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February 08, 2006
World's First Electric Supercar
Burn off that quarter mile....
On Monday of this week Stephen Bové, bookofjoe's crack (hey, you knew it had to be that way — didn't you?) Silicon Valley correspondent went for the ride of his life in Ian Wright's WrightSpeed, "the world's first electric supercar" (above and below).
By yesterday afternoon Steve had pulled himself together sufficiently to be able to file the following dispatch:
- Yesterday I had lunch with Ian Wright at Bucks in Woodside.
Later I got a test ride in the WrightSpeed, the world's first electric supercar, which Ian designed and built as a prototype for his new company.
After my ride Jamis MacNiven, (owner of Bucks, tireless new-tech enthusiast, and founder of the legendary Sand Hill Challenge gravity car race), came out and got his first ride too (see last photo for what 0-60 in 3 seconds does to your hair).
All I have to say is, Ian has proved with this car that gasoline is TIRED and electric cars are WIRED.
This thing is so fast (stopping, cornering, accelerating, efficiency) that it shifts all notions of auto-performance into another realm.
Learn more (and see the WrightSpeed handily blow away a Ferrari Modena 360 and a $400k Porsche) here.
Indeed, do visit the WrightSpeed website and watch the Faraday Flier (my coinage) do its thing.
zoom Zoom ZOOM.
No doubt Bill Ford and Rick Wagoner up in Detroit are so busy packing their platinum parachutes in between throwing their thousands of loyal, helpless employees overboard they don't even have a clue this electric supercar exists.
They will — and the news will arrive from the East.
The Far East, actually — it's called Japan and in this context has two words:
1) Toyota
2) Honda
[via Stephen Bové]
February 8, 2006 at 10:01 AM | Permalink
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Comments
Your bias and slander is disusting. Too little credit to ariels brilliant engineering, and too little to the person who originally designed the electric engine he used (Alan Cocconi). To say gas is out seems kinda wierd when batteries are so expensive and mobile recharging is unsupported and practically useless. Ariel makes 300 hp gas versions when this is only a 220hp electric. So how can it be the second fastest car? How about the ferrari enzo, mclaren f1 and the buggatti veyron? This car simply proves that electric engines have potential with proper support and development like the many other fuel alternatives. Though I am the first person to tell you I don't want to suckle the $3.30 gas titty anymore.
Posted by: Adam | Jun 12, 2007 6:31:36 PM
So all that guy did was combining an existing car (Ariel Atom) and an existing electric drive system (AC Propulsion ACP-150 II)?
The results are good because the ingredients are good, but who would have expected anything else?
Posted by: MR42HH | Oct 7, 2006 12:22:32 PM
Yes…it is fully disclosed on the Wrightspeed website that an Atom is used as the body for the prototype...a very efficient option for a small company operating on start-up capital. The production model will likely be custom and optimized for electric, maybe still built by Arial. But the main thing to keep in mind isn't who makes the body…do you care who makes/designs the case/processor in your Mac or the body panels (Pininfarina) or brakes (Brembo) on your "Ferrari"? That’s where car making is headed…It’s all about design, packaging...and software. The victorious car makers of the future will be organized and operate more like Apple than GM. Come to think of it, I would be very excited if Apple bought Wrightspeed and hired Ian to head up a new "iCar" division ;-)
Posted by: sb | Feb 8, 2006 3:50:43 PM
Hi Joe,
The WrightSpeed is actually a UK car called the Arial Atom, with an electric heart transplant. Britain's best and funniest car reviewer wrote an article on the petrol version here:
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12529-1267303,00.html
Enjoy!
Posted by: Fred | Feb 8, 2006 1:44:43 PM
