San Dimas, California
San Dimas ( Spanish for " Saint Dismas")
is a city in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 census, its population was 34,924. It historically took its name from San Dimas Canyon in the San Gabri ...
, USA company founded in 1992 by Alan Cocconi, Wally Rippel, and Paul Carosa, that specializes in
alternating current
Alternating current (AC) is an electric current which periodically reverses direction and changes its magnitude continuously with time in contrast to direct current (DC) which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in which ...
-based drivetrain systems for electric vehicles. It offers AC-induction traction motors. The company produces electric vehicle drive systems featuring high performance, high efficiency induction motors and integrated high power battery charging. Previously, they built an electric sports car, the tzero and the
eBox Ebox, EBox, EBOX or eBox can refer to
* AC Propulsion eBox, a type of automobile
* eBox, the codename of the CT510
The CT510 (previously known as the iSec (Sports Entertainment Center) and eBox) is a video game console created by eedoo Technol ...
, an electric conversion based on the Scion XB. They also develop prototype
electric vehicle
An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. It can be powered by a collector system, with electricity from extravehicular sources, or it can be powered autonomously by a battery (sometimes c ...
Founder Alan Cocconi designed and built the controller used in the original
GM Impact
The General Motors EV1 was an electric car produced and leased by General Motors from 1996 to 1999. It was the first mass-produced and purpose-designed electric vehicle of the modern era from a major automaker and the first GM car designed to b ...
, which later became the GM EV1. ACP introduced the first AC-100 in 1992 and the AC-150 150 kW (200 hp) integrated drive system in 1994. The AC-150 has been used in a variety of applications such as the BMW Mini E, Foton Midi taxi and a USPS LLV demo vehicle. AC Propulsion is a leader in Vehicle to grid or V2G systems, with their second generation AC-150 drivetrain offering a bidirectional grid power connection.
The company works with automobile manufacturers such as
AC Propulsion eBox
The eBox is a conversion of a Scion xB hatchback into a battery electric vehicle produced by the American company AC Propulsion.
History
AC Propulsion executives announced their intention to convert Scion to battery electric vehicles in Octobe ...
Courreges ZOOOP
The Courreges Zooop was a three-seat electric concept car built in 2006 by the Paris-based fashion house Maison de Courrèges.
The Zooop's electric powertrain produced and reportedly had a range of , with a curb weight of . The car was not pr ...
Ariel Atom
The Ariel Atom is a road-legal high performance open-wheel car made by the British Ariel Motor Company based in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, and under license in North America by TMI Autotech, Inc. at Virginia International Raceway in A ...
Tesla Motors
Tesla, Inc. ( or ) is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles ( electric cars and trucks), battery energy storage from home to gr ...
. Martin Eberhard encouraged Tom Gage and Alan Cocconi to move their prototype tzero into production. When they declined, in favor of working on their electrified
Scion xB
The Scion xB is a compact car (subcompact car in its first generation) made by Scion, a now-defunct fully owned division of Toyota, for the United States market. It is a box-shaped, 5-door hatchback.
First generation (XP30; 2003)
The firs ...
called the
eBox Ebox, EBox, EBOX or eBox can refer to
* AC Propulsion eBox, a type of automobile
* eBox, the codename of the CT510
The CT510 (previously known as the iSec (Sports Entertainment Center) and eBox) is a video game console created by eedoo Technol ...
, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning incorporated
Tesla Motors
Tesla, Inc. ( or ) is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles ( electric cars and trucks), battery energy storage from home to gr ...
to pursue the idea of building an electric roadster in the spirit of the tzero.
Elon Musk
Elon Reeve Musk ( ; born June 28, 1971) is a business magnate and investor. He is the founder, CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX; angel investor, CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; owner and CEO of Twitter, Inc.; founder of The ...
later test drove the tzero as well, and he also encouraged AC Propulsion to commercialize the vehicle. Tom Gage again deferred, but put Elon Musk in contact with Martin Eberhard which led to Musk becoming Tesla Motors' first major investor through Series A funding.
Before
Tesla Motors
Tesla, Inc. ( or ) is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles ( electric cars and trucks), battery energy storage from home to gr ...
developed its Roadster's proprietary powertrain, the company licensed AC Propulsion's EV Power System design and Reductive Charging patent which covers integration of the charging electronics with the inverter, thus reducing mass, complexity, and cost. Tesla then designed and built its own power electronics, motor, and other drivetrain components that incorporated this licensed technology from AC Propulsion. Given the extensive redevelopment of the vehicle, Tesla Motors no longer licenses any proprietary technology from AC Propulsion.