Wrightspeed X1 Prototype

Darell with the X1 *before* the drive. You'll notice my hair isn't mussed yet. :)

29-Jan-06. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Ian Wright and his phenomenal X1. Uses a AC Propulsion 150 controller/motor combo, and Li-ion batteries. Licensed and street-legal. Rev-limited top speed of 112mph (which it reaches well before 1/4 mile).

• 0-60 in 3.06s and 117 feet (about the width of an intersection).
• 0-100-0 in 11 seconds.
• Vehicle weight 1536 pounds complete with batteries.
• 1500 ft-lbs torque at the drive wheels (motor makes 182 ft lbs that is geared down 8.25:1 to drive the wheels).
• 170 mpg of gas equivalent when driven on the street. (see the X1 FAQ)
• 1c/mile for electricity bought at PG&E TOU off-peak rate.

Wrightspeed main page.

Ian performed ~95% of the construction work himself, starting with an Ariel Atom glider. The conversion to electric drive has been meticulously done with results that speak for themselves. I was skeptical at first about the advantages a high-dollar, high-performance, doorless vehicle like this would have for our planet. I mean, it will not remove ICE vehicles from the road (note: Ian argues that it will take ICE vehicles off the road as both his V12 BMW and Ferrari are now for sale since he doesn't consider them "fast cars" any longer). Nobody will commute in it instead of a Hummer or a Prius. Yet after discussing this subject with Ian, I have changed my attitude. Though this vehicle is unobtainable to most of us mere mortals, it flies in the face of the public's perception and the automotive PR machine that tells us that EVs are not desirable. If an EV *can* do this, imagine how great an EV could be for a family vehicle. A startup like Wrightspeed cannot be expected to turn out a large volume of low margin vehicles for mass consumption. But it *can* turn out a few top-of-the-heap vehicles like the X1, and make a statement about the capabilities of EVs. If EVs eventually humble enough ICE drivers at the track, we may just be able to make some in-roads to the status-quo.

I have ridden in some high performance vehicles. And nothing -NOTHING- prepared me for this. The ride was quite literally the thrill of a lifetime.

• Video from KRON4 (Please note: All vehicles driven in this clip were piloted by their owners. In each instance, the driver wanted to win. The track was wet, and all cars performed below their rated specs.)
• Video of Skyline Blvd in the X1 (there's just no way to accurately show speed in video like this! The wind noise in the mic is out of control. The car itself could not be heard.)
• Video of Skyline Blvd in the X1 (minutes later)
• Video of 0-60-0 in the X1 on wet pavement. The jerk in the video at about three seconds is the transition from full throttle to full regeneration. Here you can at least hear the gear whine during acceleration.
• Video of a ride-along (Not my ride, but the acceleration and deceleration capabilities of the X1 are painfully obvious here!)
• Discovery Channel interview with Ian Wright

Great Business Week article here.

Lower and upper battery box, transmission and controller.

170 mpgge? Yup. It uses ~200 WHr/mile in city driving. The energy content of a gallon of gasoline is 33,705 WHrs. 33705/200 = 169

The ACP 150 controller showing the charging input.

Cockpit with GPS gage display.

The nose with useless air intakes.

If you look close, you can see where the gasoline doesn't go.

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