Bergadana Solutions introduces the Ion, an all-electric hearse
Green options for your last ride have traditionally included a horse-drawn hearse or something a tad less tasteful, like this Smaaart. Now, a vehicle we first heard about some time ago has become reality: an all-electric hearse called Ion (and totally unrelated to Saturn). The Ion is made by a Spanish company called Bergadana Solutions and is an all-electric car that has a maximum speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). On sale since December, at least seven Spanish cemeteries have ordered their units. The idea to create a vehicle like this came from Philippe Verhelle, Bergadana CEO: "I had always hated the sound regular hearses made when we walked behind," he said. In Spain, relatives and friends walking behind the hearse to the cemetery during funerals. Now, there will be no engine sound to drown out the tears. [Source: El Periódico]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris 5:21PM (7/09/2009)
Great concept, poor execution. It's another neighborhood electric vehicle.
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Nixon 4:43PM (7/09/2009)
I'm not sure any story that involves a hearse can be described as "totally unrelated to Saturn", considering Saturn's latest problems...
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SamsonSays 5:07PM (7/09/2009)
Looks a bit like the PHEV van that Bright Automotive is doing.
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Stan Wellaway 7:50PM (7/09/2009)
Looks horrible. I wouldn't be seen dead in it.
But definitely an appropriate market for EVs. And it's not just the noise that's an issue of course; in countries where walking behind the hearse is routine, the lack of toxic fumes would be a great improvement.
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DasBoese 9:45AM (7/10/2009)
Another case of "great idea, horrible execution".
This thing doesn't really scream "dignity", does it? I mean, it's probably just me, but shouldn't a hearse to be of a subdued, plain design so as to not take attention away from the deceased? Crazy window shapes, curves and wacky design elements are hardly ideal in that regard, the "aero" styling is completely unnecessary for a low-speed vehicle.
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