Subaru's Stella electric car concept

By Derek Fung and Wayne Cunningham on 30 June 2008

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.

Topics: subaru, stella, g8, summit, r1e, electric car, electric, car, concept, metre

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Comments (7)

  • GAK62 commented on 20/05/2009 06:44 Report abuse

    Definitely a "Houston" problem...... I've been to Houston, it's HORRIBLE!!! Sprawl past the horizon! I know lots of people who live & work in cities who would LOVE a car like this! I do think the mileage is pretty pathetic, but that can be improved.

  • Stuart commented on 01/08/2008 12:40 Report abuse

    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?

  • rudy commented on 11/07/2008 12:15 Report abuse

    If city dwellers bought cars like this, their city wouldn't be noisy or smelly therefore the need to go further is negated

  • mm35 commented on 09/07/2008 12:13 Report abuse

    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

  • MaddMoose commented on 01/07/2008 11:17 Report abuse

    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.

  • mark commented on 01/07/2008 09:15 Report abuse

    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

  • theBike45 commented on 01/07/2008 01:18 Report abuse

    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.

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