Electric Octospeedster (WC Archive)

Electric Octospeedster

Okay, so this is just weird, but it is interesting. It's an electric car -- the Eliica, short for Electric Lithium-Ion battery Car -- that can do 0-60 in four seconds is faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo, and accelerates at 0.8 Gs. It's also around 5 meters in length, 2400 kg in weight, and has eight wheels. Yes, it's made in Japan. The 10 hour recharge (and the price, over $300,000) are the primary drawbacks.

I, for one, am now waiting with bated breath for the inevitable showdown between the all-electric Eliica and Toyota's hybrid-electric supercar, the Alessandro Volta, which also boasts 0-60 in 4 seconds acceleration. Gentlemen, push your Engine On buttons...

Update: Green Car Congress has more details. Also, be sure to read the first comment on this post, from Jeff Rusch. This car could be a more WorldChanging development than it initially appeared!

(Thanks, Jet!)

Posted by Jamais Cascio on November 30, 2004 4:19 PM | Permalink

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» 8-Wheeling with the Eliica from Green Car Congress
WorldChanging points to a review of the Eliica, an 8-wheel, all-electric concept car that punches it from 0-60 mph in four seconds. The Eliicaâshort for Electric Lithium-Ion battery Carâ was created by Hiroshi Shimizu and the Keio University Electric [Read More]

» Octospeedster from o.O Clopin's Soul Drips O.o
Wat heeft 8 wielen, trekt sneller op dan een Porsche 911 Turbo, is 5m lang, weegt een 2400kg en is tevens electrisch? De Eliica! Even tanken hoort er wel niet bij want het ding opladen duurt 10 uur maar die tijd kan je met zijn topsnelheid van 400km/u... [Read More]

» Eliica from AiKnowledge
The Eliica, short for Electric Lithium-Ion battery Car -- that can do 0-60 in four seconds is faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo, and accelerates at 0.8 Gs. It's also around 5 meters in length, 2400 kg in weight,... [Read More]

Comments (2)

Jeff Rusch:

This is actually a bigger deal than you let on. It was designed by students at a Japanese university (Keio). It has a 180 mile range, and incredible handling due to the eight wheels, each of which has it's own in-hub electric motor. It's a clean slate concept that I would guess is only expensive because it's not being mass produced. If it were, I think it would radically change the automobile. It has the basics the car of the future will have, outperforms current cars in every way, yet is mechanically way simpler. It's waiting only for a better battery technology. Personally, this is something I think will surely come along because so many people are working on it--zinc/air, vanadium, there is lots happening in the field. Get it up to a 300 mile range, and bingo, we're there.

The only drawback besides the battery is that the 8 wheels means it's a bit long for Europe and Japan. There is a companion minivan/bus style model that is totally wild--reminds me of the cat bus in the movie Totoro.

Detroit should be ashamed it took a bunch of students to come up with this!

Here's a better photo:

http://www.jama.ca/photos/auto2003/tokyo/gallery.asp?pic=5

Posted by Jeff Rusch | December 1, 2004 12:01 AM

Posted on December 1, 2004 00:01

Eric:

Yes the number of people who say "I hate electric cars", or at least have written them off, is a good sign something will happen here.

Posted by Eric | December 1, 2004 7:35 PM

Posted on December 1, 2004 19:35

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