5 Eco-Cars Faster than the Porsche 911

Why we still making cars that run above the speed limits?
Why also you treehugger editor still promote them?
Car is not the aswer to go to point A to point B.

Whoa, check out the AERO EV! 1000 hp electric. Imagine the torque on that beast. They probably have to limit it so you don't turn to jelly in your seat.

@ Daniel Rossi,

Depending on the the situation, cars are the answer to get from A to B. On top of that, speed and acceleration are also important to a lot of people. Race cars don't need a speed limit, and many drives want good acceleration. I personally wouldn't mind a vehicle that topped out at 70mph, as long as it accelerates.

Just an afterthought,
How about starting a NASCER EV. That would really promote the EV, and help the technology develope.

New technologies are introduced in cars like these, not in Pontiac Sunfires and Ford Focuses... that's just how it works.

I'm glad they are finally making nice and fast green cars, because you won't create demand and borrow to build factories with ugly soapboxes.

I wish Porsche would make an electric car. That'd be awesome..

Well, the way things are going they're going to make one someday, but sooner would be better

We're so used to gas engine where bigger = more waste. But it's not the same with electric motors. When you don't use the extra power, you don't have much penalty at all. In fact, some bigger engines are more efficient.

You have some extra weight, but they're so small.. it's really the size of the battery that matters.

Its incredible that electric cars can be that fast..

Speed alone is not what makes the Porsche so great, it is all about the handling, the build quality, and the amazing German engineering. No company in history has been able to touch the superb handling and quality of German automobiles. There is no spirit in driving these fast little electric cars, where is the amazing exhaust note of the legendary porsche flat six? I personally could not stand driving around a car that makes little or no noise. The electric whine of an electric car is not even comparable to the growl of a gasoline engine. Just remember, speed alone is never what makes a good, ask any automotive journalist, its about the car being a real car, not an electric computer on wheels.

LOL, the Porsche is really not "all that" (I eat them for breakfast in my Viper) unless of course its a Twin Turbo, then all bets are off!

www.Privacy-Center.net

Wow, all of those cars are pretty amazing. The problem with all of them is the price tag. Excluding, perhaps, the Tango, all of those cars are more expensive then a Porsche 911.

You have to remember price here, for what most of these cost, you could but a GT2. This is an unbalanced an biased article to say the least. When will we see one of these cars hit the lot? I could drive to a Porsche dealership, where is a Telsa dealership?

Okay, this article is nice and all, but somewhat misguided.

First off, straight line acceleration hardly matters unless your doing drags. Real racing is on the track, and Porsche didn't become a legend from just straight line acceleration.

Further, the Porsche has pretty good mileage for a super car and it has a good amount of luxuries and prestige. Half the eco cars mentioned above are prototypes, and making lithium batteries can pollute the atmosphere way more than most people think (shipping them, producing, mining, etc.).

These eco cars a great step in the right direction, and I fully support them, but they shouldn't be compared to a Porsche in a straight line (though I'm sure the cars above are great on the track too).

The benefit of building performance cars to promote new technology is:

1) It grabs the public's attention and reduces stereotypes.
2) It means that the technology is pushed: smaller, lighter, etc.
3) The sort of people who buy performance cars are also the sort of people who don't mind spending a little extra for all that R&D and production costs.

Formula One the most expensive and popular racing series in the world is embarking on green pathway, starting with kinetic energy recovery (capturing energy during breaking and storing it in batteries or fly wheels) and feeding it to the engine during acceleration.

Hi,

I don't see why the focus on speed instead of MPG or, in case of fully electric, range. Today, no commercial general available hybrid/electric car is efficient enough to beat a normal car. A mentioned in this blog, two journalists drove from London to Geneva (approx 880 km.) with a Toyota Prius and a BMW 520d Efficient Dynamics. The BMW was the most energy efficient.
So there is a long way to go before we start comparing speed

Eddy

This is all well and good, but none (perhaps one) of the cars listed is actually atainable. You might as well show me blueprints for the next space station...Now what about turbo-biodiesels? That sounds like a good time.

to the guy talking about the Viper... what a joke!
That car is technologically 20 years behind any porsche.

