Apollo Energy Systems

Apollo Energy Systems

Company type	Private
Industry	Alternative energy, Electric vehicles
Predecessor	Electric Fuel Propulsion Corporation (EFP), Electric Auto Corporation (EAC)
Founded	1966
Founder	Robert R. Aronson
Headquarters	Pompano Beach, Florida , United States
Area served	Global
Products	Fuel cell power units, electric propulsion technologies, electric vehicles

Apollo Energy Systems is a global American company specializing in alternative energy, with its main office located in Pompano Beach, Florida. The firm focuses on designing, manufacturing, and distributing fuel cell power units, electric propulsion technologies, and other alternative energy solutions. Established in 1966 by Robert R. Aronson under the name Electric Fuel Propulsion Corporation (EFP) in New Orleans, Louisiana, it later operated as Electric Auto Corporation (EAC) before adopting the Apollo Energy Systems brand in 2001.

Vehicles

Starting from the 1960s, Apollo's electric propulsion technology has been integrated into a variety of platforms, including several proprietary vehicles such as Mars I, Mars II, Mars Van, Electric Eel, Voltair, EPF Hornet, Electrosport, X-144, Santa Fe, Thunderbolt, Transformer I, and Silver Volt.

Mars I

The Mars I electric vehicle was developed in 1966 utilizing a tri-polar lead-cobalt battery system. Built on the chassis of a Renault Dauphine and powered by a 96-volt battery pack, it demonstrated a driving range of 120.3 miles and reached a maximum speed of 52 mph during trials. Its urban-friendly performance motivated EPF to relocate operations to Detroit to strengthen connections with the automotive sector. Only a single Mars I unit was ever produced.

Mars II

Between 1967 and 1968 in Ferndale, Michigan, 45 units of the Mars II were manufactured and primarily sold to utility companies across the United States. This model was based on the Renault R-10 and incorporated a 120-volt tri-polar lead-cobalt battery capable of reaching 80% charge within 45 minutes. Equipped with a 15-horsepower DC motor coupled to a four-speed manual transmission, the vehicle offered an estimated range of 146 miles per full charge. Original purchase orders listed the price at $4,800.

Maiden voyage

Robert R. Aronson, founder of EFP, undertook the inaugural Mars II journey from Detroit to Washington, D.C., spanning March 5 to March 10, 1967. The trip included eleven scheduled charging stops located at various utility companies en route. This expedition was intended to demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities to government representatives in hopes of obtaining federal research funding.

Second voyage

In April 1967, supported by Consumer's Power Co., the Mars II completed a trip from Detroit to Cadillac, Michigan, with charging stations established in Flint, Saginaw, and Claire. The cost for recharging averaged approximately half a cent per mile—substantially less than the typical gasoline expense of 1.5 to 2 cents per mile. Aronson also emphasized the vehicle’s gasoline-powered heater system that consumed around twenty cents worth of fuel weekly.

First delivery of a Mars II

According to an EFP brochure, J. Don Howard—President of Wisconsin Power and Light based in Madison—received the first Mars II electric car in September 1967.

Cross-country trip

The second Mars II embarked on a cross-country journey from Detroit to Phoenix, Arizona, departing on September 20 and arriving October 5, 1967. Covering about 2,000 miles through nine states with thirty-six planned recharging stops at utility substations and dining establishments along the way, Aronson recorded a total distance traveled of 2,226 miles with recharging expenses amounting to $27.26.

Los Angeles Water and Power delivery

On December 12, 1967, Aronson personally delivered a Mars II vehicle to Los Angeles Water and Power. Having grown up in Los Angeles with aspirations for pollution-free transportation solutions, Aronson’s handover ceremony was attended by Mayor Sam Yorty during the official unveiling event.

Additional Journeys

In May 1969, the Mars II completed a 1,266-mile trip from Detroit to Houghton, Michigan, maintaining an average velocity of 55 mph. Charging stations, established every 60 to 70 miles through collaborations with electric utility companies, supported the journey. The vehicle's fuel expenditure remained below one cent per mile. This expedition attracted extensive media attention, including wire reports from AP and UPI as well as broadcast interviews.

