If you were one of the people who were hoping to turn some heads when you drove your Aptera
down the street, well ... you may still get your chance to own a truly
eye-catching electric car. SIM-Drive, a collaborative of 34 Japanese
tech companies and institutions, presented its SIM-LEI prototype EV at
the 2011 Electric Vehicle Industrial Exhibition late last year. While
you probably either love or hate its looks, there's one thing about it
that everyone should like - it can reportedly go about 305 kilometers
(189.5 miles) on one charge of its battery, traveling at a constant
speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).
A venture company established by Japan's Keio University in 2009,
SIM-Drive's goal isn't to commercially produce cars itself, but instead
"to provide the highest level of electric vehicle technology and
information, at the lowest cost, to all those involved with electric
vehicles."
The four-seat car's energy efficiency comes thanks largely to its
striking aerodynamic design, that results in a drag coefficient of just
0.19. Its long, tapered rear overhang is part of that design, as are its
tiny side mirrors (they're augmented with built-in side-view cameras)
and its externally-located side impact beams - these serve to reduce the
width of its frontal projected area by a total of 100 millimeters. A
lightweight steel monocoque frame and low rolling-resistance Bridgestone
Ecopia tires also contribute to its efficiency.
A 24.9 kWh-capacity lithium-ion battery pack provides power, while
four 65 kW direct-drive in-wheel motors also harvest energy when the
vehicle is braking. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in a peppy 4.8
seconds, and has a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). The car weighs in at
1,650 kilograms (3,638 lbs).
There's quite a bit of cargo space inside, thanks to that enormous
overhang. Up front, a 19-inch display allows for functions such as
navigation, while also displaying the feed from a rearview camera. Two
smaller screens are dedicated to the two side-view cameras.
Although SIM-Drive
itself isn't in the car-selling business, interested groups belonging
to the collaborative will reportedly be able to sell a commercial
version of the SIM-LEI. Large-scale production could start as early as
next year.
Source : http://www.gizmag.com
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