8.4 lt with 600 bph that's 74 hp / lt, the same for the Corolla!

The 911 has

3.8 lt with 385 bph that's more than 100 hp / lt

see the difference?

to the guy talking about the Viper... what a joke!
That car is technologically 20 years behind any porsche.

8.4 lt with 600 bph that's 74 hp / lt, the same for the Corolla!

The 911 has

3.8 lt with 385 bph that's more than 100 hp / lt

see the difference?

What a ridiculous comparison article. I am willing to bet that the vast majority of the "eco-cars" mentioned in this article cost much more than a porsche 911C2.

The little car (George Clooney has) that accelerates from 0-60 in 4 seconds probably handles like garbage and cannot go much faster than 60. The others are more expensive cars that may not go as fast as the 911 past 60 MPH.

The assumption that the electric version of the shelby car will still get to 0-60 in 2.87 is outright retarded. The regular car has 1000HP and the electric version has only 500HP. How is a car with half the power going to accelerate as fast as it counterpart with 1000HP?

In response to these tough times brought on by society's acceptance and even encouragement of people living beyond their means, I've been making a strong effort to re-evaluate my wants and needs.

The Karma by Fisker is not helping with this. I need that car.

I think if you are going to make a 911 the bar for accelleration you should not pick the slowest 911.

Bring the turbo or the GT3 into the mix and nothing "Green" can touch it....certainly not for even triple the price...

the car that tegan and sara bought for the birthday party of there best freind diana flores is the last one

LOL. All these cars are UGLY.
Personally, I would want a smart car:)
Not one that is ugly and puts a crater in my wallet.
But that's me. I'm a girl, not a boy. I personally
adore Porsche Caymens, 911's, and Boxster

Most Vrooom-ish!!!

So what's the suspension like on these Zero emission cuties???

I think all that matters is DJ Slick D yall, that is really all that matters in this world, if you have DJ Slick D everything else will fall into place for you. There is no DJ who can match me Slick D and I dare you all to step up to me and try, I will battle anyone anytime any place and make ya look like a beotch! There is no match for me I'm telling you! With a name as cool as DJ Slick D you gotta be the best! Well, that's what I am! Is the best! Look at how cool my DJ name is, Isn't it cool? How cool can you get? You can't! You can't get any cooler than that!

For the middle class and further down the economic scale, Electric Cars are not the future unless technology grows at many times its current rate. They are to heavy, they are to costly, they cost to much to repair when a failure does occur.

Most importantly, Electric and Electric/Gas Hybrids are very dangerous to extricate crash victims and in particiular the rescue worker. Many people have already died in Hybrid crashes because of the time it often takes to disable the Electric Power System before extracation can begin. Many rescue workers have died from piercing the power cables in a Hybrid either by accident or out of ignorance that the vehicle was Hybrid. Some untrained technicians have lost their lives as well.

Historically most Americans will spend untold amounts on their cars but want the "cheapest repair" regardless of the quality. Most Americans still view Automotive Technicians as sub par intelectually and socialy.

Todays well trained Driveability Technician that services a fossil fuel engine management system has to read, learn and reference 21 pages of technically moderate to extremely complex information to the neuro surgeons single page. Additionaly he has to invest in over $200.000,00 (two hundred thousand dollars) in personal tools that are most often not supplied by the dealer. If he were requierd to purchase all his tools his expens would sky rocket to $750.000,00 (seven hundred fifty thousand dollars) and he will be required update and add equipment often on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Most people still think he should be paid eight bucks an hour.

Just because one person does not like speed and HP does not mean others do not. Because you like eggplant and another does not certainly does not mandate taking your eggplant away. All braodacst TV will be digital soon. That is High Performance. I am greatful for my HD TV and my Sports Car.

I am for green and I belive it will come in the form of Hydrogen Technology. It is ready, it is available, it is zero emmission. No batteries to recycle either.
We need to start installing the fueling infrastructure Now!

God Bless you all!

