Velozzi Electric Car Could Offer Up to 1,000 Mile Range

Recently, Accenture did a survey of 1,850 potential car buyers in Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and the U.S. The survey found that just 36 percent cited fuel economy and higher gas prices as a reason to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle. The bottom line is that ‘green’ is not enough. Cost, style, ride quality, maintenance, in-vehicle infotainment service, and performance are also important considerations.

Companies like Los Angeles-based Velozzi are hoping to capitalize on these desires by developing cars like the high-performance Velozzi Supercar and Velozzi SOLO crossover vehicle. Both use Capstone Turbine microturbines as range extenders. The Velozzi cars would operate on battery power for ranges of up to 200 miles. When the batteries reach a pre-determined state of discharge, the Capstone microturbine would be started to recharge the batteries. This would extend the range up to 1,000 miles. Super capacitors would also be charged to provide peak performance.

The diesel-fueled Capstone microturbine produces ultra-low emissions and requires less maintenance than the traditional combustion engine used in today's hybrid electric vehicles. Along with diesel, the Capstone microturbines can run biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, jet fuel, propane, and compressed natural gas. With Department of Energy funding, Capstone is also developing a flexible-fuel turbine to operate on hydrogen and syngas produced from agricultural materials. Separately, Capstone has developed and plans to market it own CMT-380 range-extended electric supercar that uses a 30 kW C30 Capstone microturbine.

The Velozzi Supercar would use a Capstone C65 microturbine rated at 65 kW to keep the car’s battery charged. Electrical output would be supplied to a 770 hp AC induction electric motor. The result is a top speed of over 200 mph and a 0 to 60 mph time of just three seconds. The Velozzi SOLO would use a 30 kW C30 Capstone microturbine to charge the crossover’s batteries and super capacitors.

Velozzi is working with OEM suppliers including Bayer, Bosch, PPG, Nanoledge, Camoplast, Pirelli, Visteon, and others. It is using lightweight materials and the modularity that lightweight materials provide.

For example, in partnership with Nanoledge, Velozzi is developing lightweight and high performance epoxy/carbon fiber body panels. Nanoledge integrated carbon nanotubes into epoxy resin to improve the mechanical performance of composites. This includes improved resistance to cracking, fatigue, impact, and compression without compromises on other properties. Carbon nanotubes can increase mechanical properties by 40 percent while reducing weight. Most materials in the Velozzi cars are reusable, further decreasing the Velozzi vehicles' overall carbon footprint.

The company says the Supercar will available in late 2010, while the SOLO crossover could be ready in 2011.