Editing AC Propulsion

{{Short description|Automobile manufacturer in US}}
{{Infobox company
| name = AC Propulsion
| logo = Acp logo 1.gif
| type = Privately held company
| industry = Automotive company
| founded = 1992
| founder = Alan Cocconi
| hq_location = [[San Dimas, California]]
| key_people = [[Wally Rippel]] and Paul Carosa
| website = {{official URL}}
}}

'''AC Propulsion''' is a [[San Dimas, California]], USA company founded in 1992 by Alan Cocconi, [[Wally Rippel]], and Paul Carosa, that specializes in [[alternating current]]-based drivetrain systems for electric vehicles.<ref>Zorpette, Glenn. (May 1997) ''[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/electric-cars-and-pterosaurs-are-my/ Profile: Alan Cocconi &ndash; Electric Cars and Pterosaurs are my Business]'' {{subscription required|date=February 2020}}, [[Scientific American]] '''276'''(5), 32-36. [https://web.archive.org/web/19980131092458/http://www.scientificamerican.com/0597issue/0597profile.html Archive from 1998]</ref><ref name="acpropulsion.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.acpropulsion.com/about.html |title=AC Propulsion - Creating electric vehicles that people want to drive|access-date=2014-06-10|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220154136/http://www.acpropulsion.com/about.html |archive-date=2016-12-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>  It offers AC-induction traction motors.<ref name="investing.businessweek.com">{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=24792996 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140610021542/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=24792996 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 10, 2014 |title=AC Propulsion, Inc.: Private Company Information - Businessweek |publisher= |access-date=2014-06-10 }}</ref>  The company produces electric vehicle drive systems featuring high performance, high efficiency [[induction motor]]s and integrated high power battery charging.<ref name="investing.businessweek.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acpropulsion.com/products.html |title=AC Propulsion - Creating electric vehicles that people want to drive|access-date=2014-06-10|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140711160724/http://www.acpropulsion.com/products.html |archive-date=2014-07-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Previously, they built an electric sports car, the [[AC Propulsion tzero|tzero]]<ref name="acpropulsion.com"/> and the [[AC Propulsion eBox|eBox]],<ref name="acpropulsion.com"/> an electric conversion based on the Scion XB. They also develop prototype [[electric vehicle]]s for [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]] customers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lynch|first=Michael|title=Biden Goes All In On Electric Vehicles—But Consumers Probably Won't|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaellynch/2021/08/06/biden-goes-all-in-on-electric-vehicles-but-consumers-probably-wont/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901080802/https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaellynch/2021/08/06/biden-goes-all-in-on-electric-vehicles-but-consumers-probably-wont/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
Founder Alan Cocconi designed and built the controller used in the original [[GM Impact]], which later became the [[General Motors EV1|GM EV1]].  ACP introduced the first AC-100 in 1992 and the AC-150 150&nbsp;kW (200&nbsp;hp) integrated drive system in 1994.<ref name="web.me.com">{{cite web |url=http://web.me.com/soareyes/Stans_Mini_E/Mini_E_Blog/Entries/2010/5/16_Meet-Up_at_AC_Propulsion.html |title=iCloud |publisher= |access-date=2014-06-10 |archive-date=2012-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621020003/http://web.me.com/soareyes/Stans_Mini_E/Mini_E_Blog/Entries/2010/5/16_Meet-Up_at_AC_Propulsion.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  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 was a pioneer in [[Vehicle to grid]] or V2G systems,<ref name="acpropulsion.com"/> with their second generation AC-150 [[drivetrain]] offering a bidirectional grid power connection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reliance Electric GV3000 5V4160 {{!}} Automation Industrial |url=https://5v4160.com/blog |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=5v4160.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Companies Founded in 1992 |url=https://www.ranker.com/list/companies-founded-in-1992/reference |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=Ranker |language=en}}</ref>

The company works with automobile manufacturers such as [[Changan Automobile]].<ref>[http://www.acpropulsion.com/index.php/news-media/88-meet-with-changan-automobile-at-acp MEETING WITH CHANGAN AUTOMOBILE AT ACP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093130/http://www.acpropulsion.com/index.php/news-media/88-meet-with-changan-automobile-at-acp |date=2018-07-02 }} Published: 05 December 2017</ref>

==Vehicles using an AC Propulsion electric drivetrain==
[[File:Acp tzero DSC00657.JPG|thumb|Yellow [[AC Propulsion tzero]] and red [[General Motors EV1]]]]
*[[AC Propulsion tzero]]
*[[AC Propulsion eBox]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaughn|first=Mark|date=2021-08-02|title=Yes, You Can Buy Tom Hanks' Tesla!|url=https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a37182616/tom-hanks-tesla-for-sale/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=Autoweek|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901081004/https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a37182616/tom-hanks-tesla-for-sale/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Volvo 3CC
*[[Venturi Fetish]]
*Courreges EXE
*[[Courreges ZOOOP]] (with [[lithium polymer batteries]])
*[[Wrightspeed X1]] (based on the [[Ariel Atom]])
*[[Mini E]]{{Dead link|date=July 2011}}<ref name="acpropulsion.com"/><ref name="web.me.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acpropulsion.com/ |title=AC Propulsion - Creating electric vehicles that people want to drive |publisher= |access-date=2007-04-12 |archive-date=2008-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415132405/http://www.acpropulsion.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Peraves]] E-Tracer
*[[Toyota RAV4 EV]]<ref name=RAV4>{{Cite news
  |title = Sacramento, Here We Come!
  |newspaper =  Convention and Tradeshow News
  |page = 1
  |date = 2001-12-12
  |url=http://www.ctnpublishing.com/pubs/ETIC/ETIC_2001/ShowTimesDay1.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190224214204/http://www.ctnpublishing.com/pubs/ETIC/ETIC_2001/ShowTimesDay1.pdf |archive-date=2019-02-24 |url-status=usurped |quote=AC Propulsion’s battery electric Toyota RAV4-EV made it from Southern California to ETIC2001 without stopping to charge.}}</ref>
*[[Tesla Roadster (2008)]]