First, Yahoo featured an elictric 1960's Porsche a few days ago, check it out. I have a late model boxster, I know it's no 911 but it gets 28 mpg much better than my Impala about 19mpg. I would have to agree Porsche is all about the handeling, 80mph on that 25mph on/off ramp NO BETTER FEEELING! And agian these electric cars are great. How do the keep from tristing and axel or other parts with all that instant torqe? I can't wait to see an electric muscle car say a 60's Camero that would be sweet!

What if I'm not a rich treehugger?

The cheapest of the electrics is Cloony's ONEHUNDREDANDEIGHTTHOUSANDDOLLAR car, and IT IS A KIT CAR (some assembly required). And it gets UP to 60 WHOLE MILES/charge!

The 911 is $75K, take the extra $33K and buy some carbon credits.

I know a place that that designs electric vehicles, they have a sign:

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
1) GREAT ACCELERATION
2) GREAT RANGE
3) INEXPENSIVE
(please choose two)

Great article!

I think there's a lot of misperception out there about "green" cars. It's important to show people that these vehicles can operate as well and perhaps better than some of the most expensive and famous cars out there.

A lot of cars are famous for their brand name and the price tag attached to them. Cars are in many ways status symbols. So why not give people a status symbol that celebrates doing the right thing and promoting the common good? (Thank god for folks like Clooney who get it!)

Obviously, speed is one of the reasons people buy cars. We want to get from point A to point B and it's sometimes too far to ride a bike. Even the Republican presidential candidate John McCain would acknowledge that we need to invest more in clean energy technologies. The point made by Obama last night is that the vehicle industry is critical in fighting climate change (and high gas prices). We've let other nations get ahead of us out of sheer stupidity and greed on the part of certain industry players. Now, we are playing catch up.

There is definitely demand for electric cars. Anyone who doesn't think so should watch "Who Killed the Electric Car."

This is a step in the right direction. Don't be discouraged.

It was predictable that everybody would complain about price and convenience and such..

Did people complain about cell phones in the 80s when they were super-expensive and didn't work so well? Sure, but that didn't stop the technology from maturing and now it's inexpensive and works well. Same with computers, and it's going to be the same with electric cars.

Just one problem Anon...

The battery technology needs to change radically for everything to get significantly cheaper.

Even if your Porche gets lousy gas milage, an 8 pound gas can (or your friendly neighborhood AAA person) holds enough energy to get you to the next gas station.

With an electric battery, your options are limited to towing.

In theory, fuel cells hold some promise, but as Honda is just NOW experimenting with them (price on request, only available in Southern California in a VERY small area adjecent to one of two hydrogen fuel pumps), I'm not quite ready to give up gas just yet.

I just want to thank whoever is responsible for this article where 40% of it is not even available, no matter the price tag. Why report on things we can't obtain. Write another article with the title in the vain of "Great green cars that will never be." Hell, you should have included other modes of transportation like "Unicorn-cheetah hybrids and magic carpets" where the first uses hopes and dreams as fuel and the later uses voice commands. Both are very green fuels.

And to all the people who are amazed that electric cars can be fast... have you ever seen lightening or notice how fast a light will come on when you flip the switch? That's the power/speed of electricity. Electricity travels way faster than fire and combustion (which is essentially internal combustion engines, hence the name, go figure.)

What people should be amazed at is that these cars are being hijacked and railroaded by the big car companies, oil companies, and the F'n U.S. government (and yes, I'm a U.S. citizen.)

What astonishes me is at this day in age with all the super wealthy and wealthy people in the world who like to say they have a conscious are not being more active in helping these car companies become big players in the automobile market. Mr. Gates, Mr. Pickens, Mr. Clooney, Mr. Dicaprio...