Great Transcontinental Electric Car Race

During August 1967, EFP facilitated the race by setting up 53 charging locations across 30 electric utilities, each staffed around the clock. They provided exclusive electric motors for both competing teams — Caltech and M.I.T — and equipped the victorious Caltech car with their proprietary tri-polar lead-cobalt batteries.

World's Inaugural Electric Car Expressway

In 1969, EFP collaborated with Holiday Inns to launch the first-ever electric vehicle expressway along I-94, extending 300 miles between Detroit and Chicago. Charging points were installed in Ann Arbor, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Michigan City, and Chicago, enabling practical testing of vehicles using 50KW rapid charges. Holiday Inns offered refreshments during the approximately 45-minute charging intervals.

Radio Host Arthur Godfrey

On March 11, 1970, Arthur Godfrey drove the Mars II electric car for 60 miles from Detroit to Ann Arbor via I-94 at speeds reaching up to 65 mph. He later discussed this experience on his radio program on March 23, emphasizing EFP’s technological advancements.

Clean Air Car Race

Within the Pure Electric Division of the cross-country Clean Air Car Race, two out of six electric vehicles successfully completed the challenging 3,600-mile course from Boston to Pasadena. Both vehicles were produced by Electric Fuel Propulsion Inc. The winning entry was the 1970 EFP Hornet sedan piloted by Cornell University students; second place went to the Mars Van driven by students from Stevens Institute. Along the route, nearly seventy charging stations were provided by various electric utilities.

Mars Van / Electric Eel

Between 1969 and 1970, EFP manufactured a dozen electric delivery vans modeled after Sweden’s Daf Kalmar. These featured fiberglass bodies, variomatic belt drive transmissions, and tri-polar lead-cobalt battery systems. The vans could reach a maximum speed of 45 mph and travel up to 75 miles per charge. Additionally, EFP converted the Daf 44 into the Electric Eel variant capable of attaining 60 mph with a driving range of approximately 50 miles at that speed.

EFP secured a contract to deliver four Mars Vans to the U.S. Post Office. These vehicles were designed for a top speed of 45 mph and engineered to complete a six-hour route involving around 400 stops without requiring recharging. At that period, a Gallup survey revealed that thirty-six million American adults expressed willingness to purchase an electric automobile.

Voltair

In 1969, EFP developed a prototype mock-up of an electric automobile featured on the February 1971 cover of Popular Science magazine. This concept vehicle was intended as a hybrid powered by batteries combined with a fuel cell but was never brought to completion.

AMC Conversions

From 1970 through 1976, EFP produced eight electric cars based on five models from American Motors Corporation: two EFP Hornets, one Electrosport, three X-144s, one Santa Fe, and one EFP Hatchback. All utilized tri-polar lead-cobalt battery technology and achieved top speeds ranging between 60 and 85 mph with driving ranges spanning from 40 to 101 miles per charge.

The EFP Hornet carried approximately 1,500 pounds of batteries and delivered a range of about seventy miles in stop-and-go traffic conditions with a maximum speed of sixty-five mph. Powered by a twenty-horsepower motor operating at 144 volts, it could be charged either at home or via fast-charging stations. Plans were underway to replace this model with the AMC Matador to accommodate larger battery packs.

Only one Electrosport was built based on an AMC Hornet station wagon chassis. In 1971 it achieved a top speed of seventy-nine mph and sustained a range of one hundred one miles when driven at thirty mph. Abercrombie & Fitch displayed this model in Palm Beach, Florida—chosen as a test market due to its flat terrain and mild climate.

The X-144 received its name from its one hundred forty-four-volt battery pack; three units were produced during 1972–73. Built on an AMC Gremlin platform with upgraded suspension and brakes, it could reach seventy mph and had a seventy-mile range at fifty mph. It featured both manual and automatic transmission options along with an onboard slow charger for overnight recharging.