==Connection with Tesla Motors==
[[Martin Eberhard]] and [[Marc Tarpenning]] had both taken test drives in the lithium-ion battery powered revision of the [[AC Propulsion tzero]] before founding [[Tesla Motors]]. 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]] called the [[AC Propulsion eBox|eBox]], Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning incorporated Tesla Motors to pursue the idea of building an electric roadster in the spirit of the tzero.  [[Elon Musk]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Siry|first1=Darryl |title=Will the Real Tesla Founder Please Stand Up?|url=https://www.wired.com/2009/06/tesla-founder/ |publisher=Condé Nast|date=2009-06-25 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20190921032236/https://www.wired.com/2009/06/tesla-founder/ |archivedate=2019-09-21 |url-status=live |quote=...it is interesting to note that neither Martin Eberhard or Elon Musk came up with the idea of an electric sportscar with excellent range and amazing acceleration. As is evident in some of the emails Elon presents on his blog, the credit rests with a company few outside EV circles has heard of. {{br}} AC Propulsion developed the idea, and both Eberhard and Musk initially approached the San Dimas, California, company to build the car. Tom Gage and Alan Cocconi had built the t zero, which is essentially the prototypical Tesla Roadster with a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds and a range of more than 200 miles using commodity lithium-ion cells. {{br}} One way to look at this is the real technology visionaries were the folks at AC Propulsion, but they lacked the entrepreneurial vision to see just how big an idea it could become and the means to achieve it. Both Eberhard and Musk saw the importance — and potential — of what Gage and Cocconi had created. When Eberhard and Musk approached them individually to prod them into taking the next step and produce the vehicle, Gage opted instead to introduce Musk to Eberhard and get back to work creating the eBox, an electrified Scion xB that Gage considered more practical and economical.}}</ref>

Before Tesla Motors 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 (electrical)#Electric vehicle drives|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.<ref name="Reductive">{{cite web|url=http://www.acpropulsion.com/technology/reductivecharging.htm |publisher=AC Propulsion |accessdate=2007-03-07 |title=Reductive Charging, AC Propulsion's Reductive Charger Integrated Charging for the Electric Vehicle |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206121745/http://www.acpropulsion.com/technology/reductivecharging.htm |archivedate=2007-02-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Interview with Musk, pt 2">{{cite web | url=http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/06/24/autobloggreen-qanda-tesla-motors-chairman-elon-musk-part-2-tran/ | title=AutoblogGreen Q&A: Tesla Motors Chairman Elon Musk Part 2 – Transmission shifts | date=2008-06-24 | accessdate=2008-06-24 | author=Sam Abuelsamid | archive-date=2008-06-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626184604/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/06/24/autobloggreen-qanda-tesla-motors-chairman-elon-musk-part-2-tran/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TeslaWtoW">{{cite web|url=http://www.teslamotors.com/efficiency/well_to_wheel.php |title=Well-to-Wheel Energy Efficiency|last=Tarpenning|first=Marc |author2=Martin Eberhard |date=2007-08-24|publisher=[[Tesla Motors]]|accessdate=2011-02-25|quote=The AC Propulsion lithium-ion charging system (the basis for the design of the Tesla Roadster charging system)...|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20071011010258/http://www.teslamotors.com/efficiency/well_to_wheel.php |archivedate=2007-10-11|url-status=dead }}</ref> Given the extensive redevelopment of the vehicle, Tesla Motors no longer licenses any proprietary technology from AC Propulsion.<ref name="Soap Opera">{{cite web|url=http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2/?p=73 |title=Tesla Leadership |date=2009-06-22 |accessdate=2009-08-01 |author=Elon Musk |author-link=Elon Musk |publisher=[[Tesla Motors]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624221445/http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2/?p=73 |archivedate=June 24, 2009 |quote=Tesla Motors, Inc. consisted of Eberhard, Tarpenning and Wright, plus an unfunded business plan and they were looking for an initial round of funding to create a more advanced prototype than the AC Propulsion Tzero. While there was a basic corporation in place, Tesla hadn't even registered or obtained the trademark to its name and had no formal offices or assets. To save legal fees, we just copied the SpaceX articles of incorporation and bylaws for Tesla and I invested $6.35M (98%) of the initial closing of $6.5M in Series A funding. Eberhard invested $75k (approximately 1%). |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website|1=https://www.acpropulsion.com/}}

{{Automotive industry in the United States}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ac Propulsion}}
[[Category:Battery electric vehicle manufacturers]]
[[Category:Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Technology companies based in Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:San Dimas, California]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1992]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1992]]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1992]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Car brands]]