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AC Propulsion Propels winners

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March 3, 1996
Phoenix, AZ

AC Propulsion propelled four winners in this year's EVTC organized, APS 500 electric vehicle races, March 1-3, at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix.

ACP powered cars dominated the University Spec competition, capturing first and second place in Sunday's feature race and winning Saturday's heat race as well. Craig Taylor qualified the Ohio State University Lightning on the pole both days. He drove to decisive victories and set fast race lap in both the heat race and the main event. Richard Harrison drove the University of Oklahoma entry, also ACP powered, to second place in Sunday's race.

The design of the cars and outstanding organization of the teams enables them to change the entire battery packs in pit stops of less than 30 seconds. With fresh batteries the drivers can make use of AC Propulsion's motor and controller combination to put an unbeatable 220 HP to the road.

Both cars are powered by ACP's 150kW, 3 phase motor/controller package. Using 28 to 31 Optima* high-tech lead acid batteries the teams can push the systems to over 170kW, well beyond their normal rated output.

In the DOE hybrid electric class, the University of Idaho placed first in both Saturday and Sunday's hybrid races. By careful energy management strategy in Sunday's race, Idaho's Shawn Riffe was able to conserve battery reserves and use his AC-100's 134 HP to blast past the competition in the final laps.

In the Super Stock class, former Indy driver Tom Sneva put Salt River Project's ACP powered Ford Probe on the pole both days. He set fast lap in both races but failed to finish on Saturday. In Sunday's feature he had lapped the field three times by mid-race. A six minute quick-charge pit stop, necessary because battery changes are not allowed in the stock classes, put him behind, but he fought back to finish second. David Swan in Aerovironment's steady running Saturn relied on longer lasting (but more expensive) nickel metal hydride batteries to win the race with a no pit stop strategy.

AC Propulsion of San Dimas, California has specialized in the development of high performance electric drives and battery recharge systems since 1992. ACP's Alan Cocconi wishes to thank APS for sponsoring the race, EVTC for promoting the development of new and better electric transportation, and Firebird Raceway of Phoenix for hosting the electric racing.