This may look like a Geo Metro sedan, but, in fact, it is an electric car called a Solectria Force. In the 1990s, the Solectria Corporation of Wilmington, Massachusetts, built approximately 400 of these electric cars from brand-new, motor-less 1996 Geo Metros. In place of the gasoline engine and transmission, Solectria installed a 56-horsepower 40-kilowatt three phase alternating current electric motor and a total of 13 12-volt lead-acid gel batteries under the hood and in the trunk. The Solectria Force could reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour, and accelerate from 0 to 30 miles per hour in 8 seconds and 0 to 60 miles per hour in 18 seconds. It had a typical range of 35 to 50 miles on a charge, though one Solectria Force driver set a record of 110 miles on a single charge. With an on-board charger, the Solectria Force could be fully charged in 2.5 hours from a 240-volt outlet or 12 hours from a 110-volt outlet. The Solectria Force also featured advanced regenerative braking, using the car's front wheels to turn the electric motor when coasting or decelerating, using it as a generator to help recharge the batteries and extend the range between charging.
The Solectria Force pictured here belonged to Portland General Electric, which purchased two of the electric cars for its own company fleet. They made appearances at schools and at community events like the Days in the Park Parade in Rainier, Oregon, on July 11, 1998.
