AC Propulsion TZero
The TZero is a hand-made electric sports car produced by the US company AC Propulsion. It is based on the Piontek Sportech kit car. The TZero uses a reinforced steel space frame, double wishbone independent suspension, rack and pinion steering, lithium-ion laptop computer batteries, giving it a 300 mile (480 km) range. Lighter than the original version by 700 pounds (320 kg), the 2003 edition goes from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. The single gear ratio limits the car's maximum velocity to just over 100 mph (160 km/h) at 13,000 RPM. The base price of the car is USD $220,000.
The original version of the roadster runs on 28 Optima Yellow Top Lead Acid batteries which produce 200 horsepower (150 kW) and 177 lb-ft (240 Nm) of torque at 336 volts which rockets the 1040 kg car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.07 seconds. The single gear ratio limits the car's maximum velocity to 90 mph (145 km/h) at 12,000 rpm, although it is said that early prototypes fitted with multiple gear ratios could hit 155 mph (250 km/h). Even still, it is capable of completing a quarter mile (400 m) drag race in 13.24 seconds. The expected range per charge of the TZero with the batteries it comes with is 80 to 100 miles (130 to 160 km) as a result of consuming only 180 watt hours per mile (400 N) (DC) on the highway and due to regenerative braking. Within a single hour, the car can be charged from 0-95%. The base price of the car due to low volume production is USD $80,000.
The name comes from t0, the mathematical symbol for a starting point in time.
