More on the Maya 300, the new $35,000 NEV
The Maya 300 was unveiled this week and we can now get a better handle on the new all-electric vehicle that is put together by Electrovaya (with a bit of help from ExxonMobil in the battery) and will be used in a new car sharing project in Baltimore. While we heard some price ranges for the car at the beginning of the week, USA Today is saying that the upper ends of those ranges are the right ones. That means that the 60-mile version might be $25,000 while the 120-mile Maya 300 could cost a sweet $35,000. And, blurry street photo on Maya's new website aside, the Maya 300 is currently considered an NEV, which means it's electronically limited to go no faster than 25 mph. Gas2.org spoke to people at Electrovaya who claimed that a highway version is in development and "will be to market within the next few years." The Maya 300 NEV should be available for purchase in 2011. Until then, Maya Mobility's new website describes the car and idea in more detail, while the AltCar website explains how the new car sharing service at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore will work.
Gallery: Maya 300
[Source: Maya Electric, USA Today, Electrovaya, Gas2.org]
PRESS RELEASE:
Zero Vehicle Emissions, All-Electric Vehicle Now Commercially Available
Baltimore leads nation with all-electric car program
BALTIMORE, June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Baltimore today became one of the nation's first cities to feature an electric car share and rental program using advanced lithium ion battery technology developed by ExxonMobil. The Maryland Science Center with sponsors Electrovaya and ExxonMobil announced the program, called Altcar, which will raise awareness among Baltimore residents and visitors of the future of energy efficient transportation.
The Maryland Science Center also opened a new energy efficiency exhibit, sponsored by ExxonMobil, which includes hands-on activities for children and a full-scale car that showcases the numerous energy saving technologies currently being used by the auto industry.
"The Maryland Science Center is proud to play a central role in today's historic announcement. The launch of this program fits perfectly with our mission to educate the public on scientific advancement," said Van Reiner, CEO of the science center. "Consumers have shown a demand for car sharing programs around the U.S., and it is a logical next step to utilize this business model to demonstrate the growing desire and need for energy efficient transportation that is key to addressing environmental concerns. The new exhibit also will be crucial to helping expand the knowledge of our visitors on this critical and important topic."
The electric car being used in the science center's Altcar program is the new Maya 300. This vehicle can be fueled using a standard household electrical outlet and can drive up to 60 or 120 miles before recharging. The five-door, five passenger urban vehicle, is equipped with the safety, performance, and convenience features common to gasoline-powered cars. Starting June 24, under the program, Baltimore residents and tourists can rent these vehicles at the science center in the Baltimore Inner Harbor during the day to drive around the city to experience the feel of an electric vehicle.
"With our friends at the Maryland Science Center and ExxonMobil, we are demonstrating that creative collaborations are essential to finding innovative solutions that will help meet our future energy needs, create new jobs and protect our environment," said Sankar Das Gupta, president and chairman, Electrovaya.
A public company based in North America, Electrovaya's mission is to accelerate clean transportation as a commercial reality using its advanced power systems for all classes of zero-emission electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The Maya-300's advanced lithium ion battery uses separator film developed by ExxonMobil that significantly enhances the power, safety, strength and reliability of the lithium ion battery.
The lithium-ion battery separator film is one of the many innovative technologies that ExxonMobil has developed to increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles.
"ExxonMobil has a long, rich history of developing energy resources in an environmentally, socially and economically beneficial manner and we are proud to be a part of this program that supports innovative new technologies," said Jim Harris, senior vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical. "This program, coupled with the state-of-the-art exhibit, demonstrates our commitment to improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the globe."
The ceremony today took place at the science center and was attended by Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and Malcolm Wolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration. Both expressed their gratitude for the science center's leadership, as well as their support for innovative collaborations - such as that between Maryland Science Center, Electrovaya and ExxonMobil - that introduce clean energy choices that dramatically reduce environmental impacts.
For more information, go to www.mayamobility.com or www.mdsci.org.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
EVan 2:39PM (6/26/2009)
This is a "punishment car" at its worst.
Ugly, slow, and way too expensive. Cars like this undermine hard work being done to change people's perception of electric cars. Thanks ExxonMobile.
So XOM has this fantastic lithium ion technology but instead of licensing the technology and actually making some money off of it they incorporate it into this piece of crap. Then they set up an exhibit called the Altcar program to... "raise awareness among Baltimore residents and visitors of the future of energy efficient transportation."
Um.... Greenwashing?
And seriously... "future of energy efficient transportation" ??!!?? Are they trying to scare people? If I knew nothing about EVs and then saw the Maya 300 I'd go buy a brand new truck and a shotgun as well just to make sure no one ever tries to take it from me and make me drive one of these jokes.
LJGTVWOTR.
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Stew 6:51PM (6/26/2009)
"LJGTVWOTR" - I see you're a member of the club... remember what the first rule of the club is. You do not talk about the club. And the second rule of the club is... you DO NOT talk... well you get the idea.
