Electric Mustang: Pony Cars Go Green
When you make a list of pony cars from Detroit, the Ford Mustang is probably towards the top. Since the 1960s, the Mustang has been a symbol of muscle for the Motor City. For those looking for an eco-friendly car, however, the Mustang seems overly decadent with a mpg rating in the teens and a big, loud motor under the hood. Thanks to the work of ex-Ford engineer Kurt Neutgens, though, there is a new electric plug-in Mustang that combines pony car style with green living.
After Mr. Neutgens left Ford, he started his own company, Plug-In Motors
Noel ipod , initially working out of his garage. It didn’t take long for him to remove the gasoline engine from a Mustang and replace it with battery power and christen his new creation the E-Stang.
Powered by 2,450 batteries, the E-Stang is a fully electric plug-in vehicle that would feel more familiar to Prius drivers than to other Mustang enthusiasts. Gone is the throaty roar of a V8, to be replaced with a hush periodically broken by a compressor building pressure for the brakes. Unfortunately, the range that a gasoline engine and full gas tank deliver is also gone. On a full charge, the E-Stang can go about 80 miles, depending on how fast you push it. The Plug-In Motor’s website claims a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.2 seconds, but that will surely drain the batteries quickly and drastically reduce range. Also, once the power is drained, it will take 10-12 hours hooked up to a normal 110 volt outlet to fully recharge the batteries. That charging time can be about cut in half, though, if you plug it into a 220 volt outlet like those that power clothes dryers.
On the plus side, the E-Stang does come with some impressive perks. First of all, the E-Stang can go 100 miles for only about $2.30 of electricity. For comparison, a baseline Mustang with a V6 would cost about $25 (16 mpg city rating and assuming $3/gallon for gas). Also, because electric motors don’t need the wide variety of wearable parts found in normal internal combustion engines, they last about ten times longer.
For the negatives, the car does have a high price tag, costing $75,000, but considering the that power costs are about one-tenth of a normal Mustang, that price is justifiable over the long run. Also, one of the allures of pony cars is their powerful engines. While the E-Stang is no slouch, you do have to worry about draining the battery if you really put the car through the paces.
