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The Subaru R1e is a battery-operated electric microcar is expected to go global in 2010. It is a four-seater but has only two doors and is a result of Subaru and the Japanese giant Tokyo Electric Power coming together.
The R1e was a concept car that made its debut in the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. This micro Subaru first was exhibited at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit for its U.S. introductions.
The diminutive R1e has a range of 125 miles on a single full charge and can get to a top speed of 62 mph. It is rather bubble-shaped but the nut shaped shell is very strong while its aerodynamic shape makes for a smooth, comfortable ride. It’s also got a longer range than most electric cars. The little ‘e’ at the end stands for ‘electric’.
You get a lot with the R1e. The seating is perfect for couples or singles though it is a four-seater and it’s got air conditioning, safety features, cruise control and a CD player.
So no, you won't be able to take it out on a spin on the highway but inside the city wouldn't you feel great if you knew you were not polluting the air your kids breathed? This 100% electric car not only does that, it also has completely recyclable parts so it is really totally environment-friendly.
Let’s take a look at the specs. The R1e has laminated manganese lithium-ion batteries and these 240 VAC conductive charging ones are used in the hybrid models of Subaru as well.
All you need to charge the battery is the kind of 100 V outlet you would use for a large air conditioner. The battery can be charged 80% in just fifteen minutes with a rapid charger and you can drive 100,000 miles before you need to think of replacing the battery.
It takes eight hours to charge it fully on a normal charger. The great thing about these batteries are that while they are so full of energy, they are extremely light.
All this at less than $9000? There are sure to be a lot of first time buyers and in city drivers who will be queuing up for it.
Subaru is giving us a very viable alternative in terms of zero pollution and no gasoline. It will be the R1e that gets everyone on the road to ‘electric’ and away from the path of pollution.
Now all we need are more charging stations to open up all over the country.