The tests are over and the battery electric tzero got the highest grades in this year’s Michelin Challenge Bibendum. After three days of grueling competition at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, AC Propulsion’s high-performance, all-electric tzero sports car had garnered six As, two Bs and two Cs for a solid 3.40 overall GPA. None of the other 49 cars and light trucks entered could muster an average higher than 3.20 over the 10 grades given for driving performance and environmental impact.

“We are proud of the performance turned in by our tzero”, said AC Propulsion founder and tzero designer Alan Cocconi, “and we are pleased that a battery electric car beat all the conventional cars and trucks, all the natural gas vehicles, all the hybrids, and all the fuel cell vehicles that
entered the Challenge Bibendum. It shows that electric vehicles have more potential than the current conventional wisdom would like to admit.

“Electric cars can be fast, clean, and efficient, and the tzero’s grades bear that out. In the important acceleration, emissions, and efficiency tests, the tzero got straight As, the only entry to do so. Everyone knocks EVs for limited range, but after the tough Bibendum efficiency run, Michelin rated the tzero at 240 miles of range. When we pointed out an error in their EV range calculations, they agreed that 280 miles was a more accurate number. That’s enough to ease most people’s range anxiety. It’s far better than the best fuel cell car.

“We thank Michelin for putting on an open event like the Challenge Bibendum. It is meant for fun, and we had a great time, but the results really do mean something. They show how various technologies can perform, head-to-head, outside the laboratory, closer to the real world. In this event, our car, using mass-produced, fully-commercialized Li Ion batteries showed that electric cars are ready to run. We entered and completed every event, and overall the tzero came out on top. By the way, we drove the tzero to the racetrack from Los Angeles, over 500 miles. That is the real world. As far as I know, most of the other entries arrived on trailers.”

CHALLENGE BIBENDUM, considered one of the premier global events for advanced technology vehicles, was established by the Michelin Group as an objective way to bring together and test the best available technologies for environmentally positive vehicles. The annual event
features vehicles from major manufacturers on three continents and brings together all partners in the automotive world: vehicle manufacturers, designers, energy suppliers, technical leaders, policy makers, universities and government organizations.

The AC Propulsion tzero electric sports car has set the standard for EV performance since 1997. The new super LIght versION uses lithium-ion batteries to reduce weight and increase range. The LiIon tzero sets new standards: 300 mile range on a single charge, 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, and 100 mph top speed.

AC Propulsion is a California corporation dedicated to creating electric vehicles that people want to drive. Founded in 1992, the company develops, manufactures, and licenses technology for electric and hybrid vehicle drive systems. AC Propulsion has patented and developed several key technologies for electric vehicles, including Reductive charging – a high-power bi-directional interface between the vehicle and the power grid.