Subaru has announced a follow-up to its "so cute you want to pinch its cheeks" R1e electric mini-car, a concept built on the boxy Stella city car.
The earlier R1e at Times Square, New York City, and the electric Stella concept (inset)
The electric Stella concept uses a 40-kilowatt electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are recharged via mains power. This powertrain gives the electric Stella a maximum speed of 100km/h and a range of about 80km on a full charge.
Subaru's Stella is a four-seat "kei-car" sold primarily in Japan. To qualify as a kei-car, a car must be under a specified size (3.4 metres long, 1.48 metres wide and 2 metres tall) and have an engine no larger than 660cc with a maximum power rating of 47kW. Kei-cars have been all the rage in Japan for over a decade, thanks in part to the tax and insurance breaks that they receive.
Compared to its predecessor, the R1e, the Stella loses in the looks department. However, its boxy five-door hatch body means that it should be more practical than the Alfa-esque three-door R1e. As such, four electric Stella concepts will ferry dignitaries around at the G8 summit in Hokkaido Toyako this July, while another one will be used by Japan Post to deliver mail around Toyako during the summit. This real-world test is similar to the deal Subaru made to provide two R1es to the New York Power Authority.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
theBike45
01/07/2008 01:18 AM
One more useless EV that no one will buy when they realize it can't meet their transportation needs. It's funny the way these are hawked as "city car" as though anyone in the city had a place to recharge the things and as though city dwellers never want to escape tyhe smelly, noisy environment they live in. What a con! This thing has a drivius radius of less than 40 kilometers. Better live in a mighty small city - or never venture very far from your neighborhood. You can drive for 80 kms in Houston and never leave the city.
Report offensive content
mark
01/07/2008 09:15 AM
Houston is one of the most poorly desinged cities in the world, (Most car dependent), we have almost a similar level of stupity here in Perth Western Australai... lets just keep building further out!, but even then 90% of people could still use this car for commuting, just cos your not going to use it on weekends to drive out of the city doesnt mean you can use it fro cummuting during the week
Report offensive content
MaddMoose
01/07/2008 11:17 AM
It's actually a pretty pathetic attempt when you consider Mitsubishi have built an electric Evo that puts out 200Kw and 500+Nm. They are also entering into a Japanese Rally to test it which means it's going to be able to drive a little further than 40km.
Report offensive content
mm35
09/07/2008 12:13 PM
re: thebike45 my average commute is 50km one way. That means I charge up overnight and charge up at work during the day. An max speed of 100kmh, wow. Who even gets to 100kmh in city commute anyway. What I want to know - is where and when can I buy one
Report offensive content
rudy
11/07/2008 12:15 PM
If city dwellers bought cars like this, their city wouldn't be noisy or smelly therefore the need to go further is negated
Report offensive content
Stuart
01/08/2008 12:40 PM
The Bike said "You can drive for 80 kms in Houston and never leave the city." Is that the cars problem, or Houstons (or the US's) problem?
Report offensive content