Stew
gerrrg 7:11AM (6/29/2009)
Actually, they correctly state the popularity of car-share programs, particularly on the west coast. This is an ideal car for such a program, allowing people to make short hops for errands modestly close-in, and without burning an ounce of oil.
If you live in Portland, most of that power comes from greener sources, with just one coal plant, and the rest are either natural gas, wind, hydro and solar. The city has already signed an agreement to install charging stations, and assuming that the provider signs up for PGE's all-green option, this would make for an excellent program.
It's also noteworthy, that these batteries can be recycled to be reused, and their lifespans are in excess of 10 years before they reach significant drop off in storage capacity, which is far longer than lead-acid batteries.
markf 2:58PM (6/26/2009)
I work in Baltimore. At a max speed of 25 mph the battery pack can practically be boosted by the good citizenship on the fly, but of course the driver won't notice the $35K Maya is w/o power since it is utterly gutless even with a functional motor and can't drive on many of the larger Balt streets due to the speed limiter. A monumental fail. markf
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Chris M 3:13PM (6/26/2009)
Looks like a fairly decent NEV, but the price is waaay out of line! Most NEVs are half that price, or less. Makes me wonder if it isn't the "billionaire CEO" syndrome at work - you know, the top executives are all wealthy and have been wealthy all their lives, and have associated only with other wealthy folks, so they just can't understand why most people wouldn't be willing to pay what is, for them, mere pocket change for a nice little neighborhood runabout.
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Brian from Colorado 3:41PM (6/26/2009)
WORTHLESS. Another NEV at a way to high price. Where are the EV's that can go highway speeds and travel 120+ miles per charge? If I'm spending 25 large on a death box it better go on the highway so I can die in peace. Honda or Kia or anything with a small gas engine getting 32 MPG or better would be cheaper and better for the world than this piece of junk. More Chinese cars not worthy of any highway system (US or Europe). Where are the safe cars with batteries? This is no different than the Current assembled in Colorado.
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RAN 4:41PM (6/26/2009)
What a complete POS. No thank you Electrovaya... no thank you ExxonMobil. I wonder who's running the Maryland Science Center??? Maybe someone should send them a clue.
How much will the highway version cost? $60,000? Epic fail!
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Wanted 4:45PM (6/26/2009)
It looks like a bad Chevy Spark rip-off... they couldn't even take the promo shots right, the car is so blurred in motion. Probably to give off the appearance of vitesse (speed), but it doesn't work. This thing looks worse than a 1990s era Geo, and the 1950's design they have going on all over the fabrics doesn't do anything to help the car aesthetically... just makes it look old and tacky, like a museum piece (which is, not surprisingly, where this car's announcement was made). Even with the battery inside, you'd have a hard time convincing me this car was a recent concoction.
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Tim 4:52PM (6/26/2009)
This is "Progress"?
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Snoopy 6:33PM (6/26/2009)
I'm with everyone else on this. 35 grand for an NEV no sense whatsoever.
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Peter 6:47PM (6/26/2009)
Why have a 120 mile range in a car with a maximum speed of 25mph? What kind of person would spend 5 hours a day in this thing?
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JasonN 10:43AM (6/27/2009)
Is this a joke? Exxon pfffft!
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Yanquetino 10:50AM (6/27/2009)
What d'ya think? Could it be that ExxonMobil is putting this vehicle in front of the public eye to intentionally sour consumers on EVs? Wouldn't surprise me.
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Innovator 12:53PM (6/27/2009)
This car is the Chinese Chana Beni http://www.globalchana.com/tabid/83/Default.aspx?id=3 converted to electric drive at Electrovaya.
I was surprised to see it listed as a NEV with limited top speed of 25mph. Then I realized this is a legal issue, as the car has side impact beams, air bags, seat belts, etc. and just has not been safety approved in North America. Once it has passed its safety tests, I am sure we will find it has a much higher top speed.
I think it was a mistake on Electrovaya's part to suggest that this is a NEV and should simply have stated that it would be available later as a highway capable car.
If you look on the Chana website you will find that the ICE version is listed with a/c, pwr windows, etc. I am sure the North American versions would be one of the models with the highest options.
I don't believe this qualifies as a "punishment car".
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Brian from Colorado 11:43AM (6/29/2009)
This car is $16K and I would take my family in it across the country in minute the Honda Civic Sedan features a 1.8-liter, single overhead camshaft, aluminum-alloy i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine that provides exceptional fuel economy (25 city/36 highway/29 combined mpg*), and qualifies as an Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle (ULEV-2).
That Chinese junk with a 1970 VW interior and tin foil body is not going to make it on the streets of the US of A. Why can we get the Civic with batteries and $35K now that's something worth the price! $10K in battery technology added to the base price of the car and most looking at EV's would say it's worth the price because it's a Honda.
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Rick 5:06PM (6/29/2009)
$35k to go around the block? hahaha
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