Fuji Heavy Industries have announced the Subaru Plug-in STELLA Concept model, the next step in the evolutionary process of the Japanese automaker producing its first full production Electical vehicle. Whereas we normally only see one-off examples of concept models, the STELLA concept has been produced five times with four of those to be used at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit to transport government officials with the remaining prototype to be displayed at the Environmental Showcase.
The concept takes the EV system from the R1e and employs it in the body of the Subaru STELLA mini car. It is capable of speeds up to 100km/h and can go up to 80km (50 miles) on a single charge, the lithium-ion battery produces nearly 54 horsepower and 150Nm of torque.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced the successful development of its Subaru Plug-in STELLA Concept model, a prototype electric vehicle (EV). FHI will provide five units of the Plug-in STELLA Concept for use at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held July 7 through 9, 2008. Four of the five will be used to transport government officials and other participants at the summit, while one vehicle will be displayed at the Environmental Showcase, an exhibition and demonstration area in the International Media Center, and it will also be available for a test drive.
In addition, FHI will provide one STELLA Concept model to the Japan Post group for use in mail collection and delivery in the vicinity of Toyako during the summit.
The Subaru Plug-in STELLA Concept combines the EV system employed in the R1e with the mini car, Subaru STELLA. The resulting vehicle represents an optimized model that features the compact packaging and superb utility that the STELLA offers to meet a wider array of market needs. FHI plans to use the Plug-in STELLA Concept in the development and test-marketing of the next generation of EV in Japan in the near future.
FHI has jointly developed the Subaru R1e with Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TEPCO), a leading utility in Japan, and the vehicle’s performance has been tested since June 2006. Forty units of the R1e model, equipped with lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, have been used by TEPCO as part of its corporate fleet and by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, providing performance results that further advance FHI’s EV development work. Such data collected under real-world conditions have helped FHI to refine the concept of the next-generation EV and make further improvements in convenience and comfort under everyday driving situations.
FHI has placed emphasis on its mission to pursue the perfect integration of a pleasant and reliable driving with environmental considerations. While seamlessly improving the power units design and introducing such cleaner engines as the Horizontally-Opposed diesel engine in Europe (available since March of this year), the company has positioned EVs as another viable solution for environmental preservation, and it plans to accelerate its EV development work.
carcrazy1234
June 30, 2008 7:42:08 PM
why must these economical type vehicles be shaped as a cube??? WHY!?!?!?!? the worst possible shape ever for aerodnamics and they choose it. strange how designers think these days, very strange lol
For vehicles that are designed to fit the congested streets of a country (Japan) where one rarely travels at speeds over 45mph, space efficiency trumps aerodynamics. Which back seat would you rather sit in: a Scion xB or tC?
Such cuboidal configuration is a testimony of the designers not thinking out of the box. Cost effective too since the only thing better than slapping sheet metal together to create a box on wheels is to slap together cardboard.
They're not helping the green revolution one bit. If the general public gets it stuck in its head EVs have to be small and stupid-looking, they will never take off. Just look at diesels in North America! It has taken decades to overcome the stigma of the dirty, noisy diesel, and the same will be true of EVs. For goodness sake, Mitsubishi, put an electric motor in your STI or something. Actually, don't, because the new Impreza is a stylistic abomination.
why must these economical type vehicles be shaped as a cube??? WHY!?!?!?!? the worst possible shape ever for aerodnamics and they choose it. strange how designers think these days, very strange lol