What the auto industry needs to focus on for the Immediate future is building the new "volks" wagen. That is the Peoples car! Not some bullshit hot rod that only the few can dream of but an extremely efficient platform that can be easily modified as technology progresses. Key word Progress! With the economy on it's way to full on recession and the Energy Crisis that looms in the near future waiting to behead our nation, it seems ridiculous that we can't even raise fuel efficiency standards let alone produce an economical vehicle. Auto industries claim consumer driven tactics but if you wonder why our economy is taking a dump you might also consider why your vehicle typically gets less than 20 mpg on average and how the impact of having to pay a lot more for gas these days has had on your ability to pay your bills! Electric vehicles may be the ultimate goal of the Future but in the mean time it seems to make sense to develope bolt on technology that maximises fuel efficiency. Maximizing effieciency standards alone would drastically reduce the dependence on foriegn oil let alone the need to drill at home. I highly doubt that it's not economically feasible that auto manufacturers could whip a way to start pumping out retrofit powertrains for existing vehicles whilst the rest of the world waits for the technology to catch up in the hybrid and zero emissions vehicles.
And for those of us that feel they need hundreds of horsepower just to haul ass around for entertainment purposes just remember that only a few generations ago even 100 horses would have required a very big Shovel!

In view to the petrol price that still not very stable, i think the eco type of car will be the best solution to overcome the dependency of petrol fuel. I think it is a time for the car manufacturer to start explore the opportunity to use other source for the car energy.

These cars are toys. Not designed to be practical or to be used by those who need basic transportation for people and stuff. It might help with creating more efficient vehicles, however, these cars will not be manufactured or purchased because they are efficient (not making or buying them is more eco-friendly!) but because having a cool & electric car is popular right now in this target group. Once the rich decide or are told that something else is cool, they will buy that. You have to do something with the money once you have much more than enough. Ultimately it has little to do with caring for the environment.

I cannot see that the engineering and money required for those high performance vehicles would not be used MUCH WISER in other areas. It may not be as much fun to work in those other areas and you may not receive the admiration of the rich and powerful but that is a matter of how you define "fun" and what you consider important in life.

BTW, there is a HUGE difference between wanting to buy something and actually being able to do it. It is easy to do the right thing if money for a Porsche or the other vehicles above is not impossible to find in your life.

Whether they like it or not, poor people still pollute less.

Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com

I echo other posters and say this is a waste. The faster you go, the more energy it takes per MPH to reach those speeds.

The fastest that most people need to go for highway/freeway driving is 70MPH, and most driving need only be around or under 40 MPH. If companies' energies (efforts, I mean) were put into making cars that go 50MPH and are easily recharged or have 300+ mile capability, they would sell.

Here's a thought for creating quick-charge electric cars: replaceable Li-Ion batteries. If the batteries in a Li-Ion car could be easily replaced at service stations (say, rolled out of a car's side panel), the driver wouldn't need a long-distance car. Removed batteries could be recharged at stations and put into a different cars, allowing drivers of electric cars a much greater distance and mobility.

Sure, it would require standardization, but we already have that in makers of AA/AAA/C/D cell batteries. Why not in electric car batteries?

where is the Koenigsegg CCXR???

1,018 horsepower and 740 pound-feet of torque. zero to 60 in 2.9 seconds. Top speed is said to exceed 250 mph. One other stat that bears mention: zero to 124 mph and back to zero in 13.7 seconds. it uses E85 or E100 ethanol fuel as well as standard 98 octane petrol.

For what it's worth, compared to those cars, a 911 is really a practical car! You can get groceries and carry the kids in the back seats.

And, driven very gently, you can get over 30 MPG in a 911! With an unlimited range! And you're still in a real car - not some science project!

There is only one electric concept car I'd consider: http://jalopnik.com/5061549/ruf-electric-porsche-911-concept-finally-revealed

I have it on good authority that Porsche are working on many technologies that will make their cars more energy efficient/greener - one of the main ones is eliminating the waste that is current braking technology.
Porsche are great engineers and their cars last a lot longer than your average car which has to be greener than crushing/rebuilding from base metal every 5-10 years.

Totally false advertising. The head paragraph states "faster off the line than the Porsche 911"- which none of these are actually on a production line yet, nor have they been tested in the market under normal conditions. In many cases, the writer had barely seen one of these cars, much less, DRIVEN them.

