There are plenty of car manufacturers talking the electric car talk, but Vauxhall's one of very few actually walking it. The company's already put its EV money where its mouth is with the range-extended Ampera, and it's now considering a step into the world of fully electric vehicles with a new concept.
Vauxhall hasn't yet announced the name of the vehicle, but we're willing to bet it's something suitably awesome, given the fact it looks like something a superhero might drive. Right now, our money's on 'Vauxhall Energizer', 'Drive-o-Tron 8000' or 'Batsnake Eco Jitney'.
Very little is known about the car, but we can tell you it'll seat two passengers -- one in the main driver's seat and another sat behind the driver, pillion-style. An onboard battery of unknown capacity will provide a range of 60 miles and its electric motor is said to be powerful enough for a top speed of 75mph.
That all sounds pretty good to us, although the design of the thing raises concerns. Mainly, its track (the distance between wheels on the same axle) seems remarkably narrow. We worry whether this would make it susceptible to being blown over in strong winds or rolling in sharp turns, though on the flipside, its narrowness means it's probably quite aerodynamically efficient.
As far-fetched as this concept may seem, Vauxhall says it has "production potential". The company claims it could "revolutionise urban transport, especially for younger drivers and those on a very tight budget".
We can't say we're convinced by that last bit, seeing as electric cars are so bleedin' expensive, but we'll give Vauxhall the benefit of the doubt. Have a look through the gallery above to see the Batsnake Eco Jitney in more detail and keep it locked to Crave for more info when we go hands-on with it at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.
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Amusicsite 8 September, 2011 17:18
Only 60 miles rage, that don't sound that much. Any ideas how long that takes to recharge?
"on the flipside, its narrowness means it's probably quite aerodynamically efficient"
How much better performance do you actually get from an aerodynamically efficient road car/bike? Does it actually make that much difference?
Nyadach 9 September, 2011 01:04
Funky, but a waste of time. With a range like that your in the realms of a push bike and that has the bonus' of costing less, not having the stupid battery replacement necessary with all these electric cars, and has the side effect of getting the passenger/rider fitter.
Electric cars are a fashion fad with no technical merit and utterly un-green, almost as bad as hybrids. These companies need to get there fingers out and get hydrogen cars out. Cut the skirting around with stupid electric and hybrids and get the only solution which gives range, performance, and ecosystem for support and pricing which can make them available to all.
anonymous 9 September, 2011 06:48
Actually, this little bugger would meet 95% of my drives. I love the concept!
I could go to work with it and handle all my shopping with it. I could even take our kid to playschool in the morning and pick her up after work, as it's a two-seater. The range also sounds realistic and useful (for me at least - as well as for most of the population in Europe). They say you could drive it for 1 euro per 100km, which is about half the energy that a larger electric car takes. That would indicate it has about 8kWh batteries inside it, which wouldn't be too expensive.
@Nyadach: Unless you were just trolling, I'd love to hear how you propose to make hydrogen economical or even functional fuel for vehicle use. Even if the hydrogen was cheap to produce (which it ain't and wastes a lot of energy which could be used directly in BEV's), it would require an expensive infrastructure and pumping stations. And the range wouldn't really be that much better than with modern batteries. Only you could pump the tank full faster. But with the fast charging stations that really wouldn't be an issue even with current battery technology. And "ungreen"??? You really haven't done your homework, haven't you?
Hydrogen is just an energy source for an electric car. And currently many times less efficient than just pumping the energy into batteries. If (and only if) someone comes up with efficient ways to produce hydrogen, manage a way to store it properly and solves all the logistical problems related to it, than you could (in theory) just remove the batteries from the car, add the tanks and hydrogen fuel cells.
anonymous 9 September, 2011 10:42
amazing little car
but they need to make something with a hydrgen fuel cell
electric is really a bit of a 'green' gimick.