A conversation with EV Pioneer Alan Cocconi on the GM Impact and the AC Propulsion T-Zero

Alan Cocconi the man behind AC Propulsion and a pioneer of the EV world stopped by the Petersen Automotive Museum to share with Associate Curator Autumn Nyiri memories and secrets of two of his most famous and groundbreaking projects. The GM Impact and the AC Propulsion T-Zero can be seen as part of Alternating Currents - an exhibition sponsored by BMW North America and Optima Batteries.
This video is sponsored by BMW North America.
General Motors introduced its Impact concept at the 1990 LA Auto Show, marking the beginning of an industry-wide effort to decrease emissions and reduce fossil fuel dependency. The Impact drew on technical and design research done by GM for its SunRaycer solar electric race car, and its aerodynamic form increased efficiency by reducing wind resistance. Though the Impact did not enter wide-scale production, and GM ultimately destroyed the 50 additional cars that were built, the vehicle served as the basis for the GM EV1 later in the decade.
Credited as the inspiration for Tesla’s first vehicles, the tzero was developed by engineer and AC Propulsion founder Alan Cocconi, who previously worked on the prototype for the GM EV1. AC Propulsion, a Southern California-based manufacturer of electric drive systems, built three of these electric sports cars between 1994 and 1998. The design combined a stylish silhouette with a high-performance electric drivetrain and used technology the company was already supplying to automakers like BMW and Toyota. The experimental replacement of this car’s original lead-acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries in 2003 helped prove the viability of the latter for automobile use.
CHAPTERS:
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00:40 - Introducing Alan Cocconi
01:18 - The first solar car race in Australia
01:42 - The GM Impact
02:25 - A one-off concept car
03:25 - The powertrain approach
04:20 - Pioneering the one pedal drive approach
04:50 - At the time it was a high performance car
06:30 - Starting AC propulsion
07:50 - The T-zero
08:38 - The plan was to sell high end sport cars
09:00 - "High visibility publicized our technology"
10:25 - Collaboration with Optima and range anxiety
12:00 - Testing the T-zero
13:10 - Do the best you can with available technology
13:45 - Laptop Technology
16:30 - The color scheme
17:30 - conversion to Lithium batteries
18:02 - "I wanted the car not to look too serious"
18:50 - The legacy of the T-zero
19:50 - Are we in 2025 where you were hoping to be in 1990 when thinking of the future?
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