 per mile to run, compared with the $0.54 a mile that the American Automobile Association reckons it costs to operate a conventional car. I estimate that in terms of pay-back, this means that a user could recoup the $25,000 conversion cost after driving around 50,000 miles.
According to Kuntz, “This is a commuter car, not a car you’d drive to Florida. It’s not for everybody, but it’s not for the ultra-wealthy either. We want regular folks to be able to afford it, not just the rich and famous.”
Almost all of the big car makers have announced plans to offer some form of electric or gas-electric hybrid vehicle over the next two or three years. If that seems like too long a wait, you might be interested to hear that these conversions will be available from early next year. There’s only one major catch, the cars will only be available in a 200 mile radius around Cincinnati...If you just can’t stand it and want your electric car, you could always DIY it.
However, if AMP can prove that this is a business model that works, I don’t see any reason why similar schemes couldn’t be rolled out across the country?
Via Kentucky.com