FHI Introduces Subaru STELLA EV Concept
28 June 2008
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| The STELLA minicar EV concept. |
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, unveiled a concept electric drive version of its STELLA minicar. FHI will provide five units of the Plug-in STELLA Concept for use at the upcoming G8 Summit in Japan (7-9 July).
The Subaru Plug-in STELLA Concept combines the electric drive system employed in the R1e (earlier post) with the Subaru STELLA minicar platform. FHI plans to use the Plug-in STELLA Concept in the development and test-marketing of the next generation of EVs in Japan in the near future.
The STELLA EV seats four, has a maximum speed of 100 kph (62 mph) and a range of 80km (50 miles) per charge. A 9.2 kWh, 346V Li-ion battery pack drives an electric motor with 40 kW output and that develops 150 Nm torque.
The pack employs fast-charge lithium-ion battery technology that eliminates the typical lithium-ion battery issue of charge memory loss, allowing partial charges and quick charges that do not decrease battery life. The battery pack, originally developed in partnership with NEC Corporation, uses lithium manganese oxide spinel (LiMn2O4) as the cathode active material. The crystalline spinel structure makes the battery resistant to overcharging and provides high thermal stability. The pack can recharge to 80% capacity in 15 minutes.
The conventional STELLA uses a 658cc DOHC 4-cylinder engine coupled with Subaru’s i-CVT transmission and offers fuel efficiency of 23 km/L (54 mpg US).
Four of the five will be used to transport government officials and other participants at the summit, while one vehicle will be displayed at the Environmental Showcase, an exhibition and demonstration area in the International Media Center, and it will also be available for a test drive.
In addition, FHI will provide one STELLA Concept model to the Japan Post group for use in mail collection and delivery in the vicinity of Toyako during the summit.
FHI has jointly developed the Subaru R1e with Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TEPCO), a leading utility in Japan, and the vehicle’s performance has been tested since June 2006. Forty units of the R1e model, equipped with lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, have been used by TEPCO as part of its corporate fleet and by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, providing performance results that further advance FHI’s EV development work.
Lets look at the figures
~ A 9.2 kWh, 346V Li-ion battery pack drives an electric motor with 40 kW output and that develops 150 Nm torque.
~ It has a maximum speed of 100 kph (62 mph) and a range of 80km (50 miles) per charge.
~ The pack can recharge to 80% capacity in 15 minutes.
So ,,, a 10kWh battery pack is fine for an entry level BEV. This gets the technology introduced for a reasonable cost, but will not fill the needs of most. Still, those who can live with it's range limitation will buy it in sufficient numbers to sell out production.
As battery costs decrease due to volume manufacture, a 20kWh pack will give 200 km of range and be acceptable to a far greater number of people. Then a 40kWh pack will extend the range to near 400 km, that is competitive with most liquid fueled cars today.
The BEV will begin to be introduced purely on economics, but soon people will prefer a silent car that has no polluting tailpipe, and few parts to break down.
I for one expect the switch to Electric cars to be massive and far faster than anyone ever predicts.
My prediction = Immediate sales of 100% of production for 5 years or until the market is saturated* , if an affordable purchase price is provided. ... Notice that I place no limits on production rates, and expect massive production will be necessary to meet demand.
*(market is saturated when 90% of people drive a BEV, and this needs over 500 million units)
My prediction = Due to an increase in car ownership expected, a world BEV manufacturing capacity of 100 million units per year could be made and sold each year for the duration of our lifetimes.
Posted by: John Taylor | 28 June 2008 at 01:16 AM
The initial price of this car will be about $20.000 for this EV including the $5000, 9.2 kWh battery. The following is a quote from an earlier announcement by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) about the almost identical electric Subarus to be launched in Japan in 2009.
“…but FHI said it plans to have its electric cars down to around ¥2 million (US$17,500) apiece by 2012 or 2013. Mori said that by the mid-2010s, mass production will significantly decrease the cost of batteries, enabling electric cars to come down to below ¥1.5 million (US$13,100).”
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/12/electric-subaru.html
At $20.000 it will cost $5000 to $7000 more than a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) that already have a market despite of their limited speed max 25mph and range 35 miles. I think the introduction of this kind of EVs will blow away the market for neighborhood electric vehicles. Its lithium battery will also last much longer than the lead acid batteries in the NEVs.
Posted by: Henrik | 28 June 2008 at 02:18 AM
@ Henrik ~ "The initial price of this car will be about $20.000 for this EV including the $5000, 9.2 kWh battery."
I don't know where you got the numbers Henrik but I think they will sell if you are correct.
Progressing this a bit into the later upgrades, but not expecting any economy of mass production to reduce the prices.
$20,000 for the basic car, gets 100 km range
$25,000 for the extended range 200 km car
$35,000 for the preferred range of 400 km comparable with a normal gas car.
We see these prices are competitive with North American cars now, and it is obvious that they will sell very well.
This is no longer a price bottleneck, is simply a business & political decision to open up to this new BEV technology.
Posted by: John Taylor | 28 June 2008 at 02:36 AM
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/12/electric-subaru.html
With such volaility in world markets at increasing rate in the last few years, the quoted prices can only be nominal. i.e. BHP have negoiated an 85% incraese in iron ore to China. Second tier companies can expect the full flow-on in short order.
The 150% increse in fuel costs in the last 3 years garuenties this especially as the alternative supplier is half a world away.
But back to the topic. The vehicle as descried certainly matches my impession of the possible.
(admittedly there is little in the way of detail).
John I beleive that you are somewhat optimistic, in your analysis, as things will need to fall into place rather nicely. So far we have scraped by the skin of our teeth. There are pleasing numbers of determined people who must share your optimism.
Many well considered comments re bringing appropriate' as opposed to wish list technologies to market. In a consumer driven vs reality driven world here can only be one outcome no matter how many compromises are considered.
This product strikes an acceptable balance low weight modest and well targeted and the expanding awareness of the scale of changes required.
Lets hope such level headed interperatations in the future bear fruit.
Posted by: arnold | 28 June 2008 at 03:53 AM
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