DeLorean's "new" EV maintains the look of the legendary vehicle from the movie, Back to the Future. (Photo courtesy of the DeLorean Motor Co.)
Posted on 01/23/2012 6:48:44 AM PST by null and void
DeLorean Motor Co., Inc. has unveiled the DeLorean EV, an electric car that marries the legendary Back to the Future DeLorean automobile of the 1980s with a lithium-ion-based, DC-powered, electric drivetrain of today.
"It turns out the DeLorean is a perfect platform for electrification," noted Chris Anthony, CEO of Flux Power, Inc. and Epic Electric Vehicles, both of which worked with DeLorean Motors to develop the powertrain for the new vehicle. "It's well designed, it's lightweight, it never rusts, and it has a design aesthetic that's meant to blow you away."
DeLorean's "new" EV maintains the look of the legendary vehicle from the movie, Back to the Future. (Photo courtesy of the DeLorean Motor Co.)
The DeLorean's "battery bay" houses the vehicle's electric motor and half of its battery pack. (Photo courtesy of DeLorean Motor Co.)
Surprisingly, the new DeLorean EV is not a publicity stunt. DeLorean Motors, which has serviced, restored and sold DeLoreans since 1995, plans to begin selling the converted EVs in 2013. Interested parties are already said to be lining up to reserve vehicles, which are expected to cost between $90,000 to $100,000.
"We've been surprised by the reaction," said James Espey, vice president of DeLorean Motor Co., in an interview with Design News. "It's killed our web site twice and the phones have been ringing non-stop."
DeLorean has been working on the idea for about four years. Because the company has a 40,000-square-foot warehouse stocked with more than a million parts, its executives fixed on the idea of using the parts in a new, electrically-powered version of the car. Plans are to build between 350 and 400 electric DeLoreans, based on the company's current inventory of parts.
"Our primary business has been parts, service, and restoration," Espey told us. "We've literally got millions of nuts, bolts, and washers. We've got seats, wheels, brakes, and transmissions. It's all here in the building. And the best way to make money off those parts is to assemble them into cars again."
I prefer good old-fashioned plutonium, thank you very much.
Does it produce 1.21 gigawatts of power?
“Alas, as we rolled it out...it quickly accelerated to 88 mph and vanished in a burst of light...”
You would think that DeLorean would have developed an automobile that runs on cocaine by now.
“Alas, as we rolled it out...it quickly accelerated to 88 mph and vanished in a burst of light...”
Great Scott! 1.21 Gigawatts!
Still a cool looking car even if I’m not sold on electric cars.....I would much rather drive this than some of the other (Go Cart looking) Electric “Cars”. If the ad men were smart they would get a commercial with Michael J. Fox and stir up some 80’s nostalgia.
.
.
.
Make a deal with Ford to use the new "Energi" plug in Hybrid Powertrain for the Focus in the Mid-Engine location, since it's FWD, just weld the stubs from the half shafts to the existing DeLorean shafts.
Better Yet, then convert the gas engine to run on LPG...
But my favorite was a guy who took a 300 hp 3 Rotor Mazda Cosmo's engine and put in a DeLorean !
It’s still a very good looking design.
I’d love to see it succeed....but then again, being a EE....reality prevails.
If they replaced the flux capacitor with an oscillation overthruster, I would definitely be interested.
Oh, forgot to mention, the company used to have a list on the net of parts still available.
One part still available was the flux capacitor.
You’ve gotta hand it to ‘em!!!
That would have to go under the Bigbooté...
I'll second that! I'm an EE too, and I'd much rather see a 100% COMMERCIAL plan of attack on electric cars (doomed to fail, I agree with you); than see a US Gov't managed, taxpayer financed debacle like we have with the Chevy Volt.
Is he still around on FR?
I prefer good old-fashioned plutonium, thank you very much.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
