EV Crosses Rockies During Freak Summer Blizzard

Electric Vehicle Crosses Rockies
During Freak Summer Blizzard

September 22, 1995
Yosemite National Park, CA

In a surprise test of its winter driving capabilities, on the last day of summer, AC Propulsion Inc.'s prototype electric vehicle weathered a snow and ice storm as it crossed the Rockies en route from Washington DC to Yosemite National Park. Driving an EV across the country is unusual, but driving one through blizzard conditions on the way is unheard of. The keys to this feat are AC Propulsion's AC 150 electric powertrain and "Long Ranger" range extending trailer.

The unexpected storm brought freezing temperatures and driving snow to a 400 mile stretch of Interstate 80 in Nebraska and Wyoming. Glare ice brought traffic to a near standstill west of Laramie, Wyoming, but gave AC Propulsion president Alan Cocconi a chance to prove the capabilities of his electric drive technology under severe winter conditions. Descending from the 8600 foot elevation summit, Cocconi and AC Propulsion business manager Tom Gage used the AC 150's sophisticated traction control and anti-skid regenerative braking features to overcome extremely low traction conditions that saw other vehicles stopping on the highway to fit chains or pulling off the road altogether.

After emerging from the nightmare blizzard, the car continued its marathon journey, and ascended the 9900 foot Tioga Pass this morning arriving at Yosemite Village in time to participate in the unveiling of Yosemite's new electric buses. Having driven the EV directly from Detroit after meetings with automakers, Cocconi and Gage were ecstatic about their car's overall performance and unexpected prowess in the snow. "Today, good EVs are ideal for local use in warm climates" said Cocconi, "but this experience shows that, properly designed, they can safely endure conditions that put any car to the test." The "Long Ranger", a trailer mounted electrical generator, provided the energy to keep the EV's batteries charged as the car traveled up to 1000 miles per day.

AC Propulsion's electric vehicle conversion has racked up 32,000 miles in daily use in the past thirteen months, including two cross-country trips, a showing at The Vice President's Advanced Vehicle Technology Symposium, and "severe use" at the hands of magazine writers, auto industry executives, and government officials during hundreds of demonstration drives.

The AC 150 is a 150 kilowatt (200 horsepower) electric drive system for vehicles in the 2500 - 4000 pound weight range. It embodies the most advanced motor control, battery recharging, battery monitoring, and driver interface circuitry and control logic available in the electric vehicle industry. The AC 150 electric drive system is manufactured in California by AC Propulsion Inc. Drive systems and complete EV conversions are available on a limited production basis.