Subaru announces the Stella electric concept car

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.

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!
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.
And yes, I will keep my Passat Wagon for serious hauling and long-distance. But we'll do away with the other one!
http://blabtech.blogspot.com
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by tomatojoe
July 5, 2008 1:29 AM PDT
- Better than a golf cart...........
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