Subaru Joins Electric Car Race with R1e
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin 
on 08.21.05
Fuji Heavy Industries (20% owned by GM), the company behind the Subaru brand, announced on 19 August plans to bring a fully electric version of the mini R1 car to the market. Dubbed the R1e when introduced as a concept car in 2003, the all-electric vehicle could be available to consumers in Japan as early as 2009. A grass-roots movement is already afoot by some Americans to try to encourage Subaru to find a niche for the teeny car on the American expressways, which may be the only hope for the 3.3 m (11-foot) long design of Andreas Zapatinas to hit the pavement in the home of the Hummer. Introduction of the R1 to the already mini-friendly European market is also not yet decided. Car-watchers with sharp eyes in Japan may see the R1e on public roads already this year as testing continues.
More details behind the break...
The car will use a Lithium-ion battery, which can take the current prototype up to 120 km (75 miles) before the next charge. Engineers hope to extend this to 200 km (124 miles) before the launch. The high performance battery was developed in cooperation with NEC and is reported to be capable of re-charging to 90% capacity in only five minutes. The battery lifespan is greater than 150,000 km.
Additionally, although the rumors of cooperation with Toyota on hybrid drive technology appear not to have materialized, Fuji will proceed with its development, targeting 2007 to bring a hybrid version of the mini-car to the market to augment the 4.17 L/100km (56.4 mpg) gasoline-powered version already sold in Japan.
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Hey Subaru, take the lead in ev's, no other major manufacturer is. I'd buy one.
It's about time Subaru got moving on alternative transport. I'm a big fan of their cars but they have been moving in the wrong direction recently. While other Japanese manufacturers - Toyota and Honda - release more and more hybrids and work on fuel cell prototypes, Subaru lifted the clearance height of its very popular Outbacks in order to take advantage of the light-truck loopholes in the US CAFE standards. Shame of Subaru for that move but hopefully this car marks a change in direction for them. My hypothesis though is that they will release alternative transport cars like this in Asian markets while continueing with business as usual in the North American markets as long as it remains as profitable as it has been (which means as long as North American consumers continue to not care about fuel efficiency and alternative transport).
All the new ads (and sponsorships on public radio) for the Prius make a big deal of the fact that "you don't have to plug it in!" Don't they get it that many, many Americans would be more than happy to plug their hybrids in at night if it meant they could get 100 to 150 mpg, which is the mileage available from hybrids (Prius) that have been adapted so that they can be charged up at night.
SUBARU; PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER OFFERING THIS VEHICLE IN THE US MARKET. WE NEED AND WANT SUCH A PRODUCT NOW.!!!!!
I have owned 3 Subarus and live in a remote area, 'off the grid'. I have considered researching the potential for a hybrid Subaru because of the regenerative potential. I would still consider a R1e as I could potentially use solar/wind &/or backup generator (diesel) power to recharge the batteries, hopefully still a superior method of transportation over the ICE engine. I need an AWD/4x4 with ground clearance similar to or exceeding that of the Outback, Forester &/or Baja.
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BeRAD: you're life rocks!
Forget milking oil hybrids. The tech is here for EV's Im buying a Vectrix. It looks like no car company has the strength or has the wish to make a fortune on EV's. There isnt a person I dont know who wouldnt buy this car. I would love to own this car in 2006 not 2020 or 2040 or what ever agrement they made with Iran, or the saudi oil princess that need that would be forced to sell sand sun and figs/dates instead of oil. Why cant we get it together and get of oil and do it today? Why so many hesitant companies? Who are so scared to get off a black plague addiction? Its a dinasour ither it goes extinct or we do.
Forget milking oil hybrids. The tech is here for EV's Im buying a Vectrix. It looks like no car company has the strength or has the wish to make a fortune on EV's. There isnt a person I dont know who wouldnt buy this car. I would love to own this car in 2006 not 2020 or 2040 or what ever agrement they made with Iran, or the saudi oil princess. They would be forced to sell sand, sun, and figs/dates instead of oil. Why cant we get it together and get of oil and do it today? Why so many hesitant companies? Who are so scared to get off a black plague addiction? Its a dinasour ither it goes extinct or we do.
No more computer-controlled user-unfriendly gas-guzzeling new cars for me. I vote with my dollars.
