Electric Cars Coming Soon
(Page 2 of 3)
December 2008/January 2009
By Bill Moore
A High-performance Hot Rod
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If money is no object, but speed and excitement are, then the Tesla Roadster is what you’re looking for. This all-electric sports car has revived the fortunes of electric vehicles with the attention it has received for its range of 220 miles, top speed of 125 mph and zero to 60 acceleration in under four seconds. The first 600 are already sold, despite the $100,000 price tag. Tesla also is developing an all-electric sedan that may cost half that figure.
The French Connection
Pininfarina is best known for designing some of the world’s sexiest and most expensive sports cars, but now it has teamed up with French battery maker Bolloré to develop an electric car, called the Bolloré-Pininfarina B0 (B Zero). The company says it wants to sell the vehicle in America in 2010.
Mitsubishi Moving Toward Electric
Mitsubishi has been perfecting an electric version of its “i” car, a four-door subcompact sedan known as the iMiEV. Mitsubishi will begin selling small numbers of the iMiEV in Japan, with sales in the United States likely to follow in subsequent years. A few prototypes may take part in U.S. demonstration trials this year.
Charge and Go
Subaru has been testing small numbers of its R1e electric car with Japanese utilities and says it will soon launch similar initiatives in the United States. The R1e’s batteries can be recharged to 80 percent capacity in just 15 minutes.
Fantastic Flexibility
If you’re still uncomfortable with the limitations of an electric car, watch for the Volt. GM is working hard for a late 2010 release of its highly anticipated range-extended electric car. GM says it will drive 40 miles on battery power, and 300-plus miles using a four-cylinder gasoline/ethanol engine that doesn’t propel the vehicle but does recharge the batteries. Prototypes will hit the streets in 2009, with sales likely to begin in 2011. The final price tag may be $35,000 or more.
A Plug-in Prius!
