Techrules Electric Supercar Unveiled in Geneva

Back in February, we brought you news of yet another unknown Chinese car company that was poised to turn the world of automobiles upside down with a ground breaking electric supercar. Techrules, a subsidiary of TXR-S, which specializes in aerospace, high-tech materials, and biogas. At the time, we speculated about whether the new car was vaporware or a real vehicle. In Geneva, the company answered that question by unveiling an actual car, the AT96. That car is a non-working prototype, however.

The car is said to have 1044 horsepower and enough torque to hurl it to 100 kph in just 2.5 seconds.  Top speed is stated at 210 mph according to Technologic Vehicles. That is all pretty ordinary stuff in the world of supercars these days. What is not ordinary is that all this performance comes from only a 20 kWh battery. How is that possible?

The AT96 uses a proprietary onboard gas turbine that provides 36 kW of power at 96.000 rpm. The turbine weighs only 220 lbs according to Techrules. The car itself tips the scales at just 3,000 lbs, but the company says its carbon fiber creation will weigh less than 2200 lbs in final production trim. Paring 600 lbs from the prototype will be a daunting task. Techrules says the AT96 will be able to drive more than 1200 miles without stopping for fuel. Hopefully, it will provide some way for passengers to empty their bladders en route.

The company calls its turbine/electric car a Turbine Recharging Electric Vehicle, or TREV for short. While the turbine adds 220 lbs to the chassis, it eliminates the need for about 800 more pounds of battery, making the trade off more than worthwhile from a performance point of view. In an age where range anxiety still continues to plague the thoughts of many would-be EV buyers, that extra range could calm the fears of those worried about finding a place to plug in along the way.

Enjoy the video from the unveiling in Geneva. The company says its TREV supercar could be in production in a few years, with city cars to follow soon after. “We’ll see,” said the Zen master.

Photo credit: Techrules