An extraterrestrial Renault - EFP Mars II Electric
06/14/2024
Because as a bicycle-riding paperboy in Los Angeles he was always shrouded in thick diesel smoke from city buses, Robert R. Aronson was an early advocate of electric propulsion for automobiles. In 1966, he therefore founded the Electric Fuel Propulsion Corporation (EFP), which converted the Renault 10 Major from a petrol engine to an electric motor. Henney Kilowatt had already pursued a similar concept in 1959, both ambitiously and unsuccessfully.
In January 1967, the first EFP Mars II Electric (Mars I was a Dauphine-based one-off created in August 1966) was completed, named not after the fourth planet or the Roman god of war - but in all seriousness after the chocolate bar. Half of the 20 six-volt batteries were located under the front hood, which meant that not only was there no space for suitcases, but also for the spare wheel, which was instead hung vertically at the rear like on an off-road vehicle.
The first Mars II was delivered in September 1967. Unlike the Henney Motor Company, EFP sold its electric Renault exclusively to corporate customers, 45 of them in total. At a price of 5450 US dollars, there would have been hardly any private buyers. For 135 dollars less, you could get a brand new 1968 Cadillac Calais. Of course, the Mars II was not only in the same price class, but also in the same weight class - with the lead batteries accounting for around half of the 1.8 tons unladen weight.
With its 15 hp, the EFP could travel at just under 100 km/h with sufficient acceleration - and depending on traffic and gradient conditions, between 120 and 210 kilometers. It could even recuperate. After the six-day maiden voyage from Detroit to Washington D.C. in March 1967, Robert Aronson reassured the oil companies that the Mars II would not be a threat to them. The heating would still run on gasoline.
P. S. One of the 45 EFP Mars II Electric vehicles built is currently being auctioned on bringatrailer.com with no reserve price.
