• On ZDNet: Why I Will never buy a Mac
June 27, 2008 10:59 AM PDT

Subaru announces the Stella electric concept car

by Wayne Cunningham

Stella concept

The Stella concept has an electric power train.

(Credit: Subaru)

Subaru announced today a follow-up to its R1e electric minicar, a bigger electric car built on its Stella platform. The Stella is a four-seat car sold in Japan, narrow but tall. The electric Stella concept uses a 40-kilowatt electric motor powered by lithium ion batteries. This powertrain gives it a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour and a range of 50 miles.

Subaru built the electric Stella concept to test out a car with more practical interior space than the R1e. Five of the Stella concepts will be used at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako summit in July, while one will be used by the Japan Post Group to deliver mail around Toyako. This real-world test is similar to the deal Subaru made to provide two R1es to the New York Power Authority.

Topics:

Hybrids and green,

Concepts

Tags:

Subaru,

electric

Share:
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Recent posts from The Car Tech blog
4 versions of Fiat 500 here in '11
One mile, two cars, high speeds
Fisker's good Karma
BMW 7 Series gets xDrive, M Sport package
Bad Ass American Rides Pt. 4: '68 Dodge Charger on a Test Drive
Automakers scrap diesel plans
F-150 jet truck, all it needs is wings
BMW X1 confirmed for United States in 2011
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (23 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
by USDecliningDollar June 27, 2008 11:33 AM PDT
I am a big fan of electric vehicles, thinking that they are the future, but who needs another "concept car" which takes all night to recharge to go ~50 miles under ideal conditions? From my perspective, this isn't news - not bashing CNET or Mr. Cunningham - but who needs one more widget which doesn't meet minimum consumer needs?
Reply to this comment
by ender21 June 30, 2008 8:38 AM PDT
Agreed. 50 miles gets me to work and 25% back. Not good enough!
by USDecliningDollar June 27, 2008 11:33 AM PDT
I am a big fan of electric vehicles, thinking that they are the future, but who needs another "concept car" which takes all night to recharge to go ~50 miles under ideal conditions? From my perspective, this isn't news - not bashing CNET or Mr. Cunningham - but who needs one more widget which doesn't meet minimum consumer needs?
Reply to this comment
by scoutdog1 June 27, 2008 2:07 PM PDT
this car recharges to 80% in 15 minutes
Reply to this comment
by scoutdog1 June 27, 2008 2:08 PM PDT
this car recharges to 80% in 15 minutes
Reply to this comment
by sscottemick June 29, 2008 6:45 AM PDT
so find a way to add double the Li-ion batteries and increase the efficiency and it might be a usable vehicle when it can go 150-200 miles on a charge.
Reply to this comment
by investment96 June 30, 2008 5:43 AM PDT
They should offer trailers full of batteries; that'd sort out the long-haul issues! Going long haul? Rent a battery pack on wheels!

But yea, we need electric cars and NOW... Not silly looking Japanese toy type cars (no offense) but road worthy vehicles, that look more or less the same as current cars; except are plug-ins obviously. If the battery tech isn't up to scratch yet; add more batteries! I think even if a car cost $5000 or $10,000 more because of the extra batteries involved but could add another 30-40miles to its round trip bringing it closer to 100 - then it'd be far more practical and would sell.

It's all good and well saying the average trip is less than 40-50miles.. But nearly everybody at least occasionally needs to go further - visit your Gran or something. And we can't all afford two cars!
Reply to this comment
by b_baggins June 30, 2008 6:53 AM PDT
And yet again, another reality slam.

Folks, electric cars will NEVER get better than this for one very simple reason.

Physics.

Here's all you need to know:

energy density in a litihium-ion battery: 600 joules per gram.
Energy density in gasoline: 47,000 joules per gram.

