View Full Version : Sabaru EV 2009
malcolm
01-04-2008, 09:26 AM
New City/Punishment Car coming:-
Subaru's Electric Car On Sale Next Year - Automobile.com _Subaru_ Auto News (http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/subaru-s-electric-car-on-sale-next-year/5379/)
Yanquetino
01-04-2008, 10:59 AM
Sounds good to me --and I'll bet to lots of other folks, too. Our last two Subarus have been great cars, the current one the best I've ever owned (including my Z3). Not everyone is keen on drag racing on main street, but simply want a clean, green commuter. Isn't this why the name "Bluestar" gets mentioned from time to time around here? But... I suppose one man's practicality is another man's punishment.
tonybelding
01-04-2008, 11:06 AM
I have to side with Malcolm on this one.
Teensy-tiny car with 50 HP and only 50 miles range? You can get almost that much range out of homebrew conversions with old gas cars and lead-acid batteries. This is exactly the sort of car that companies offered during the ZEV Mandate era, but few wanted them.
I'm sure it will be practical for some people, and if your only goal is to make your daily commute without gasoline, and your daily commute isn't too long. . . then sure, it might work. But it's hardly something to get excited over, and it's not a car with any other real selling points aside from being electric.
Plus they are only going to make 100 in 2009? I assume it will be sold only in Japan first. Big yawn.
Yanquetino
01-04-2008, 12:16 PM
C'mon you guys. Don't dismiss Subaru just because of this first R1e model. Of course it can't compare with a Tesla --including the price tag. You gotta start somewhere, and in fact the company has already produced a more upscale G4e prototype with a more decent 125 mile range:
MegaWorks - Subaru G4e (http://www.megawattmotorworks.com/display.asp?dismode=article&artid=363)
You can watch a video of it hear:
YouTube - Subaru G4e Concept Car (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ5rfmDm94Y)
Yes, those first 100 R1e models are to be sold in 2009 in Japan --not the USA. By the time Subaru brings an EV here, you can bet it will have specs more like the G4e.
By the way, how can you say that "few wanted them" at the time of the ZEV mandate? I know of no EV from that era that wasn't in demand: GM, Toyota, Honda, they all made far fewer vehicles than the number of customers who wanted one --despite GM's assertion (lie) to the contrary. I know of no highway-speed EV back then that simply sat on the lot with no buyers. None. In point of fact, aren't used RAV4-EVs now selling for about twice their original price? Few wanted them, huh?
"Selling points aside from being electric"? Well, for lots of folks that is the prime selling point. They'd be happy with an EV version of a SmartCar or a Mini Cooper, believe me.
This group of drivers wants more than that, however --which is why you gather in this particular forum, right?
malcolm
01-04-2008, 03:39 PM
Valid point; without the Tesla Roadster, it's like time has stood still for the last ten years.
The mindset is still fixed on punishment cars; either styling punishment - like the Aptera, or range punishment - G-Wiz, Subaru, etc etc
Even Tesla themselves seem to have lost their self-belief and seem set on de-evolving their battery systems to support the common denominator of PHEVs and REEVs.
Guess they can't wait to become a "real car company". Yeah, let the engineers go; hire more lawyers. It's the Detroit way.
Meanwhile, EVolution is back-pedaling.
Yanquetino
01-04-2008, 04:12 PM
Malcolm: Hmmm. Like I said... what is "punishment" to one man....
I am often an "odd-man-out," but at this point, if an EV1 were refitted with lithium ion batteries, say an EV2, I think I'd rather have it than a Roadster. As for the Aptera, I love its looks! I realize this probably makes you gag, given your reaction, but you might have guessed by the old TV prop I use as an avatar that my tastes lean in that direction. Are you as old as I am that you can tell my what the TV show was...? :confused:
domenick
01-04-2008, 04:25 PM
I'm pretty sure any EV Subaru ships to North America will have 100+mpc. I don't see this as a punishment car either but hopefully it will be more like the G4e rather than the R1e.
Also, the $17,500 price tag is a lot easier for me to swallow than any of the other EV's in the pipeline.
I have to say I like the looks of the Aptera too. Definitely more than the EV1.
I'm glad to see this car, and hope it's a success. If it's to be sold in the U.S., range is going to have to be boosted to 100-plus miles and freeway speeds. Otherwise, I'll rank it with Zap's product line. Still, Suburu is one of the big guys getting into the game. Finally.
As for the Devolution of Tesla, who knows. I read a great article on rumors at Chrysler, but it is very interesting what a private auto manufacturer can do that a public one cannot. Tesla falls into that category but for how long? The Chrysler rumor mill - Jan. 4, 2008 (http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/03/news/companies/taylor_chrysler.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008010404).
The new Li-ion batteries are also extremely small and lightweight - the R1e's battery pack is about the size of a VCR - and designed to last for 10 years or 150,000 kilometres.
Subaru Canada Unveils Fast-Charging R1e Electric Prototype @ Megawatt Motorworks (http://www.megawattmotorworks.com/display.asp?dismode=article&artid=246)
So why not design the car 10 inches longer and stick 3-4 more "VCR's" in there for 200-250 mile range? You'd get more usable room and a longer more stable wheelbase as well.
Subaru Canada Unveils Fast-Charging R1e Electric Prototype @ Megawatt Motorworks (http://www.megawattmotorworks.com/display.asp?dismode=article&artid=246)
So why not design the car 10 inches longer and stick 3-4 more "VCR's" in there for 200-250 mile range? You'd get more usable room and a longer more stable wheelbase as well.
I'd bet cost of the batteries. For that price, you mise well spring for a Roadster.
Are you as old as I am that you can tell my what the TV show was...? :confused:
It's Mr Hand's flying E type!
My Favorite Martian (http://timstvshowcase.com/martian.html)
domenick
01-05-2008, 04:46 AM
There was an interesting paragraph in the bottom of that article at Megawattmotorworks.
"In addition, FHI is currently conducting performance tests on prototype cells of a new Li-ion capacitor with enhanced power density (instantaneous force) and high energy density (cruising distance) for a next-generation vehicle that meets goals for sustainability without sacrificing performance. The successful commercialization of Li-ion capacitors for compact cars would open up many other business opportunities, including helping to meet the increased demand for alternate fuel buses, trucks and other passenger vehicles."
I don't think I'd heard about this. I wonder what kind of energy and power density they are talking about.
Grrrr... I just looked at the article date. 2/16/2006 Crap.
Yanquetino
01-05-2008, 08:03 AM
vfx: BINGO!!! You're the first person to know the answer. Kinda shows my (our?) age, huh? The ship was reportedly modeled after that Jaguar Type E:
http://www.casteyanqui.com/_dibujos/ejaguar.jpg
It's Mr Hand's flying E type!
My Favorite Martian (http://timstvshowcase.com/martian.html)
Not as much about age but more about my Nerdyness.
I own mine proudly.
Back on topic, What kind of power source did it have?
Subaru to Evaluate Quick Charge Electric Car with New York Power Authority: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080320/neth028.html?.v=44)
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