Steve Dallas' TE Option 1 electric car prototype utilizes fiberglass body over Nascar engineered chrome moly tubular frame.
The Most Expensive Car on the Block
By Bill Moore
That's how Steve Dallas' wife characterizes his latest passion, a stylish, two-seat electric car that I got my first look at this evening here in Montreal. Felix Kramer, the founder of CalCars, and I were strolling the indoor mall of the Hyatt Regency after the opening night reception and noticed the bright yellow car pictured above being positioned in what will be the exhibit area of the PHEV '09 conference.
The car is a from-the-ground-up design that Dallas, who owns Toronto Electric, has been working on for the last two years. His firm builds industrial cranes and electric motors, so building an electric car from scratch wasn't totally outside of his skill set, but he was also smart enough to hire the best available talent in his community to style the car, engineer and assembly the chassis, and program the electronic controls and telematics, which includes its own onboard WiFi system.
For styling, he turned to noted race car designer Paul Deutschman, who has designed cars for LeMans. The chassis was engineered from tubular chrome moly steel by a firm that builds Nascar racers. The 49kW AC drive system comes from Azure Dynamics and the 29.2kWh, 307 volt lithium ion battery pack from Valence.
Fresh out of the shop, the car is getting its first public debut for the opening of PHEV'09. Steve tells me that he hasn't even developed a web page for it yet, but this much we know right now, the car is a one-off design due to Transport Canada regulations. While it sounds like Dallas would like to offer the series production models for sale, he is still mulling over his options, so it may, or it may not proceed beyond the point at which it is this evening.
In terms of performance, everything for now is largely theoretical. Acceleration is expected to be 0-60 mph in 4 seconds, comparable to the Tesla. Efficiency is targeted at 128 Wh/km or 207 Wh/mi. At 80% depth of discharge, that would equal a driving range of 100 miles. Top speed is rated at 99km/h (61 mph), largely because Dallas intended the car to be used in urban settings; the next step above a ZENN or comparable neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV).
Empty, the car weighs 700 kg ( 1543 lbs.) and has a payload of 460 kg. The 321 kg battery pack sits under the passenger cockpit, so tipping this car over should be next to impossible; and even if you did, it has a Nascar-style roll cage that will prevent the roof from caving in on the occupants.
The car has two digital display screens; mechanical analog instruments are so last century. The driver's screen displays the speedometer and other vehicle data, while the telematics screen includes GPS and Google maps.
I really think a lot of people could get pretty excited about this the car, which Steve refers to in his spec sheet handout as the TE Option 1, highlighting the fact that the car could accommodate a variety of drive system options from hub motors to range-extended hybrid drives.
For now, though, Mrs. Dallas and her enterprising husband own the most expensive car on their block... and one of the nicest little electric runabouts yet to hit the bricks on either side of the Canadian-U.S. border.
Published: 28-Sep-2009 | Page Views: 4686
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Reader Comments
22 comments so far...
1.
29-Sep-2009
68176
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Wow..........what a nice looking car!
This is something that Steve Dallas and Toronto Electric should be proud of.
Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Ara Hagopian
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2.
29-Sep-2009
68178
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I play rock and roll with Steve Dallas. He also has the most expensive guitar amp on the block. He loves a customized job.
His car is brilliant. Thanks for covering it.
Steve from the Thursday Night Jam
Posted by: Steve Falk
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3.
29-Sep-2009
68180
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This is a sharp little car.
I like the color and the shape of the car.
I would drive this car.
Posted by: Gordon Griffin
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4.
29-Sep-2009
68181
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Sweet!!!!! The first time I seen Steve’s car I was speechless and I know that all of you reading can relate. Having watched Steve turn his vision into reality has been quite interesting and has also made me realize the way of the future. It is very refreshing in these times to see someone’s hard work and determination pay off. Steve’s earned the accolades and should be proud of what he has accomplished with his company Toronto Electric and his car project. Good stuff Steve !!
Posted by: Marc Brabant
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5.
29-Sep-2009
68183
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Are we looking at the same car? Maybe it's just me, but that's not a car I'd ever buy. Most expensive car on the block or cheapest, I'd pass.
Posted by: Carlos Ruiz
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6.
29-Sep-2009
68184
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Posted by:
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7.
29-Sep-2009
68187
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Mr. and Mrs.Dallas you've worked hard and will be working even much harder tomorrow, sit back tonight, put your foot up,have a glass of wine,look at each other and say togather with some people on our side we have accomplish that little yellow car. this little yellow car means so much to our world today,tomorrow and forever.
Congratulation PAULIA.
Posted by: paulia telesford
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8.
30-Sep-2009
68189
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ADDENDUM: I spoke with Steven last night to see how the exhibition opening had gone. He was ecstatic. The response at the show has been overwhelming and he said it's left him in a happy dilemma as to what to do next. He doesn't want to go into the car manufacturing business, but the public response suggests there's a market for the car here Quebec, at least.
So, stay tuned. This story may just be beginning.
Posted by: Bill Moore
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9.
30-Sep-2009
68191
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Congratulations on your forward thinking and persistence. Now there's a car that is perfect and if I live long enough to scrap my present one, this is the car I would feel comfortable driving and parking. Lots of luck!! :-)
Posted by: Mid & Joy Kitchen
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10.
