Combine the electrical engineering know-how it takes to make the best driver's cars in the world even better with a full electric powertrain and you have one special green sports car.
The eRUF Concept Model A is only at the prototype stage, but unlike start-up companies that make bold promises for full electric sports cars only to string along potential buyers and the media, RUF has produced a turn-key, fully working electric Porsche with some serious performance specs.
Lithium Ion Batteries and a Powerful Electric Motor
The eRUF Concept Model A uses the newest generation of lithium ion batteries, which are still too expensive to be viable in fuel-frugal hybrids like the Toyota Prius and upcoming Honda Insight.
The advantages to lithium ion batteries, the same basic technology that powers cell phones and laptops, are greater charge density and longevity than the nickel hydride batteries used in the current generation of hybrids and electric cars.
The powerplant comes in the form of a 150 kW electric motor similar to those used in the Tesla Roadster. Electric vehicles have some performance advantages, most notably the fact that all 650 Nm of torque are available from 0--yes, zero--rpm. Imagine the tire smoking capabilities!
The eRUF is still a long way from being viable for production even in small runs, but RUF has one thing going for them: they are already in the business of charging well north of $100,000 for their Porsche-based super sports cars. Making an electric Porsche still leaves them with a huge profit margin to operate with.
No comments:
Post a Comment