The real solution is to find ways to get cheap, abundant gasoline.
Reply to this comment
by ender21 June 30, 2008 8:37 AM PDT
It's called the tesla. teslamotors . com ~250 miles on one charge is good enough for me, but the current cost is an issue. Once that is brought down efficiencies will improve to add to that range of driving.
by steel36 June 30, 2008 7:06 AM PDT
Actually, no, the answer is to research how to pack more energy density into the battery per gram. The gasoline's energy density is inherent, while the battery's is simply the current limit of technology and can be improved upon markedly.
Reply to this comment
by royauty June 30, 2008 8:59 AM PDT
This modified Subaru EXCEEDS the specifications that Chevy has called for in the much-hyped forthcoming 2010 Volt. However, it is still only half as good as GM's series 2 and 3 Impact cars ... of a decade ago. Also, I have to point out that this car is perfectly roadworthy in all civilized countries.
Reply to this comment
by Armanius June 30, 2008 9:12 AM PDT
Another alternative energy vehicle that is: (1) not in the market; and (2) impractical for every day use. Might as well be another Honda hydrogen fuel car that only a select few in Southern California (i.e. Hollywood stars) will ever get to drive. While at it, we might as well embrace our next president of the U.S. Obama's energy plan which is to invest everything in alternative energy sources so that 99% of Americans will be forced to buy new cars IF and when alternative fuel cars are actually available to the every day person, and all because Democrats refuse to acknowledge that gas prices is at the very least driven by the basic concept of supply and demand that we all learned in high school.
Reply to this comment
by zclayton2 July 1, 2008 11:30 AM PDT
It doesn't sound like the Democrats are the ones in denial about supply and demand for gasoline.
by jkeels June 30, 2008 9:56 AM PDT
Well, this is another step in the right direction. I will not post messages that are hateful. But here is a piece of advice to everyone about the posters in these forums who want lots of cheap, easy gas again and who think that electric, hydrogen, alternative, solar, wind etc is a waste of time. The solution to the people that oppose change need to be ignored completely. That is what I am from now on both online and in real life. The best is to completely ignore them and no longer trust them at all. They will then fade into the fabric of time and history. Not even a curiosity to be studied.
Reply to this comment
by yepperdepper June 30, 2008 5:29 PM PDT
Well said. I could not agree with you more!
by pc4400 June 30, 2008 11:35 AM PDT
50 miles to a charge is practical in my book. I'll take one. Oh wait, is this another marketing campain that wont deliver. We'll have to wait and see.
Reply to this comment
by bcvanbelle3 June 30, 2008 1:13 PM PDT
My commute is 5 miles and I don't go over 45. Perfect for me and my wife. We've been looking at various alternatives but this is the first one in my opinion that could fit the bill for in-town commuting.
And yes, I will keep my Passat Wagon for serious hauling and long-distance. But we'll do away with the other one!
Reply to this comment
by Gorifyny June 30, 2008 3:32 PM PDT
Here's the thing: Everything can't be a complete solution to the problem. As more people are willing and able to use electrics, it will reduce the demand for gasoline/diesel fuel. This may keep the price from going to $10/gallon, though I doubt it will ever drop below $4. The name of the game is supply and demand. As more electric cars come on line, guess what, we'll need more power plants and their fuel sources. This will lead to higher electric prices, etc. I think the goal should be just to keep things from going sky high. Even oil platforms off the coast 5 years from now (with proper and expensive safeguards) will have a place when they come on line. Things that can be electric, like railroads local-use autos, and local delivery trucks should be electric. Oil should be directed to such applications as aircraft which will never be electrified. We need a systematic approach to this problem and the electric car is an element.
Reply to this comment
by jskrenes June 30, 2008 10:11 PM PDT
This raises the question of where we're going to get all this electricity from. Wind and solar won't cut it. We'll have to go nuclear or start using cleaner coal techniques, probably both. McCain was the first candidate to set a goal for energy independence, so he gets my vote.
Reply to this comment
by shawnshine July 4, 2008 9:14 AM PDT
Gas keeps raising. And manufacturers' keep their "goodwill" by teasing us with this junk. Seriously, right now every Car maker is testing some kind of electric car that gets 50 to 100 miles per charge. If you go back to 1960's Popular Mechanics you'll see that the car makers are pushing the same specs as back then. With billions in R&D over 40+ years this is the best they can come up with? And another gripe about so-called Eco Cars, the only Road Ready electric vehicle for sale to the public is the NMG from Myers Motors and they are charging $30,000 for a vehicle that has no better stats than something from the '60s as well. We are being fooled here by the Eco Electric Junk Peddlers. They are making money hand over fist, while we are forced to continue to pay $4 a gallon. There is no company on earth right now that is going to suddenly give us an Electric car that is 1) cheap enough to buy and 2) technically advanced enough to meet drivers everyday needs. Drill the damn Well already. Get rid of the Ancient Energy laws on the books and build a new Refinery. How about that......lower gas prices and more jobs! But hey, 60% of America thinks Obama is gonna fix it all better. Whatever!
Reply to this comment
by blabtech July 4, 2008 11:46 AM PDT
this could be the future..

http://blabtech.blogspot.com
Reply to this comment
by obryannet July 4, 2008 8:20 PM PDT
We could do a lot for the environment if they just offered this car just as it is available in Japan, with a gas or diesel engine. In America we want to take a very efficient, practical car and make it into a ridiculous, impractical vehicle because it makes us feel better to drive an electric car. All those batteries are not environmentally friendly, and they cost a fortune, and they do not work as well as a standard engine.
Reply to this comment
by tomatojoe July 5, 2008 1:29 AM PDT
Better than a golf cart...........
Reply to this comment
(23 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next

Search Car Tech

advertisement

About The Car Tech blog

CNET's Car Tech blog covers the latest developments in the automotive industry, with commentary on car stereos, hybrid and concept cars, GPS, and much more. The Car Tech blog offers the latest news and reviews from CNET's Car Tech reviews channel.

Add this feed to your online news reader

The Car Tech blog topics

Reviews & advice
Site map
Editorial policies
Meet the editors
How we test
Forums
Internet speed test
Popular topics
Apple iPhone
Apple iPod
Cell phones
Dell
GPS
LCD TV
CNET sites
CNET Site map
CNET TV
Downloads
News
Reviews
Shopper.com
More information
Newsletters
CNET Mobile
Customer Help Center
RSS
CNET Widgets
About CNET