"Totally false advertising. The head paragraph states "faster off the line than the Porsche 911"- which none of these are actually on a production line yet, nor have they been tested in the market under normal conditions. In many cases, the writer had barely seen one of these cars, much less, DRIVEN them. "

Whoa man, chill. What are you complaining about? Never said these were production cars, and never said he had driven them. Just that they accelerated faster, which they do.

Anyone can make a bigger engine or motor and go faster. Efficiency is where real ingenuity comes in. As far as impractical speed, motorcycles win the acceleration game. And they have an advantage on the efficiency circuit as well.

These automobiles ignite peoples imagination and provide evidence that we don't have to be completely dependent on gasoline based transportation.

the lesser of two evils is still evil

the idea we can consume our way to a better future is false

cars must be looked at as a sub-product of what they are designed to accomplish, which is different from the old "point a point b argument"
ie
actual transportation
hobby
social product

these e cars are a product of manufactured wants, and are damaging to the environment regardless of other products

Going fast requires a lot of energy. You can't consider this green no matter what the energy source is. Then there are all the resources that go into building these beasts.

Firstly, one day the speed limits might change to a higher speed, if that happens then cars will be able to go faster (plus high speed and a low engine speed means better fuel efficiency).

Also, electric cars are not very green in the first place. Where is all the waste sulphuric acid going to go when the batteries run out? And where are you going to get all the materials for the batteries in the first place? You have to blast them out of the ground and clear the forests.

Many of you know what a Toyota Prius is yes? Well the ground where they mine all of the materials from is no so bad that NASA uses it to test their moon buggies.

Just because a car can do a few more miles to the gallon does not mean its a green car.

Not sure if this list attempts to be complete. There's a remarkable all-electric sportscar produced in the UK.

Have a look:
http://www.lightningcarcompany.co.uk/

What's so special: this car has IN-WHEEL 4x100hp+ disk engines, the very same as Volvo's ReCharge plans on using (from PML FlightLink).
That saves the 10%-15% of friction lost in transmission (driving shaft, differential, etc.).

See also http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/09/volvo_recharge.php

Furthermore, it has battery nano-technology (not: condensators) to cope with the immense feedback from the regenerative breaks.

It's a reference case for tomorrow's EVs - the fact it's wrapped in a sportscar is just marketing IMHO.

Hans

" Where is all the waste sulphuric acid going to go when the batteries run out? "

There is no sulphuric acid in EV batteries. In fact, li-ion batteries are non-toxic and recyclable. Much better that than to burn oil.

The result of this article is clear, is garbage and is just a BAD marketing strategy...

Treehuger, if you think that with this kind of "cheap marketing strategy", you could get a better conscious about the EV´s, sorry but YOU ARE WRONG!!!...

To make a real conscience about this great projects and technology, you need to make more that an article or several articles.. you need to probe it!!! and no make articles based on internet web pages, becuase if you dont make real tests, you can create a "FRAUD" sensation on the people about this technology, beside you should to remeber that the people form US, are the best inform about cars!!! US, has a lot of great car publications!!! so just think on that, and i suggest, that if you going to talk about cars, PLEASE, at least EMULATE this great publications, get off from the computer and go to the streets to make REAL TESTS....

And about the EV´s, yes are better, why??? because you reduce the maintanance at 80% vs a Regular Car, and you as a customer you not only save money on fuel, youll save money in PARTS!!!, so beside, you will have a silent car, ligther car and secure car because in US there are hard laws that will not permit that a car be unsafe to drive, maybe you don´t know this but there are big car companys that can´t be in the american market because they don´t have the requirements of quality and security that the US GOV, requires!, so for the handling and safe of the electrical cars don´t worry that is the old technology that is tested......