30-Sep-2009
68192
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Posted by:
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11.
30-Sep-2009
68193
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Well, Congrates Steve!!!! You do have the drive to pull this off, you have done such an excellent job. The car looks great and everyone is so impressed. Looks like you may have to take this to the next step. I need to ride in it now that it is complete, since I did get to ride in it when it was just the frame and the seats weren't even attached yet, spinning around Toronto Electric was a blast!!! Cheers to Steve Dallas, his vision and accomplishments!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Suzanne Kennedy (His Sister)
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12.
01-Oct-2009
68215
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Reminds me of the Subaru R1e and similar Toyota
and Mitsubishi cars--just right for seniors,studen
ts, GIs [near their bases], short-haul commuters,
etc...Any UK/JA/Indian versions with RHD wud be
great for rural postal carriers and newspaper-pack
ers...The idea of a highway-acceptable mini-BEV is
just what these folks with parking issues need...
I remember when Steve began engineering/designing this vehicle and Greater Toronto Area [GTA] and similar regions are going to buy/lease/rent-use
a lotta these!..Aaron Allen...
Posted by: Aaron Allen
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13.
01-Oct-2009
68222
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Dallas intends the car for urban settings. That, of course, cannot be the exclusive use of the car. I live in the wilderness of Michigan's Upper Penninsula. It is 12 miles to the Marquette Lake Superior harbor; 12 miles to Negaunee, and 15 miles to Ishpeming. I can go and return to all of these towns with one charge. This will be a very useful car for me. But two questions need answers. First, given the hills and snow here, is the car, or can it be made to be, 4 wheel or all wheel drive? Second, how much would this little care cost when it goes on sale in Michigan?
Posted by: Jacob Silver
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14.
01-Oct-2009
68227
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It's interesting that although the car can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 4.0 seconds, its top speed is 61 mph. Presumably that indicates that the top speed is electronically limited and that without the electronic limitation, the top speed would be considerably higher.
Unfortunately, limiting top speeds to less than typical freeway speeds limits the usefulness of cars, even in a urban environment, because sometimes it is difficult to find a suitable route from point A to point B without driving on a freeway for at least a short distance. Even so, such a car could be useful as a second car for many people.
Posted by: Frank Eggers
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15.
01-Oct-2009
68231
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Awesome! Hopefully someone will pick this up & and run with it. If it can be made for less than $30,000 it should be a huge hit!
Posted by: Nathan Bales
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16.
01-Oct-2009
68232
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ugly as home made soap
Posted by: JERRY WHITE
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17.
01-Oct-2009
68242
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Urban myth says: "Make 6 of them, give 5 to the potential buyers of the company, and you'll sell the company."
Posted by: Stevep Poppitz
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18.
01-Oct-2009
68246
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Yet another electric car is born, and its birth announced with joy. But look at some more sobering news hidden on the obituary pages. ZENN Motors just died. Phoenix Motorcars is dead too. Even mighty Tesla and Fisker now have gotten the great majority of their funds from us, the taxpayer.
Word to the wise, Steve Dallas -- the only way to make a small fortune in electric cars is to start with a big one.
Posted by: Carlos Ruiz
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19.
01-Oct-2009
68250
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It's great that we have people like Steve in Canada who take a serious interest in electric vehicle transportation. Sometimes dealing with Transport Canada can be a bigger and tougher job than marketing a new vehicle in this country. Excellent work Steve, you should be proud. I think the car is sporty and stylish in a modest way. I would buy one.
Posted by: Douglas Harding
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20.
01-Oct-2009
68253
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The Most Expensive Car on the Block,
So what does it cost?
It is all BS until the average working man can afford it.
If the goverment does not get behind EV it is just a pipe dream!
You can bet your bottom dollar the republicans are trying to stop this just like health care, Because big money (which is big oil) owns them and controls this country.
Look people, I have a pellet stove, every light bulb in my house is energy efficient. I drive a 1985 Ford Ranger that gets 28 miles to the gallon (because a new truck is less fuel efficient than this one that was made 25 G.D.years ago! I want to use solar and wind but it is completly out of my cost range.
How does any of this get done without our goverment to help develop and fund the research and make it affordable to a guy like me ?
Look, it's wonderful to see some rich industrialist make an EV, but where is the new technology that we need to get this off the ground and get it rolling and function better than what we have on the market today at an affordable price?
Well I have vented and if you want to hollar or scream at me please do so.
I might be wrong, but I have a good idea about
what is going on in this country.
Also if you can teach me anymore about this PLEASE E_MAIL ME.
Thanks for letting rant,
Sam
Posted by: S. dePauw
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21.
01-Oct-2009
68256
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Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Dallas love the car. God bless you in your future endeavours.
Posted by: Tessa Williams
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22.
18-Dec-2009
75896
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What all the detractors should realise is the reason for most electric car company failures is the greed of the stockholders.
Most of these companies start on shakey ground useing someone elses money and all it takes to bring them down prematurely is a negative rumor.
The electric car industry is now where Henry Ford and the rest were back in the 1900's ie trying to get on the first rung of the ladder and become viable.It will only happen from a large established company or someone with deep pockets and vision.
Posted by: D Gate
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