Video: French electric La BlueCar in action
A few months ago we showed you the BlueCar, a prototype made by French company Bolloré and today we've got two videos that provide us more information about it, albeit in French.
First of all, the car was just a prototype. So although it was designed by the creator of the Renault Espace (Philippe Guédon) and built by Pininfarina, it won't see production. If you like what you see, take not that the end of the second video says that Renault was interested in it. Boloré used the BlueCar to showcase their lithium-metal-polymer technology on which they have spent 15 years and 70 million Euros on research.
The car has very good performance figures. First of all, it's capable of reaching 135 km/h (about 85 mph) and 250 km without charging (160 miles). A full charge is completed in about 6 hours and it seats four with a decent trunk in less than 3 meters (9 feet).
Second video after the jump.
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Christiah 4:00PM (11/03/2008)
La batterie n'est pas une invention française. C'est un mensonge. Le groupe Bolloré a acheté Avestor qui était une filiale d'Hydro-Québec en 2007. Hydro-Québec avait développé un moteur-roue électrique alimenté par la pile conçue par Avestor et cela en 1997. C'est les contribuable québécois qui on subventionné son développement. Mais évidemment ce sera de grande corporation qui en bénéficieront.
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Domenick 1:17AM (10/07/2007)
I'd drive this car.
At night, with tinted windows.
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Scatter 5:24AM (10/07/2007)
It's interesting that in France they're focusing more on the electric drive systems rather than the car. Both Bollore and Cleanova have systems but no car.
Shame though as I like this design a lot - it balances the gently quirky with the practical very nicely
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rgseidl 9:16AM (10/07/2007)
@ Domenick -
French aesthetic sensibilities regarding cars are quite different from those in the US - just look at the old Renault Twingo, the Megane, the Citroen DS and the C6 or any of the modern Peugeots.
The primary point of this particular prototype design was to be instantly identifiable with Bollore's lithium-metal-polymer battery technology. For that company, cars are not a passion but rather, just another target market.
Btw, it's quite normal in Europe for new developments tend come from the supply chain rather than the car makers themselves. In Germany, companies like Bosch, ZF Sachs, Continental and Siemens VDO are the ones pushing the envelope on the electrification of the car. Valeo is a major French player and Bollore would dearly like to join the list.
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mike baz 10:42AM (10/07/2007)
I would buy this car today.
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Domenick 8:08PM (10/07/2007)
rgseid: I was trying very hard to leave the "French" out of my comment. Even though it's a lot of fun, they get picked on enough.
I'm quite familiar with French cars. The first family car I remember was a Peugot.
Incidentally, magane is Quebec French slang for broken. &_&
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Phil L. 3:51PM (10/08/2007)
Does anyone know if this prototype was designed to meet European crash tests?
I'm more inclined to take such concept efforts seriously if they've taken this significant step. It also helps me keep alive the hope that something like this might make it to the US, without being crippled by NEV status.
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Xavier Navarro 4:04PM (10/08/2007)
There was no information about the vehicle passing or even taking crash tests.
Actually, the car was just a showcase prototype running on lithium batteries.
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