Meet SIM-Drive, the ¥1.5 million ($16,700) Japanese electric vehicle plan
Hiroshi Shimizu, the Japanese EV specialist behind the spectacular, eight-wheeled Eliica has announced the creation of SIM-Drive. This new manufacturer intends to sell electric vehicles in Japan that cost less than ¥1.5 million (about $16,700 US), opening the door to low-cost electric motoring. As price-conscious readers may suspect, there is one small detail missing: the price of the battery will not be included. Packs will be leased instead. Shimizu has announced a program, sponsored by some non-specified Japanese partners, that would make the car available in near future, and he's ready to supply his EV technologies, notably his in-wheel motors, to anyone who wants to the SIM-Drive to customers.
[Source: Le Blog Auto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David Mustoe 10:53AM (10/15/2009)
This could be the better idea, if:
1) The buyer could opt for a 25, 50, or 100 mile battery.
2) The buyer could opt for leasing or buying the battery.
3) The price would include a fixed price 36 month option to add a second plug battery.
4) The car could be more along the lines of a Tata Nano (thus < $18K total cost).
There are many people (especially two car families) that drive a car less than 25 miles a day. For many years I drove an electric bicycle with a range of 8 miles. I lived 6 miles from work. There were days I traveled 40 miles. I plugged in at every opportunity, getting what I could at each stop.
America is being strangled by the blinders of past thinking. As our military is learning, you can build a billion dollar fighter or you can build a swarm of million dollar drones that can do a lot more.
David Mustoe
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EV-1 5:14PM (10/15/2009)
"...the price of the battery will not be included. Packs will be leased instead. "
Oh ...
You'd really wish they'd offer the option of a massively higher price for a battery-inclusive version ...
... so they could sell it to the americans - the worst polluting continent in the world !
Climate summit facing the issue of survival.
" " " IT IS OUR FIRM CONVICTION THAT IF DRAMATIC ACTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN,
IT WILL SOON BE TOO LATE " " "
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