During the early-70s the cry went out for development of an electric automobile...over 200 entities responded
from all over the world. Of all those, only one is worth mentioning,
"Amectran
Corporation".
Amectran, acronym for AMectran ECological TRANsportation developed the EXAR-1 Electric Automobile.
Its inventor, Edmond X. Ramirez, Sr. did what no other electric automobile developer had or has done, in respect to making what
could be considered a "real" electric car: He actually built an electric automobile, making sure that details, such as, matching
ring and pinion gears to tire and wheel size for optimum operation, were some of the numerous innovative designs; implementing
them regardless of cost. The following group of companies are amoug those who provided advanced technological products,
materials and services which aided in making the EXAR-1 the most beautiful and advanced electric automobile in the world.
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company provided special tires, developed expermintal future characteristics
to be implemented into the design of the EXAR-1 - technology that came to fuition and was implemented in the 1990s, some fifteen
years later.
Bell Helicoptor and Ling Tempco Vaught Aerospace engineers provided structural design and metalurgical
analysis: 4130 chromally steel would be used as the roll
cage to protect passengers utilizing body on frame technology, for inexpensive repairs and maintance while providing
exceptional safety.
TRW Automotive and ZF Corporation
provided transmission and gear engineering advice and systems. EMC Show Corporation in conjunction with DuPont provided
the Acrylic/Kevlar body materials to be used in replaceable body panels constructed for higher safety and reduced repair
and replacement cost.
General Electric's DC motor division provided extensive research and development for
the electric motor to be used on the future EXAR-1 electric car. Trojan Batteries, as well as several other firms
provided advanced storage devices; this included SatCom who offered their advanced battery design .
Pietro
Frua designed the body, while the Department of Transportation cooperated in technical recommendations and asistance in
overall safety design and new materials analysis...suffice to say that Ramirez built an electric automobile for approximately
$18 million dollars, that General Motors (with government funding assistance, etc.) could not do for $360 million dollars...
Mr. Ramirez's EXAR-1 Electric Automobile actually worked, like Preston Tucker, it would be his downfall!
