The Chevrolet Equinox has been “amped” up as Ohio-based Advanced Mechanical Products (AMP) revealed a full battery electric version of the vehicle.
AMP specialises in converting new vehicles to full battery electric drive and its electric Chevrolet Equinox can achieve a top speed of 90mph and accelerate from 0-60mph in just eight seconds. It comes fitted with a 37kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a range of up to 150miles; while also boasting dual Remy motors that have been dubbed the “secret source” of the converted vehicle by the company’s CEO Steve Burns.
It was just earlier this month that AMP and Remy International signed a letter of intent for a long-term electric motor supply agreement and now AMP will use Remy HVH250 electric motors in its custom electric vehicle conversions.
According to CEO Burns, for the Equinox, AMP configures the two motors “butt to butt” with one for each rear wheel. There is no need for a transmission or differential and that creates what Burns describes as “the most efficient drivetrain in the market”.
Humbly Burns states that the company didn’t have $3billion “to do a vehicle from scratch” but “even if we did, we couldn’t build a car as good as the Equinox”.
The electric AMP Equinox is expected to retail for less than $50,000 after government incentives are applied and Burns is eager to point out that it will be available ahead of its electric rivals, such as the Nissan LEAF.
The electric AMP Equinox is available for order now and the company should start deliveries by June, 2010. A formal unveiling is expected at the New York Auto Show on April 2, 2010.
