Which electric car is for you? Subaru’s STELLA or Mitsubishi’s i-EV
Sounding more like a character from a play than an electric car, Subaru is about to introduce a new electric prototype at the G8 summit in Hokkaido, Japan. This little electric plug in will be bigger than many of the electric cars previewed so far that are only two seaters.
STELLA is a four door small car that Subaru is positioning as a competitor to cars like Mitsubishis i-EV. Smaller cars like Aptera, VW GX-3, Lumeneo Smera and Tango are light weight and limited to two passengers only. STELLA has room for four.
The STELLA uses the same powertrain as the R1e prototype. The engine will be powered by a lithium ion battery. The engine will be a permanent magnet synchronous motor with maximum output of 40 kw. With the increased room inside, STELLA pays for it in limited distance and speed. This car will go about 50 miles on a full charge and will reach about 62 mph.
Hopefully, by the time the STELLA is ready for production and sale, the speed and distance will more closely mirror that of the Mitsubishi i-EV. The Mitsubishi i-EV goes about 99 miles per charge (almost twice as far as the STELLA), and will reach about 80 mph on the road.
In the American market, the i-EV would prove to be the more practical and preferred car simply because it goes further on a charge and will reach higher speeds. Most expressways in the U. S. have increased the speed limit to 70 mph. Although 62 mph, doesn’t seem as if it would present a problem, in certain cities (like Atlanta) if you go under 80, you are liable to get run over by much larger vehicles.
Since neither car is available yet, this discussion is moot. On further consideration most people make the final choice depending on the cost of each of these vehicles. Prototypes don’t come with prices and by the time both of these cars hit the showroom, a lot may have changed.
Now we wait and see if either car makes it beyond the prototype stage. Hopefully, both will appear in showrooms within the next few years and each will have improved stats. We’ll see.
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June 30th, 2008
We have developed a design/concept of an almost perpetual car which runs on battery power for almost unlimited distance against present and future battery technologies. This technology can also convert present Hybrid automobiles to run thousands of miles without charging the batteries. Interested parties can contact us at GasAlternative@yahoo.com.
October 2nd, 2008
Well, even though those Subaru electric cars are ugly and I would never be caught driving one, I’m happy they’re trying to make the most fuel efficient cars possible.