The Santa Fe was based on the AMC Matador and was produced as a single unit in 1974 for use in an Avis Rent-a-Car pilot program in Chicago. It enabled city driving for eight to twelve hours per charge at speeds up to sixty mph; testing recorded a top speed of seventy mph and an effective cruising range of sixty miles at fifty mph.

One EFP Hatchback was constructed in 1976 using the AMC Hornet hatchback platform; it offered a top speed of sixty mph and a driving range of forty miles at fifty mph.

With AMC models no longer available, EFP initiated discussions with General Motors for future collaborations.

Thunderbolt

Derived from a conventional Detroit production chassis, the Thunderbolt was slated for release in Fall 1974 with a price tag of $7,500. By March 1974, company founder Robert R. Aronson had reported receiving orders for 2,000 units, expecting demand to rise to several thousand by April. Avis planned to introduce the electric vehicle initially in Chicago, followed by expansions into Manhattan and Las Vegas, supported by fast-charging stations at service centers. Despite these plans, EFP ultimately manufactured only two Thunderbolt units in 1975.

Transformer 1

Promoted as the first full-sized luxury electric automobile worldwide, the initial production goal was set at 2,500 vehicles. The first six models were constructed by Creative Industries in Detroit. Robert R. Aronson, the founder who developed a fast-charging battery during the 1960s, made significant investments to launch the Transformer I. This two-door electric car was a modified GM Chevrolet Chevelle equipped with a 180-volt tri-polar lead cobalt battery delivering a 75-mile range at 55 mph and capable of reaching speeds up to 80 mph. It was introduced at a press event in Southfield, Michigan, in May 1975 and later showcased at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show in January 1977. EFP also provided a mobile power unit—a gasoline engine trailer designed to recharge batteries during extended trips—created by Richard McClean of Wolverine Diesel.

Electric limousine

In 1978, EFP produced two electric limousines priced at $120,000 each. These vehicles included features such as air conditioning, power-assisted brakes and steering, power seats, door locks and windows, as well as AM/FM and CB radios. An auxiliary power unit was installed to support accessory functions and increase driving range.

Silver Volt

The Silver Volt was manufactured in two variants: pure electric (two units) and hybrid (twelve units). Initially planned for production in Puerto Rico, manufacturing was relocated to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. Although originally estimated at $14,500, the Silver Volt was offered at approximately $50,000 by November 1982. It achieved a top speed of 70 mph and an extended driving range exceeding 150 miles thanks to a gasoline-powered 10 kW rotary engine serving as a range extender. Later performance assessments adjusted the range to between 65 and 100 miles on battery power alone and between 85 and 120 miles when using the auxiliary power unit (APU). The vehicle utilized patented tri-polar lead cobalt batteries equipped with an automatic watering system and initially operated on a 150-volt system featuring an SCR controller and regenerative braking; subsequent reports indicated operation at 144 volts.

In 1980, Detroit Testing Laboratories conducted range tests at an average speed of 50 mph. Findings revealed a battery specific energy of 37 watt-hours per kilogram with nearly six hours of discharge at 50 amps. The tests concluded that the Silver Volt could travel approximately 212.4 miles over eight hours and up to 307.5 miles within twelve hours (including recharging), without engaging the APU. Speed testing in July 1982 recorded an average top speed of 76 mph.

Beverly Hills debut

The Silver Volt was officially unveiled on June 17, 1981, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Inventor Aronson highlighted his dedication to enhancing air quality in Los Angeles during the event. Entertainer Lawrence Welk was among those attending the launch.

Product line

Apollo alkaline fuel cell

The Alkaline fuel cell technology, originally developed for the U.S. Space Program during the 1960s, was further advanced by AES R&D led by Karl Kordesch at Graz University of Technology. These improvements allowed the cells to be utilized in terrestrial, underwater, and aerospace environments.

Apollo tri-polar lead cobalt battery

This fifth-generation electric battery incorporates lead foam technology to deliver enhanced power density, quicker recharge capabilities, and lighter weight. It is positioned as a competitive alternative to nickel metal hydride and lithium-ion battery systems.