Team behind Eliica EV to build electric shuttle bus for Japan
Eliica concept electric car - Click above for high-res image gallery
We've always been fond of the Eliica (Electric Lithium-Ion Car) eight-wheeled electric car, which was designed and built by researchers of Keio University in Japan a few years back. Seriously, how can you not like such an interesting machine, especially since the Eliica is capable of some serious performance figures – how 'bout a top speed of 230 miles per hour, acceleration to 60 in 4.1 seconds and a range of 200 miles via an advanced lithium ion battery pack?
Last we heard, Keio University was looking for corporate sponsorship to put the Eliica into small-scale production. We're not sure what's up with that these days, but Popular Science reports that the team behind that project has branched out and turned its attention to an electric shuttle bus using similar technology with the hopes of having volume production underway in 2011.
Using a similar flat-floor platform as the Eliica with a body built by Isuzu Motors, a 120kW lithium ion battery developed by Toshiba and a charging infrastructure from Tokyo Electric Power Company, the group projects a 93-mile range from the shuttle bus. Typical buses in Tokyo reportedly average about 75 miles per day, so that should be plenty of battery capacity to complete its mission. Cost is expected to be in the same range as a common diesel bus if 500 units are made (including the battery) but with running costs that are a tenth of its oil-burning competitors.
Gallery: Eliica
[Source: Popular Science]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rif 1:54PM (8/22/2009)
There is a lot of odd style electrical cars that are trying to get to market: Aptera, Tango, Lumeneo Smera, Zap etc.
But of them all Eliica is the one I like the most. It is such an outrageous concept: 8 wheels, gull-wing passenger doors, 370 km/h. This Gojira-limo class car sure got style!
Hope we will soon see a new prototype, perhaps closer to a production car - with a couple of wheels less ;-).
Reply
skierpage 6:35AM (8/23/2009)
"with a body built by Isuzu Motors"
They can bring back Joe Isuzu (David Leisure) to sell it.
"It goes 200 miles on a charge... It has more seats than the Astrodome... I used it to carry a 2,000 pound cheeseburger. You have my word on it.”
Rick 12:54PM (8/24/2009)
I remember watching the product about this car on Discovery Channel. Nice to see they are still going strong with the concept. I keep wondering why this motor in wheel tech hasn't made it's way mainstream yet-save for Goodyear(?).
Reply
Rif 7:01PM (8/24/2009)
@Rick
Michelin is working on wheel hub motors. Is Goodyear also?
I think one problem could be the wear and tear that will happen to the motor when it is sitting in the unsuspended wheel part. Also keeping it safe and workable in wet weather could be a problem.