We all want them, but North America can't afford mass purchase of EVs yet. We have to consider the impact on the economy ranging from massive layoffs ranging from manufacturing and all the industries feeding Detroit to every town where mechanics become unemployable to the huge aftermarket and fuel distribution network. Our electricity networks are already marginal with blackouts and brownouts becoming more common can our cities handle the addition of several megawatts of drain for the recharging of these vehicles?
I want a R1e!!!
75miles/charge is fine with me, I can upgrade things later.
As to the concern about energy production and brown-outs--that's the beauty of EVs; they use electricity at NIGHT, when power demand is down.
All I ask is something that can go at least 65mph.
Screw an oil dictator, drive electric!
"The high performance battery was developed in cooperation with NEC and is reported to be capable of re-charging to 90% capacity in only five minutes"
Five minutes??!!
Is that a typo? My mobile phone doesn't charge to 90% in five minutes!
Before I start I'd like to say that I am the head of my solar car's battery group, so I have done extensive work with batteries. If NEC is using nanoscale electrodes in their batteries it is definitely possible for the batteries to charge that quickly as A123 systems here in the US has demonstrated with thier batteries. The main problem is heat dissipation and finding a power source capable of outputting that much energy. There is also the issue of the buss bars and wiring in the car being able to take 30-60 kWh of power in 5 minutes. I would say a 30 minute charge is more likely for a car sized pack unless you have a cryogenic cooling unit. At least for the near future, but it is certainly a lot better than 8 hours, don't get me wrong, I love EVs. Working on electric vehicles (solar car, MIT Vehicle Design Summit)I just feel everyone should get all the information. The new battery technologies are frankly awesome.
My beloved and still beautiful 1996 Suzuki Swift Cino has been sandwich biffed by a learner driver while it was waiting at a red light Insurance co. won't mend it: payout peanuts. I don't NEED a car (public transport is ok for work) but I'd consider an electric or ecosmart car for the family if any were available in Melbourne, Australia. Any clues as to where I'd find one?
Get this car to the US as soon as
possible!!! Are you kidding me......
a five minute recharge................
If they bring this car to the US it
will make a boatload of Green$$$$$$
Great looking car. I would be very happy to see Subaru sell this car in the U.S. I keep waiting for someone to sell a reasonably priced electric car in the U.S. I'll keep looking.
what kind of charger is this going to be 120 or 240? Is 5 minutes the real charge time? Could this car handle continues use on a road trip. 75 miles, charge, 75 miles, charge, 75 miles, charge....?
This car would be great. Hope it makes the us market.
It would be great if Subaru could ship over a few million of those great looking all electric cars for us Americans. We use way too many gas guzzling larger cars. I also think that if they could make it affordable, that they would sell a whole lot of them!
SUBARU exellente marque , merci de faire ce modèle qui aurait du voir le jour il y a 80 ans, rappelez vous de "le jamais contente" voiture electrique en 1900, merci de combler ce retard donnez nous vite vos prix que nous puissions vite acheter, je peux vous aider à ouvrir une concession sur grenoble il y en à bien besoin, à cause de la pollution...bonne continuation et voeux de réussite Pascal ROBERT
I question the sale - resale economics of electric cars. I've read that battery packs will last about 10
years and would cost about $4000 to replace.
Many people would balk at such an investment ,meaning to most the car become worthless at the
end of its battery lifecycle.While electric motors last forever,battery replacement costs would kill the market in used EV's.Will your original $22,000
investment depreciate to zero as it approaches
battery replacement time?
I want one!
Please send this car to Australia - I would buy one immediately
Many people on the west coast of north america ,Canadians and U.S. citizens,are interested in this type of car.Subaru please check your demographic studies .You will see you have a market here!
I only drive about 10 miles to work and back 5 days a week.. this would be the perfect car for me.. no heavey traffic, no high speeds...but I like the idea of higher than the NEV's 25 mph.. anything over 45 is a plus... Where's the papers... I'll sign now.!!!
Hey Subaru,
What are you waiting for? Toyota had the guts to introduce the Prius, and look what that got them! As far as not introducing the car because of "layoffs" of American workers, HOGWASH! If American manufacturers would have invested in this type of car years ago, instead of focusing on big, gas-guzzling SUV's, they wouldn't be in the trouble they are in now. It's their own fault! Good work, Toyota! Subaru, you can send one my way as soon as possible! I want one! Screw the big oil companies and their hold on our government and our auto industry!