JAN 19

Advanced Mechanical Products (AMP) wasn't on the show floor in Detroit at this year's North American International Auto Show, but a few of the company's representatives brought the company's X Prize competition entry vehicle to Detroit. Initially, I was offered a chance to drive the car out on the streets of Detroit, but the weather that day was somewhat icy (and I had a particularly slow drive into downtown Detroit to get to the show that day). The lightweight, rear wheel-drive, electric-converted Sky was probably better handled by someone familiar with it, so I went for a ride with AMP President Steve Burns to experience the AMP'd Sky.

Given the conditions, we stuck to the surface streets, so we didn't demonstrate the 0 - 60 mph (0 - 100 kph) in about 8 seconds that the car can reach. But, other than the big, red cutoff switch where the gearshift lever had been (an X Prize requirement), it was a Saturn Sky inside, and driving around was really no different than riding in any other car on a cold January day.

Since the vehicle we were in is AMP's X Prize entry, there were a couple elements that were more like a test vehicle than a finished car. In addition to the aforementioned cut-off button, there was some extra equipment among the batteries under the hood, and there was soundproofing omitted in the rear, so the motors were louder than they would be in a commercial AMP Sky, though not so loud that we couldn't have a conversation. But, beyond the unusual motor noise, the vehicle was an ordinary Saturn Sky in look and feel.

AMP's approach has been to work with the best of what is already available, rather than designing new systems from scratch. This is why they are working with existing vehicles that have already been engineered and safety tested to the extent that only a large automaker like GM can manage. While they take out the gas engine and install stacks of batteries and a pair of electric motors directly connected to the rear wheels, they leave as much of the conversion vehicle intact. Nothing is welded to the existing frame. The brakes and tires are exactly as they came from Saturn. This actually disadvantages the conversion in some ways. For example, the rolling resistance of the stock tires is not as ideal for an electric vehicle. But this makes it easier to produce the vehicle without expensive design and engineering changes.

The electric motors are the same ones that GM is using in their Tahoe hybrid. But, using two of them to propel a much lighter vehicle means that the vehicle can be 100 percent electrically driven. Again, by using stock parts, AMP makes it that much easier to build an affordable, serviceable electric car. Customers can take their car to a dealer or service center and have the brakes repaired using identical parts to a standard Sky.

We've also started an interview with Steve Burns for an upcoming EcoGeek of the Week segment. If you have questions you'd like us to ask, you can ask them in the comments below (before this Thursday 1/21/2010).

Previously on EcoGeek:
AMP Road Testing Saturn Sky All Electric Prototype
Saturn All-Electric Conversions Available Next Year

Comments (13)

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Measurements
written by Random, January 20, 2010

Great read, I can't wait to be driving cars like these.

One comment I would like to make however is that the abreveation for kilometres per hour is km/h and not kph.

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Sustainable Mobility
written by Christopher, January 20, 2010

Hi,

You might want to visit http://www.sustainable.mobility.org , a nice site on which news on sustainable mobility are posted daily.

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written by LoveearthAlways, January 20, 2010

Sweet. Ultimately, even with the best range and marketing, EVs will only be successful if they can be produced in an affordable price range. Curious about what the predicted price range is once they are mass produced.

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green way to help with hard water, Low-rated comment [Show]

Nice car
written by VeruTEK Green Technologies, January 20, 2010

A very impressive car. It was a really bright idea to use GM Tahoe electric motors. I am surprised it can handle rough weather.

I am also pretty impressed that the entire design is from pre-existing vehicle.

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Future Plans
written by Brent, January 20, 2010

Given the situation that Saturn is in, does AMP plan on converting a different car in the future? Are they hoping to work with a different GM brand, or will they go to a different company all together?

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written by Vitaliy, January 20, 2010

So how can I get one?

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written by darius, January 21, 2010

What about the range on the existing batteries and how was the heating handled? After all you were in a very cold weather.

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written by EV Enthusiast, January 21, 2010

from what I have heard, Amp will continue to convert Skys and Solstices for customers but is definitely adding new platforms including a family oriented one. We will have to see

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Problem using existing brakes
written by Eddles, January 22, 2010

One problem I foresee is that it is designed to use existing brakes. I assume these are standard friction ones. This means that it won't make use of regenerative braking which makes it less efficient.
Also means that expensive regular disk / pad services need to be done, which is not the case with regenerative systems as the brakepads are hardly used.

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written by Don, January 22, 2010

Eddles,
The car has regenerative braking.

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driving
written by Hendrick, April 21, 2010

perfect driving and knowing about electric car

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Philip Proefrock
written by used hilux, May 18, 2010

Given the conditions, we stuck to the surface streets, so we didn't demonstrate the 0 - 60 mph (0 - 100 kph) in about 8 seconds that the car can reach. But, other than the big, red cutoff switch where the gearshift lever had been (an X Prize requirement), it was a Saturn Sky inside, and driving around was really no different than riding in any other car on a cold January day.
The electric motors are the same ones that GM is using in their Tahoe hybrid. But, using two of them to propel a much lighter vehicle means that the vehicle can be 100 percent electrically driven.
used hilux
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rowan atkinson

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