And finally, the price... did you know why Henry Ford has succesful?? please ATTENTION to ALL ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY´S... Henry Ford was Succesfull because he develops a SYSTEM (mass production) that permit make the cars CHEAPER!! Because in that days, ONLY THE ECONOMIC ELITES can have a CHEVROLET, so if you want that your EV´s be in the streets around the world think like Henry Ford, or LEARN about CAR HISTORY!!! EV Car companys if you belive in your product, you should to figth hard! to prove that your product is the best, emulate to Henry Ford, emulate at Preston Tucker, make a BIG NOISE around the world about your product!!! did you know that Henry Ford has been developing an electric engine and an egine that works with alcohol before develop the combustion engine??

if you are insured and you run out of power, we may not cover you. thats allstate stand

all these posts show me that you cant win. Make an el-cheapo electric car that everyone can afford but goes 30mph tops with a 50mile range and see how many auto-enthusiasts/frat-types complain (actually i think most of the readily available [world-wide] electric cars have similar stats to this). It would only perpetuate the stigma that electric cars sacrifice performance for electricity, and that only dorks drive them!

Tesla is doing the smart thing making it available to rich silicon valley types first, start making a profit and then start with the Sedan at 60K and eventually their planned 30K version. (assuming they don't go bankrupt first, but its nice to see they actually plan on doing this)

Tesla also has a 224mile range, and the MONEY equivalent of 370MPG (non-peak-hour-electricity usage), and has a top speed of 125MPh. also, they ARE actually available (on a wait list. 50 cars sold already) it also takes way less time to charge than predecessors.

Why aren't more people supporting these cars? Even if you can't afford em, to have them fail now would mean nothing good for us poorer types in the future, and CO2 and oil are problems that are NOT going away anytime soon, and neither will peoples' desire to drive around.

I say, let the people who want to drive green be ABLE to buy beautiful, efficient electric cars, and the jerks can continue to drive their hummers and SUVs. (hey, an electric hummer would be pretty hysterical)

also, dont believe garbage about how just making the batteries is worse for the environment. Tesla's bats are 60% recycled and is probably offset by the lack of oil changes alone. (nobody's arguing that these cars don't need raw materials... like EVERYTHING else to build)

goooo EVs!

what do all you cynics say to someone who charges their electric car using their personal solar/wind power at home? not only is it SUPER GREEN, but SUPER FREE. now you see why electricity has so much more potential than gas/oil EVER will?

i agree that driving fast for the sake of driving fast is stupid and wasteful, but EVERY owner of a car likes to know that you COULD if you wanted to. Why else do most cars have a limit of 125mph on the speedometer if no sane person would ever drive that fast on a public road?

even the most anti EV of you people must realize that IMAGE is extremely important when it comes to car-manufacturing. You gotta make the EVs LOOK sexy, and that includes making cars that go fast and having stupid commercials with rich suits/hot chicks driving their cars on empty winding mountain roads. The US isn't japan, and cutesy, slow boxes don't fly with us hot-blooded Americans. (even tho i adore them)

i just dont understand how ANYONE on here can honestly argue that these cars aren't better than your avg gas-guzzler? (btw i agree that the prius is overrated) Unless you're going to argue that CARS IN GENERAL and CONSUMERISM are evil, which is a moot point, these cars make more sense politically, environmentally and hopefully soon, financially.

what's an eco car?

"Unless you're going to argue that CARS IN GENERAL and CONSUMERISM are evil"

Not "evil", just destroying the planet. Limitless growth in a finite environment is not sustainable, or possible.

-patrick-

I like to drive for no other reason than enjoying the motion of movement, the danger and the general fun of the experience. I'm also an environmentalist, are the 2 compatible? Yes if I can have power for my car from safe and renewable energy.

FYI the Tesla IS the product version of the tzero.

This car is weird goodbye now toodledoo

Sam says, "Firstly, one day the speed limits might change to a higher speed, if that happens then cars will be able to go faster (plus high speed and a low engine speed means better fuel efficiency)."

I'm afraid it doesn't quite work like that because you are ignoring wind resistance. This increases roughly with the square of the velocity. Internal combustion engines do have sweet-spots, however, so the equation isn't so simple for them, but the basic message is that fast cars use more energy getting from A to B.

Wow amazing although they maybe able to reach these amazing speeds the common problem is that the battery never lasts that long and then the main aspect is that there are very little pionts where you can recharge your car and the charging process usually takes many hours.

But all looks good for the future.