X Prize contender update: Electric Raceabout debuts on the web
click to enlarge
Based on an Audi R8 chassis and using a few currently-available components (like the air conditioner from an Audi A3), the new Electric RaceAbout (ERA) from Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia is getting ready to take part in the Progressive Automotive X Prize. The ERA is a lightweight (1,250 kg/2,750 lbs target weight) AWD electric vehicle that is expected to have a range of over 300 km (186 miles) and a top speed of over 200 kmh (124 mph). The goal is to make this vehicle reach that all-important 100+ mpge level with li-ion battery packs that will weigh somewhere between 350 and 570 kg (that's between 770 and 1,250 pounds. As a comparison, this is much heavier than the Chevy Volt's 350-400 pound packs). The carbon fiber body is moved by four electric in-wheel motors.
The ERA will be coming sometime next summer. The Institute of Design, Lahti Polytechnic and the Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia are working together on this vehicle. No estimated price is available for the Electric RaceAbout, but the newly unveiled website says it will be "Affordable (in sport vehicle range)." That would be nice, wouldn't it?
Gallery: Electric Raceabout
[Source: Electric RaceAbout, thanks to Janne M. for the tip!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Unlucky_O 2:08PM (5/20/2008)
now this is what i like to see!! there are only a few car company's in America that make fully electric cars!
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Kardax 3:38PM (5/20/2008)
So... they're converting an R8 into a Tesla Roadster? Apart from AWD via wheel motors, the specs seem nearly identical...
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Wave54 3:56PM (5/20/2008)
Having read their website, I wouldn't mistake this for an actual production vehicle in any way. ERA (Electric RaceAbout)is a project being developed by Finnish universities, foundations and corporations involving R&D of a sporty electric car.
While they do expect to have a vehicle to compete for the Automotive X-Prize in fall 2009, they are not in the auto manufacturing business themselves and no mention is made of any eventual production.
Better to consider this as a design study for potential application by an interested party at some later date.
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Joseph 6:16PM (5/20/2008)
Wouldn't it be a good idea to stay away from AWD if you want more range?
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TomtenT 9:52PM (5/20/2008)
> #4 ("Joseph")
That's an interesting question.
You have to re-think a lot of issues when the vehicle
is electric.
I certainly don't have all the answers, but in this case there's probably no gearboxes or 'transaxles' :
Quote :
"The carbon fiber body is moved by four electric in-wheel motors."
a) Being built and constructed in Finland, with lots of snow & ice, the choice of 4wd is easy to understand.
b) This car will most certain be a "study project" , as #3 ("Wave54") points out.
Adding a)+ b), you'd expect this concept to include a traction control system.
For a BEV you'd also need a re-generative function.
In my head, this adds up to a quite intricate control system for the four individual motors.
Now back to the original question:
Does it take more energy to propel the vehicle by 4wd than by 2wd ?
I'm not sure it does take more energy in this case.
If there's no mechannical transmission losses, there's just the electronic power regulator, and that should have pretty good efficiency. in any case it wouldn't act any different if it was applied in a 2wd configuration.
Anyone w knowledge to enlighten us here ?
- - -
Just wanna comment on the looks:
The half-matte satin grey in some of those computer
images I could live with - Absolutely smashing ! to
put it another way.
The design itself looks unharmonic though.
Cheers ! :-)
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Kevin Nugent 10:27PM (5/20/2008)
Wow , now don't those specs seem like the teslas roadster . But in any event i am glad that people are being innovative and making electric cars . Also this looks alot better than the tesla roadster
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ugg.tryptophan 11:31AM (5/21/2008)
nice ears shrek
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Marc-O 5:34PM (5/21/2008)
Whoah, holy Tesla Roadster design ripoff, batman... Is this a Geely ? Wow. 90% of the character lines and features in the front and back end are ripped straight off of the Roadster. Look at pictures of both side by side and it should be obvious...
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