Ac Propulsion · 2007–2009
AC Propulsion eBox
The eBox is a conversion of a Scion xB hatchback into a battery electric vehicle produced by the American company AC Propulsion.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Predecessor: AC Propulsion tzero
All Ac Propulsion eBox data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →
History
AC Propulsion executives announced their intention to convert Scion xBs to battery electric vehicles in October, 2003. Company executives stated that the Scion xB was chosen in part due to its boxy shape which allows for good placement and installation of a battery pack. The availability of a suitable battery was said to be an important step in allowing for the announcement of the program. Suitability requirements included that the battery be widely available ("off the shelf"), in volume, without danger that supply would be cut off or be overly limited. Thousands of lithium-ion batteries, of the 18650 variant, were proposed as suitable for the rechargeable battery system. The prototype eBox was unveiled in Santa Monica, California on August 18, 2006. The prototype used a battery pack consisting of 5,300 Li-ion cells arranged into 100 blocks of 53 cells each. The first production eBox was delivered to actor Tom Hanks on February 15, 2007.
Pricing
Estimated cost of this conversion exceeds US$50,000 in addition to the base vehicle cost (excluding the cost of the gasoline engine, that is replaced in the conversion), while high-volume OEM additional cost is projected at about $10,000. It appears that high-volume production by original vehicle manufacturers using AC production components is a goal, with the low-volume production being an intermediate step. AC Propulsion offers the conversion for US$55,000.
Specifications
Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds. Top Speed: 95 mph (153 km/h) Range: 140–180 miles (230–290 km) Motor: 150 kW (200 hp) AC induction motor Battery pack: 5,088 Li-Ion cells, 355V nominal, 35kWh, 600 lb (270 kg) Battery charger: On board, 100-250VAC, 50/60 Hz, includes Vehicle to Grid (V2G) and UPS (generator mode) capability Charge rate: up to 20 kW; 30 minutes for 20–50 miles Full Charge: 2 hours (fast), 5 hours (normal) Energy Efficiency: 180 AC Wh/km in typical driving (648 kJ/km)
Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.
Specifications
- name
- AC Propulsion eBox
- Manufacturer
- AC Propulsion
- Production
- 2007-2009
- Class
- Mini MPV
- Platform
- Toyota Scion xB
- Body style
- 5-door hatchback
- Length
- 3944 mm
- Width
- 1689 mm
- Height
- 1641 mm
- Kerb weight
- 1383 kg
- Related
- AC Propulsion tzero, Tesla Roadster
- Designer
- AC Propulsion, Toyota
- Wheelbase
- 2499 mm
- Layout
- Front-engine, Front-wheel drive
- Predecessor
- AC Propulsion tzero
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q289637CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Propulsion_eBoxCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1354381145 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EBox_Front_View.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Fbagatelleblack; upload to Commons by Claus Ableiter · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.