Facing the twin problems of global warming and climate change, humankind is inventing new ways everyday to cut down on the amount of carbon it releases into the atmosphere and transportation does play a big role in that. Gas guzzling vehicles are as much a source of greenhouse gases as any other means of human consumption. So in order to make transportation clean and green, auto companies are coming out with new concepts of electric cars almost on a daily basis. These electric cars, not only do showcase the “green” technology being created in the automobile sector, but they also save a lot of money as far as expenses concerning refueling them is concerned. Here we are going to talk about 10 such energy efficient electric cars which will bring a smile to your face by cutting down on your refueling costs and improve your “green ranking” at the same time.
The customized Daihatsu Mira:
Built by Japanese automobile company Daihastu, the Mira recently booked its place in the Guinness Book of World Records by being traveling the longest distance on a single charge. The car ran for a mind boggling 623 miles to set the record. The car which broke the record, was custom built by the Japanese Electric Vehicle Club (JEVC). Since this is not a factory-built Mira, but a custom built version by the JEVC, chances are you will not be able to buy it in the market. The custom built Mira was built around 8,320 Sanyo li-ion batteries. The record trip took 27½ hours on the Tsukuba circuit in Shimotsuma, Japan at an average speed of 23mph.
Electric Luxgen Neora:
The Neora concept was unveiled by Kuxgen at the Sanghai Auto Show held earlier this year. The Neora is powered by an all-electric powertrain with an 180kW electric induction motor and a front-wheel-drive system. The 48 kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged to 80% of its capacity in just 1 hour and offers a driving range of up to 400 km. Weighing in at 1,600kg, the Neora can accelerate to 62 mph from zero in 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155mph (250kph).
The Lightning GT all electric sports car:
The Lightning GT concept, unveiled at last year’s British Motor Show, is said to be capable of doing 200 miles on a ten minute charge. The GT is powered by nano-titanate batteries manufactured by Altairnano, a company based in the US. The GT is capable of generating 553lb-ft of peak torque and a combined power output of 643hp. With all this power the GT can reach 60mph from zero in 4 seconds and comes with a top speed of 130mph.
SIM LEI by SIM-Drive:
The little SIM LEI electric car developed by Japanese car manufacturer SIM-Drive, has the capacity to run for 200 miles on a single charge.However, at a constant speed of 62mph, the SIM LEI can travel about 190 miles. The SIM LEI can cover this distance by virtue of having 24.5kWh battery. The LEI can reach 62mph from zero in 4.8 seconds.
Delta E-4 Coupe all electric sports car:
The Delta E-4 boasts of a range of 200 miles on a single electric charge. The performance of the E-4 will easily outmatch many of the conventional sports cars of today. It has a top speed of 150mph and can reach 60mph from zero in 4.5 seconds.
Modified Audi A2:
This vehicle might look like a toy. But don’t get fooled by its looks. This baby packs a real punch. This modified all electric Audi A2 has recently set the world distance record for an everyday vehicle by covering 600 miles on a single charge.
BYD E6:
The E6 fully electric vehicle from BYD Auto is capable of going 250 miles on a single charge. The car was introduced at the Beijing Auto Show in 2008. The E6 is a five seater with an acceleration rate of 0-60 in about 10 seconds and a top speed of 100mph. The battery of the E6 is based on BYD’s own lithium-ion iron phosphate technology.
Tesla Roadster:
Here is another electric car with a distance record under its belt. Driven by two electric car lovers Simon Hackett and Emilis Prelgauskas, the all electric Tesla Roadster travelled a distance of 501km on a single charge. The record was set by driving the car at a constant speed of 55kph during the entire trip.
Artega SE (Sports Electric) sportscar:
The Artega SE is known to travel more than 200 miles on a single charge under “normal driving conditions”. The power to the vehicle comes from a total of 16 lithium-ion battery modules, with each of the modules containing 12 battery cells. They can produce a total of 37KWh and a nominal voltage of 350V. The car has a top speed of 155mph (250 kph) and can reach 62mph (100kph) from zero in 4.3 seconds.
The Nissan Esflow concept:
The Nissan Esflow all electric concept car promises a range of 150 miles on one charge. The car is powered by two 80kW (107hp) electric motors that independently control the left and right wheels under the hood of the new Esflow concept. With a top speed of 150mph (240km/h) the Esflow is surely going to be the “blue eyed baby” of car lovers in the future.
