Italian car designer unveils electric power

BBC ^ | 2 October 2008 | Jorn Madslien

[T Ruth]

Italian contract carmaker and engineering firm Pininfarina has unveiled an own-badged electric car.

For decades, the firm has built some of the most stunning cars known to man, without getting much credit for it beyond petrol-head circles.

"This car is real," declares Paolo Pininfarina, grandson of the company's founder, as the covers are whipped off the sleek vehicle at the Paris motor show.

Pininfarina's electric car, which has been built in partnership with battery producer Bollore, is set to hit the road by the end of next year and should go on sale in the US, Europe and Japan by the end of 2010.

* * *

Indeed, even Pininfarina's show-model remains a concept car that is still awaiting final modifications before it is presented to a public hungry for plug-in motoring.

* * *

Its electric car will be kitted out with a lithium metal polymer batteries instead of the currently more in vogue lithium-ion batteries.

This, the company insists, will give it "a 200km range on a full eight-hour charge although it will also be able to run for 25km on a five-minute charge", observes Ms Wright.

"Despite competing against industry giants, the coachbuilders - which are tiny in comparison - believe that several factors work in their favour in the race to electric," she continues. * * *

But petrol-electric hybrid versions that can be charged from the mains for most journeys are arriving quickly, and even Dr Paefgen is full of praise.

So expect niche electric cars to make inroads, and even more plug-in hybrid solutions to hit the road in the years ahead.

And if a plug-in hybrid emerges with a Bentley badge long before they become mainstream, do not be shocked.

[bajabaja]

From the picture at the source site, the exterior design still looks “electric car like” — the EV-1, I believe, haunts designers.

More importantly the range is about 120 miles. That is great for many work commutes and shopping hauls. What about going further? This is still a major problem. Cars need to take people further than that in the US. Not necessarily every day, but having to stop two or three times to power up on the way to grandma’s for Thanksgiving does not help this vehicle’s attractiveness.

[Rick_Michael]

Eventually electric will do something. Hybrids are probably the slow motion towards that. I’m not convinced we’ll replace petro that quickly, though.

I think we’ll motion towards electric vehicles over 25 years. That’s ‘conservative’ estimate. But that does require a huge increase in power.

Nukes would help.

[Reaganez]

All EVs look the same for the same reason all super cars that can top 230 mph look the same....aerodynamics.

When you are dealing at the extreme edge of tecnhnology you can’t compromise function for style.

The 2011 Chevy Volt and 2011 Honda plug-in have the same basic shape of a Toyota Prius.If they divert from it they will have a smaller range of electric driving.

[bajabaja]

The GM EV1 had a top speed of 230 mph?

No, it was lucky to get up to around 80 km/hr, about 55 mph. That roaring speed did not need much in the way of aero-dynamics, certainly not more than IC car designs.

If you run a search for General Motors’ EV1, the car design I was referring to, you will see its much criticized “funky” look. That funky look certainly was not designed for a car that could go 230 mph.

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with this discontinued electric vehicle, which was pronounced a failure. I would have bought one if I could have driven 230 mph in it. My Volkswagen 4 banger oil/air cooled could out run the EV1.

[DemonDeac]

If there was a good option out there for a good pice i’d consider one as a second car. I rarely go more than 40 miles total in a day. Personally i’d love to buy a reasonably priced plug-in Hybrid that could run fully on electric for my entire commute but be able to switch to gas if the need arises to drive three hundred miles to see the in-laws.