Thursday, January 05, 2006

204. ELIICA

The Eliica (Electric Lithium-Ion battery Car) is an 8-wheel 800bhp electric car invented by Hiroshi Shimizu of Keio University in Japan. It has a charge time of 10 hours, a range of more than 300km per charge, and is faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo, doing 0-60mph in four seconds, and 0-100mph in seven seconds. Maximum test speed is 370kph (230mph).

ELIICA

From a test drive report:
At our drive at Keio University near Tokyo, we punched the 'D' button on the dash, pointed the car down the road and flattened the gas pedal. With a faintly audible whirr of eight 100bhp in-wheel motors, the 0-60mph sprint was smooth, effortless, quiet - and surreal. The mind-boggling acceleration was on a par with that of a 500bhp GT racing car. Yet the lack of a transmission meant there were no jerky cog swaps as we were thrust back in our seat by an incredible 0.8Gs.
-- by JD
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4 comments:

  1. John O'NeillFriday, January 6, 2006 at 12:14:00 PM PST

    Love that design! It reminds me of "cars of the future" from the 60s. Of course, in the 60s, I hadn't been born yet but fortunately, I could check the 15-year old book out from the library.

    "In the year 1975, we'll all be driving cars like these."

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  2. John O'NeillFriday, January 6, 2006 at 12:22:00 PM PST

    It also looks a lot like a 1962 Citroën ID Wagon, which, for some reason, makes me think of Inspector Clouseau. Did he drive one of those?

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  3. popmonkeyFriday, January 6, 2006 at 5:22:00 PM PST

    john, no, i'm thinking fantomas! :)

    man that thing is crazy looking. but of course with 8 tires that's a lot of petroleum wasted. >:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. John O'NeillFriday, January 6, 2006 at 7:20:00 PM PST

    OMG, you're right, popmonkey!

    ReplyDelete

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Thanks,
JD