As pure-play electric cars go, Subaru's R1e may have found the perfect formula. And it might get the chance to prove it long before its rivals do.
The New York Power Authority will begin testing two of the vehicles this summer. Results will be a litmus test for sales of the vehicle in the U.S.
As with the Chevrolet Volt, the R1e assumes that most Europeans and North Americans commute fewer than 40 miles a day. As such, the Subaru has a range of 50 miles. It has a top speed of 65 mph. These specs alone take it out of the golf-cart category.
The Volt will feature a gas-powered engine that recharges the batteries after 40 miles, extending the vehicle's range indefinitely. The Subaru won't have this ability, yet the R1e's small size (it's a two-seater minicar, quite similar to the gas-powered Smart ForTwo) means that its lithium-ion batteries will be smaller than the Volt's--and far less expensive. In other words, the Subaru might prove to be much more feasible as a commercial venture than the Volt.
Even better, the Subaru's batteries can be "quick charged" to 80 percent capacity in 15 minutes. Also, Subaru's got a lead on the competition in timing alone. The Volt is scheduled to debut in 2010--and GM officials are adamant that it will meet this deadline, despite nagging delays in development. The Subaru was developed in partnership with the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc., and a fleet of R1es have been tested around Tokyo since 2006.
So yes, it's an urban commuter, a city car. But if sales of the ForTwo are any indication, it might have a much broader appeal.
Sources: Subaru, AutoWeek, SmartCar
Photo: Deathlink licensed from Creative Commons
