ELECTRIC CAR SEEN AS NEW FIELD FOR COMPANY RESEARCH

Calspan has embarked on a program to investigate the electric car as a potential new field for research and development to help meet the needs for personal transportation of the future. As an aid in the investigation, engineers tested a Sundancer electric car, a prototype demonstration vehicle powered by 12 6-volt lead-acid electric storage batteries weighing 850 pounds. The 120-inch-long car, with a height of only 40 inches, has a top design speed of 60 mph, and a range of 70 to 120 miles at 30 mph, before recharging of the batteries is necessary. The company also has tested the electric CitiCar, which is now being marketed. The project was conducted with the company's own funds. Helping to arouse new interest in the electric car on a national scale are environmental considerations of conventional gasoline cars, the escalating cost of petroleum and depleting oil reserves. Electric cars first made their appearance in the U.S. before the turn of the century. Since that era, batteries have been improved, but not at the same pace as gasoline-powered engines. /ART/

• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Corporation

  4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 7-8
• Serial:
  • Calspan News
  • Issue Number: 16
  • Publisher: Calspan Corporation

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Development; Electric automobiles; Energy; Prototypes; Research
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Energy; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00152367
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 4 1977 12:00AM