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Brand New Electric Scion (eBOX)
February 21st, 2007 | Posted in: Competitors, PHEV
Tom Hanks was the first person to buy a fully electric Scion, taking delivery on 2/15. This vehicle is very interesting. It is a modified vehicle with the mod coming from a company called AC propulsions.
They’ve actually made a Volt-like vehicle. It has a pure 160 HP (same as Volt) electric engine that powers the fromt wheels. Also like the Volt it has a 650 lb Li-ion battery bank to power the engine. Not like the Volt it has a range of 120-150 miles!!! And also not like the Volt and maybe why the range is so long it has regenerative braking.
Lastly , most not like the Volt, there is No Combustion Engine; its all plug-in.
GM should take note of this car - I’d say adding regenerative braking is a very good idea.
Popularity: 2%
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) 
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Posted by: Lyle
8 Responses to “Brand New Electric Scion (eBOX)”
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February 21st, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I have to disagree with you on the regenerative braking. If you look at the pic of the instrument panel you will see that it shows Regenerative Braking. I could be wrong, or this could be a feature that they are going to add. I doubt that braking could make this car travel soo much further then the volt. There has to be another reason.
February 21st, 2007 at 9:53 pm
BlackSheep
You are right about the photo, but as per GM, there is currently no regenerative braking in the Volt. See reference article here: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/01/27/some-reader-questions-on-the-chevy-volt-answered/
It seems logical that they should add it for the production car and that should extend range. How much is the question.
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:21 pm
The Volt will have Regen Braking in the production model.
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I’d love to buy an all-electric Scion XB, however, the price tag from AC Propulsion is about $70k. $15k for the car, another $60k for the conversion. Not something everyone can afford. Listen to my podcast with Tom Gage, president of AC Propulsion, about his company and their conversions at http://www.podtech.net/nextgear/technology/1642/ac-propulsions-e-box
February 24th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
The issue with the EV range of the Scion vs. the GM Volt is two-fold:
1) the Scion conversion is taking the aggressive approach on estimating range. I.e. the 650 lbs battery will have a total stored energy of ~25 kWh, and if one assumes an aggressive energy use of 250 Wh/mi in light driving, then you can theoretically achieve ~100 miles range. As the battery approaches low SOC the performance of the vehicle will become sloppy.
The durability of the Scion battery is also an issue and pulling 100 miles a day from the pack may result in short battery life (
February 25th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Can anyone answer some questions for me?
With electricity costing $.08 to $.11 per KWh, gas would have to be above $3.50 a gallon before it makes sense to charge up an electric car at home. Additionally, there are conversion losses when going from outlet to battery making it even more costly. Why would people pay more for a car and then pay more to fuel it up?
The other question is about the batteries. I have never seen a NiMH or Li Ion battery that lasts more than a couple of years. And battery life is even worse when they operate under temperatures as high as a typical summer in most parts of the United States. Does anyone have first-hand information about batter life with the current hybrid vehicles?
November 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
goldriver: Estimates say new EVs such as the Tesla roadster will only cost 1 to 2 cents per mile in electricity. You will be able to drive 250 miles for the price of one gallon of gas.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
gas engines convert their energy at approximately 35% while electric engines have an efficiency of at least 80% and most of the time more. Therefore, when you charge your car, you put less potential energy in your car, but can move farther on less total stored energy.