Subaru's all-electric R1e wins Japanese government award
Japan's Minister of the Environment likes Subaru's R1e, a small electric vehicle the Japanese automaker developed with Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. (TEPCO) and NEC Lamilion Energy, Ltd. The award is called the '2006 Commendation For Global Warming Prevention Activity' and goes to the R1e and its high-speed charger, which can charge the city car in about 15 minutes (standard outlet charging takes eight hours). Either option gives the R1e a range of 50 miles and a top speed of 62 mph. The most impressive number is that the life of the high-density lithium-ion battery is estimated at 10 years or 124,000-plus miles.
TEPCO said it plans to have 150 fast-charge stations and about 3,000 EVs in Kanagawa prefecture in the next five years. Customers interested in the R1e, which should go into production in 2009, can look forward to a 90 percent reduction in car taxes and purchase taxes as well as discounted parking and highway fees.
Related:
[Source: Subaru UK]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John 1:19AM (1/16/2007)
I dunno, but this seems to me to make the hooplah behind the Chevy Volt look rather bad. All the hot air about batteries not being quite ready and such....hello, looks like little ol' Subaru has got it figured out (little is relative actually as they're owned by heavy industry giant Fuji).
It goes to show...what we need isn't rocket science. A little car about the size of a Chevy Sprint powered by electricity. It goes as far and as fast as the vast majority of people will need in their daily commute and can charge up over night at home. This is what North America needs, and it looks pretty much ready to go. It won't be everybody's solution....but I'm sure it would satisfy the needs of a great many.
Forget hydrogen. We don't have to wait for the perfect PHEV that is all things to everyone. Any automaker could bring a product like the R1e to the North American market now...and I'll bet you they'd fly off the dealer's lots to boot.
In fact, I think I'll email Subaru now and ask them when I can buy one in Canada.
Reply
Tim 10:05AM (1/16/2007)
Electric is definitely the HOTTEST word in transportation right now. If GM is banking on leading this tech, they better shake a tail feather and learn to fly again very quickly indeed. It's exciting to watch such a vigorous horse race when we know that we consumers and the environment will be the ultimate winners! May the best technology win!!!
Reply
CM 6:58PM (1/16/2007)
I suspect this will be a "Japanese market" only, at least for the first few years. If it does well in Japan, Subaru may then make an export model with a better battery, higher top speed, and longer range.
Consider that the 1997 to 2000 model Toyota Prius was sold only in Japan. Exports started with the 2001 model year, with an improved battery, more powerful motors and larger engine.
Reply
Sue 8:16PM (2/08/2007)
Hello! Where is the USA Government Award for Global Warming Prevention Activity?
GM and Ford have a long history of not moving their fat behind until Govt forces them to. Without government, they would be bankrupt decades ago. My '65 Skylark didn't have a collapsible steering wheel so a minor accident would impale you on the steering column. Government had to force them to increase the cost of the car $1 to fix that. Ditto pollution controls (without which we would not be able to breath at all in major cities today), air bags, seat belts, crash testing, etc.
Only government can force automakers to innovate and suvive. "Libertarians" haven't been paying attention.
Reply
Rick 10:47AM (12/26/2007)
This is what I see myself driving in about 10 - 15 years - after the Corolla hits 150,000 km or so. If these cars come along before that - great.
Reply
Mort 4:08PM (12/26/2007)
I wouldn't buy another car from those stupid pigs at GM if my life depended upon it. Japan has the vision, Japan has the quality. American CEOs are crap filled maggots. Screw volt, EV car killing conspiratorial gas guzzling circle jerking corrupt...
Reply